{
  "id": 17096096,
  "title": "Go Struct Copying and Pointer Semantics Cause Unexpected `true false` Output for Java/Rust Developers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/go-struct-copying-and-pointer-semantics-cause-unexpected-true-false",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:43:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/viklogix/go-struct-copying-and-pointer-semantics-cause-unexpected-true-false-output-for-javarust-5had"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "This report discusses an unexpected output issue encountered by Java and Rust developers transitioning to Go. The issue stems from Go's unique handling of struct copying and pointer semantics. The provided code demonstrates this behavior: a function `make()` returns a copied `SelfReference` struct, not a reference. The output `true false` arises because the `==` operator in Go compares field values, not memory addresses, while the `&` operator returns the memory address. This discrepancy is a direct consequence of Go's design choices prioritizing simplicity and performance. To avoid such issues, developers should be aware that returning a struct from a function results in a copy unless explicitly returned as a pointer.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}