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go-size-analyzer

sourceSimon Willison
calendar_todayFebruary 24, 2026
schedule1 min read
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Optimize Your Go Binaries with the Go Size Analyzer Tool

Summary

The article introduces the Go Size Analyzer, a tool designed for analyzing the size of Go binaries through a treemap visualization of their dependencies. This tool can be run locally or accessed via a WebAssembly version hosted online.

Key Points

  • The Go Size Analyzer provides a visual representation of Go binary sizes and their dependencies using a treemap view.
  • It can be installed locally or accessed at gsa.zxilly.dev, allowing for browser-based analysis.
  • The author tested the tool with an 8.1MB macOS compiled version of their Go Showboat tool.
  • Datadog successfully reduced the size of their Agent Go binaries by up to 77% using similar analysis techniques.
  • The tool is beneficial for developers looking to optimize their Go applications and reduce binary sizes.

Analysis

The Go Size Analyzer highlights the importance of understanding binary sizes in software development, particularly for Go applications. By providing a visual tool for dependency analysis, developers can make informed decisions to optimize their applications, potentially leading to improved performance and reduced resource consumption.

Conclusion

IT professionals should consider utilizing the Go Size Analyzer to assess and optimize their Go binaries. Regular analysis can lead to significant size reductions and enhance application efficiency.