golang-popular-libraries

pgx (github.com/jackc/pgx) is the recommended choice for new projects. It is faster than lib/pq and supports all PostgreSQL types and advanced features, while lib/pq remains a viable but less capable alternative.

Start with log/slog, the standard library structured logger available since Go 1.21. Consider zap or zerolog only when you need zero-allocation hot paths or features slog does not provide.

Choose sqlc when you want compile-time type safety, since it generates type-safe Go code from SQL with no runtime reflection. GORM is a feature-complete ORM but uses runtime reflection, so SQL errors surface at runtime rather than compile time.

Logrus is deprecated and in maintenance mode, so it is not recommended for new projects. Use log/slog from the standard library, or zap and zerolog for high-performance structured logging.

Avoid libraries that merely wrap standard library functionality without adding real value, since each dependency increases attack surface and maintenance burden. Check whether stdlib packages like slices, maps, or net/http already cover your need first.

chi (github.com/go-chi/chi) is the best fit when you want a lightweight router that stays close to net/http with minimal dependencies. Full frameworks like Gin or Echo suit projects needing more built-in features.