Install Go: Download and install the latest version of Go from http://ipnx.cn/link/81836b7cd16991abb7febfd7832927fd, complete the installation by brew install go (macOS), tar decompression (Linux) or running the installer (Windows), add Go's bin directory to PATH, and perform go version verification installation. 2. Set up the workspace: Use Go Modules to manage dependencies. No need to configure GOPATH, run go mod init in the project directory to generate the go.mod file. 3. Select a code editor: It is recommended to use Visual Studio Code and install Go extensions, or use GoLand (paid but powerful), or use Vim/Neovim or Emacs that configure plug-ins such as vim-go. 4. Install common tools: manually or through the editor to automatically install gopls (language server), dlv (debugger) and goimports (formatting tool), and add $HOME/go/bin to PATH to access these tools globally. 5. Write and run the first program: create the main.go file, write the code that prints "Hello, Go!", run the program using go run main.go, or use go build main.go to generate the executable file and run it. Keep the Go version updated, enable GO111MODULE=on, use go vet and golangci-lint to improve the code quality, and after completing these steps, you can start efficient Go development.

Setting up a development environment for Go (Golang) is straightforward, but doing it right ensures a smooth coding experience. Here's how to get started with the essentials.

1. Install Go

First, you need to install the Go compiler and tools.

• Download Go : Go to http://ipnx.cn/link/81836b7cd16991abb7febfd7832927fd and download the latest stable version for your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

  

• Install it :

  • On macOS , you can use Homebrew:

     brew install go

  • On Linux , extract the tarball (usually to /usr/local ):

     wget http://ipnx.cn/link/81836b7cd16991abb7febfd7832927fdgo1.22.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz
    sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.22.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz

  • On Windows , run the installer and follow the prompts.

• Add to PATH : Make sure /usr/local/go/bin (or the Go install directory on Windows) is in your system's PATH .

  

• Verify installation :

   go version

2. Set Up Your Workspace (Go Modules)

Modern Go (1.11 ) uses modules instead of the old GOPATH-based workspace. You don't need to set GOPATH unless working on legacy projects.

• Initialize a module in your project folder:

   mkdir myproject && cd myproject
  go mod init myproject

  This creates a go.mod file to manage dependencies.

• You can now write Go code anywhere—no need to place it under GOPATH/src .

3. Choose a Code Editor or IDE

Pick a lightweight editor or full IDE with Go support.

Popular choices:

• Visual Studio Code (recommended for beginners):

  • Install the Go extension by golang.org.
  • It auto-installs tools like gopls (language server), delve (debugger), gofmt , etc.
  • Features: syntax highlighting, auto-completion, debugging, formatting on save.

• GoLand (by JetBrains):

  • Full-featured IDE with excellent Go support.
  • Great for large projects but not free (free for students and open-source contributers).

• Vim/Neovim or Emacs :

  • With plugins like vim-go or lsp-mode , they work well for experienced users.

4. Install Useful Go Tools

The Go ecosystem includes handy command-line tools. VS Code may prompt to install them, or you can do it manually:

 go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest # Language server
go install github.com/go-delve/delve/cmd/dlv@latest # Debugger
go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latest # Import formatting

Add $HOME/go/bin to your PATH so these tools are available globally.

5. Write and Run Your First Program

Create a file main.go :

 package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    fmt.Println("Hello, Go!")
}

Run it:

 go run main.go

Build an executable:

 go build main.go
./main

Bonus Tips

• Keep Go updated :

   go install golang.org/dl/go1.22.0@latest
  go1.22.0 download

• Use go vet and golangci-lint for code quality:

   go vet .
  # Or install golangci-lint and run:
  golangci-lint run

• Enable Go modules globally (default in recent versions):

   go env -w GO111MODULE=on

That's it. You're ready to develop in Go. The setup isn't complex, but getting the tooling right early saves time later.

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