IBM is happy to announce IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Go 1.21 is now available. Yes, another release within a span of five months. This showcases IBM’s commitment to maintain currency with the Go community. The latest release contains several improvements that can help Go developers, such as, language changes, tool improvements and standard library additions. 
In addition, there are some exciting IBM z/OS specific features and highlights available with this release.

Tool Improvements

• The Profile Guided Optimization (PGO) feature, which was previously announced for preview in Go 1.20 is now fully available. PGO enables the toolchain to perform application and
  workload-specific optimizations.

Language Changes

• New built-in functions: min, max and clear: The min and max functions compute the smallest or largest value, respectively, of a fixed number of arguments or ordered types. The clear function takes an argument of map, slice, or type parameter type and deletes or zeroes out all of the elements.
• Several improvements to type inference for generic functions. The description of type inference in the spec has been expanded and clarified.

Standard library additions

• New log/slog package for structured logging.
• New slices package for common operations on slices of any element type. This includes sorting functions that are generally faster and more ergonomic than the sort package.
• New maps package for common operations on maps of any key or element type.
• New cmp package with new utilities for comparing ordered values.

Go 1.21 also features both backward and forward language compatibility. 

IBM z/OS specific features and highlights:

• Elliptic Curve Crypto Package based on Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
  New with Open Enterprise SDK for Go (originally introduced with Open Enterprise SDK for Go 1.20) is a package devoted to making easy use of elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman key exchange: crypto/ECDH (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman). Two parties can now exchange public keys (i.e. unencrypted, open-text keys), and from those keys derive a common shared secret key that they can subsequently use to encrypt messages. A key part of the process in ECDH is the use of elliptic curve cryptography. Don’t miss Bill O’Farrell’s blog - https://community.ibm.com/community/user/ibmz-and-linuxone/blogs/bill-ofarrell/2023/09/22/killer-crypto-in-go-on-zos-crypto-acceleration
  
  
• Use z/OS callable services with Go
  Access z/OS callable services natively from Go without HLASM to avoid programming in assembly language. Read the blog to learn more https://community.ibm.com/community/user/ibmz-and-linuxone/blogs/hyder-naqvi/2023/09/25/use-zos-callable-services-with-go.
  
  
• IBM Z Xplore challenge for New to Z
  IBM Z Xplore is a fun, challenge-based learning platform available globally at no cost, with no prior knowledge required! You get hands-on experience to learn in-demand IBM Z® skills. You now have the opportunity to explore the Go compiler and z/OS features. The latest Go challenge explores additional programming tools and adds accessing VSAM records as part of the challenge. Read Hyder Naqvi’s blog to crack the latest Go challenge - https://community.ibm.com/community/user/ibmz-and-linuxone/blogs/hyder-naqvi/2023/09/22/crack-the-go-vsam-challenge-on-z-xplore.

Download and explore the latest IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Go release today!

How to obtain IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Go?

IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Go is available for zero license charge through Shopz (5655-GOZ) for the SMP/E format, or you can download the pax format here. Optional world-class IBM Software Subscription and Support is available with your order through Shopz (5655-GOS).

Supporting Links:

IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Go product page

For additional information on installation, troubleshooting and packages included in this offering visit the IBM Documentation. Watch the demos and tutorials in the dedicated media center playlist.

Go logo: https://go.dev/blog/go-brand/Go-Logo/PNG/