Is Go\'s Goroutine Stack Size Truly Unlimited, or Just a Very Large Limit?

Exploring Stack Size in Go: Infinite Call Stack Equivalent or Anti-Pattern?

In Go, the concept of an "infinite call stack" differs from other programming languages like Node.JS. While Node.JS enforces a maximum call stack size, Go utilizes goroutines that inherently start with small stack sizes, growing as needed. This creates the illusion of an unbounded stack.

Regarding the provided Go code snippet, it's important to understand that there is no inherent limit on the number of calls a goroutine can make. However, a limit exists due to the maximum amount of stack memory permitted. This limit is typically quite generous, hovering around hundreds of MBs or even a GB.

While it's possible to exceed this stack memory limit by creating an excessively large amount of goroutines, this would require an extreme number of recursive calls in a manner that would likely cause performance issues long before the limit is reached.

Therefore, while there is no explicit "infinite call stack" equivalent in Go, it's important to exercise caution when dealing with deeply recursive algorithms. The stack memory limit, although substantial, should still be considered to avoid potential performance pitfalls. Additionally, code that relies heavily on recursion should be approached with caution, as it can lead to unexpected consequences and performance issues.

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