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Go vs Deno for Konsole

Comparison of Go as an alternative backend for konsole service

✓ Completed
on 3 Jan 2026, 12:50 pm

Output

Go for Konsole: Analysis

Verdict: Go Would Actually Work Well

Unlike React SPAs, Go has minimal build tooling and Claude handles it reasonably well. It's a legitimate alternative.

Go Advantages for Konsole

Goroutines Native concurrency for managing multiple Claude subprocesses
Single Binary Compile once, deploy anywhere. No Deno runtime needed.
Memory ~10MB vs Deno's ~50-100MB per process
os/exec Excellent subprocess management, stream handling

Why We Didn't Choose Go

Ecosystem Mismatch All other services (kongate, konimage, konwebflow) are Deno. Shared code can't cross.
Error Handling if err != nil everywhere. More boilerplate than TypeScript.
JSON Flexibility Claude's stream-json output has dynamic shapes. Go's static typing fights this.
Development Speed Deno: edit → refresh. Go: edit → compile → run.

Side-by-Side: Current Konsole Code

// Deno (current)
const cmd = new Deno.Command("claude", { args, stdout: "piped" });
const process = cmd.spawn();

// Go (equivalent)
cmd := exec.Command("claude", args...)
stdout, err := cmd.StdoutPipe()
if err != nil { return err }
err = cmd.Start()
if err != nil { return err }

When Go Would Make Sense

  • Standalone distribution: Ship konsole as single binary to customers
  • High scale: 100+ concurrent Claude sessions (goroutines shine)
  • Greenfield project: If starting fresh without existing Deno services
  • Team preference: If you were more comfortable in Go

For current scope + ecosystem consistency, Deno remains the better fit.

What's Next?

Choose an action:

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Original Request

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Details

Type General
Status Completed
Scope vibetools
Tags architecturedecisionstech-stackkonsole
Created 3 Jan 2026, 12:50 pm
Updated 3 Jan 2026, 12:50 pm
Created By claude

Raw Data

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  "id": "339da9f0-8019-44ce-bccf-9be2b1f2d229",
  "type": "general",
  "status": "completed",
  "title": "Go vs Deno for Konsole",
  "description": "Comparison of Go as an alternative backend for konsole service",
  "context": {
    "output": "<div style=\"background:#1e1e1e;color:#e0e0e0;padding:20px;border-radius:8px;font-family:'Consolas','Monaco',monospace;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-family:sans-serif;color:#fff;margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Go for Konsole: Analysis</h2>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#98c379;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">Verdict: Go Would Actually Work Well</h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0;line-height:1.6;\">Unlike React SPAs, Go has <strong>minimal build tooling</strong> and Claude handles it reasonably well. It's a legitimate alternative.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#61afef;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">Go Advantages for Konsole</h3>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\">\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;width:35%;\"><strong style=\"color:#e5c07b;\">Goroutines</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">Native concurrency for managing multiple Claude subprocesses</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#e5c07b;\">Single Binary</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">Compile once, deploy anywhere. No Deno runtime needed.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#e5c07b;\">Memory</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">~10MB vs Deno's ~50-100MB per process</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#e5c07b;\">os/exec</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">Excellent subprocess management, stream handling</td>\n</tr>\n</table>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#c678dd;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">Why We Didn't Choose Go</h3>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\">\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;width:35%;\"><strong style=\"color:#f97316;\">Ecosystem Mismatch</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">All other services (kongate, konimage, konwebflow) are Deno. Shared code can't cross.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#f97316;\">Error Handling</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\"><code style=\"background:#3d3d3d;padding:2px 6px;border-radius:3px;\">if err != nil</code> everywhere. More boilerplate than TypeScript.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #3d3d3d;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#f97316;\">JSON Flexibility</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">Claude's stream-json output has dynamic shapes. Go's static typing fights this.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;\"><strong style=\"color:#f97316;\">Development Speed</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 0;color:#9ca3af;\">Deno: edit → refresh. Go: edit → compile → run.</td>\n</tr>\n</table>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#e5c07b;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">Side-by-Side: Current Konsole Code</h3>\n<pre style=\"background:#1e1e1e;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;overflow-x:auto;margin:0;font-size:0.85em;line-height:1.5;\">\n<span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">// Deno (current)</span>\n<span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">const</span> cmd = <span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">new</span> Deno.Command(<span style=\"color:#98c379;\">\"claude\"</span>, { args, stdout: <span style=\"color:#98c379;\">\"piped\"</span> });\n<span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">const</span> process = cmd.spawn();\n\n<span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">// Go (equivalent)</span>\ncmd := exec.Command(<span style=\"color:#98c379;\">\"claude\"</span>, args...)\nstdout, err := cmd.StdoutPipe()\n<span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">if</span> err != <span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">nil</span> { <span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">return</span> err }\nerr = cmd.Start()\n<span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">if</span> err != <span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">nil</span> { <span style=\"color:#c678dd;\">return</span> err }\n</pre>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#56b6c2;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">When Go Would Make Sense</h3>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<li><strong>Standalone distribution:</strong> Ship konsole as single binary to customers</li>\n<li><strong>High scale:</strong> 100+ concurrent Claude sessions (goroutines shine)</li>\n<li><strong>Greenfield project:</strong> If starting fresh without existing Deno services</li>\n<li><strong>Team preference:</strong> If you were more comfortable in Go</li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"margin:12px 0 0 0;color:#9ca3af;font-size:0.9em;\">For current scope + ecosystem consistency, Deno remains the better fit.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-top:16px;font-family:sans-serif;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin:0 0 8px 0;color:#fff;\">What's Next?</h4>\n<p style=\"color:#9ca3af;margin:0;\">Choose an action:</p>\n</div>\n</div>",
    "requestedAt": "2026-01-03T00:00:00.000Z",
    "requestId": "ae74ac84-1b7c-4665-ae04-ad32076dd85b",
    "choices": [
      {
        "label": "Prototype Go version",
        "value": "Create a proof-of-concept Go implementation of konsole's core subprocess handling"
      },
      {
        "label": "Keep Deno",
        "value": "What optimizations could we make to current Deno konsole for better performance?"
      },
      {
        "label": "Hybrid approach",
        "value": "Could we use Go just for the subprocess management while keeping Deno for the API?"
      }
    ]
  },
  "createdBy": "claude",
  "createdAt": "2026-01-03T02:50:47.166Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-01-03T02:50:47.314Z",
  "requestId": "ae74ac84-1b7c-4665-ae04-ad32076dd85b",
  "scope": "vibetools",
  "tags": [
    "architecture",
    "decisions",
    "tech-stack",
    "konsole"
  ],
  "targetUser": "claude"
}
DashboardReportsKontasksSessionsTelemetryLogs + Go