Example showing a function that sends to a channel or times out

sendOrTimeout.go

// Send an event to a channel or timeout. The channel can be buffered or not.
func Send(event []byte) {
    select {
        case channel <- event:
            // Channel receives the event if there is room (buffered) or if a reader is ready on the channel (unbuffered)
        case <- time.After(5 * time.Second):
            // Timed out - event is not sent if you do nothing here
            // Alternatively you can do something else with the event here
    }
}