gistfile1.go

package main

import (
	"encoding/binary"
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"os"
	"strings"
)

type Message struct {
	Name string
	Text string
}

func readString(reader io.Reader) (string, error) {
	var len uint8
	var buf []byte

	err := binary.Read(reader, binary.LittleEndian, &len)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, "error reading len: ", err, "\n")
		return "", err
	}

	buf = make([]byte, len)
	n, err := reader.Read(buf)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error reading string: ", err, "\n")
		return "", err
	}

	if uint8(n) != len {
		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "unable to read %d bytes, only got %d!\n", len, n)
		return "", nil
	}

	var str = string(buf)

	return str, nil
}

func ParseMessage(reader io.Reader) (*Message, error) {
	var msg Message
	var err error

	msg.Name, err = readString(reader)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	msg.Text, err = readString(reader)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	return &msg, nil
}

func main() {
	data := "\x10Das ist ein Test\x19Dies hier aber nicht mehr"
	reader := strings.NewReader(data)

	msg, err := ParseMessage(reader)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, "error reading string: ", err, "\n")
	}

	fmt.Printf("Message: %+v\n", msg)
}

output:

$ go run test.go
Message: &{Name:Das ist ein Test Text:Dies hier aber nicht mehr}