TinyGo is a Go compiler for small places such as microcontrollers, WebAssembly, and command-line tools.
TinyGo addresses the need to run Go programs in resource-constrained environments by leveraging LLVM and libraries from the Go language tools to produce compact binaries. The compiler can target microcontroller boards directly, compiling the same source code across different hardware platforms by simply changing the compiler target. It also supports WebAssembly compilation for both browser and server environments, working with runtimes like Fastly Compute, Fermyon Spin, and WASI Preview 1 hosts.
Developers should choose TinyGo when targeting embedded systems or WebAssembly platforms where standard Go compilation is impractical due to binary size or runtime overhead. The tool supports over 150 microcontroller boards spanning architectures like ARM, AVR, and ESP32, as well as traditional operating systems. It enables writing embedded and edge code in Go without switching languages, though developers should review the language support documentation to understand which Go features are available in the constrained compilation environment.
The project maintains a substantial base of real-world adopters who report issues and drive development priorities. Maintainers respond to new issues and pull requests within a day. Work in the issue tracker centers on enhancements, bug fixes, and WebAssembly support.
