The document describes the Goby framework for efficient analysis of next-generation sequencing data. It introduces the Goby file formats which use Protocol Buffers to provide a structured, efficient and language-independent representation of sequencing data. The Goby formats allow for faster parsing, compression, random access and streaming compared to other file formats. The Goby software framework includes readers, writers, iterators and utilities for common analysis tasks like alignment processing and RNA-seq analysis.