How to Achieve Python\'s \'tail -f\' Functionality in Go: Goroutines vs. tailReader?

Go Equivalent to Python's "tail -f"-Like Generator

Python's "tail -f" feature allows for convenient retrieval of the last lines of a file as they are modified. A Go implementation of a similar function was posed, and concerns were raised about its efficiency and idiomatic nature.

Go Implementation

The provided Go implementation leverages a channel and goroutine to continuously monitor a file for new lines. While this approach is functional, it raises concerns about its performance and adherence to Go's coding conventions.

Idiomatic Go Approach

To align with Go's design principles, an alternative approach is proposed using a wrapper around a reader, namely tailReader. This wrapper introduces a Read method that handles EOF with a specified sleep duration.

By creating a tailReader instance and utilizing it as an io.Reader, various functions and libraries can be employed to process the file. For example:

• Using bufio.Scanner to iterate over lines
• Utilizing a JSON decoder to parse appended JSON values

Additionally, the tailReader approach simplifies shutdown by simply closing the file.

Advantages

Compared to the goroutine approach, tailReader exhibits several advantages:

• Simplified Shutdown: No need to signal a goroutine for termination.
• Seamless Integration: Compatible with numerous io.Reader-based functions and libraries.
• Configurable Sleep Time: Adjustable sleep duration to optimize latency or CPU efficiency.

Therefore, the tailReader approach offers a cleaner and more idiomatic solution for implementing "tail -f" functionality in Go, addressing concerns about performance and adherence to coding conventions.

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