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Installing Go

Learn to download and install Go and the GOPATH.

Installing Go

You download Go from go.dev/dl. There are official installers for Linux, macOS and Windows. After installing, the go version command shows the installed version.

Go keeps your sources in a workspace called GOPATH. Since modules became the default in Go 1.11, GOPATH matters less; legacy projects without modules are still looked up under GOPATH.

GOROOT is Go's own install directory and is usually set automatically.

The go command

The go command is the gateway to Go. Common subcommands:

  • go run main.go: compiles and runs immediately
  • go build: produces an executable binary
  • go test: runs tests
  • go mod init: starts a new module
  • go get: downloads a dependency

Run go help to see every subcommand.

Practice Print the version

Inside main, print the text Go 1.22 with fmt.Println.

Starter code

main.go
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    // buraya yaz
}

Sample solution

main.go
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    fmt.Println("Go 1.22")
}

Expected output

Go 1.22

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 What is GOPATH for?

  • It points to the Go compiler directory
  • It stores executable files
  • It is the web address of Go modules
  • It is the workspace for your Go sources Correct answer

Explanation: GOPATH is the workspace for your Go sources.

2 Version command

Question 
To see the installed Go version, type ____ on the command line.
Answer 
To see the installed Go version, type go version on the command line.

Explanation: go version shows the installed version.

3 Match the commands

Term Meaning
go run Runs the source
go build Produces a binary
go test Runs tests
go mod init Starts a module

All lessons in Beginner

1 Go basics

  1. What is Go?
  2. Installing Go
  3. Your first program
  4. go run and go build
  5. Comments and semicolons
  6. Summary - Go basics

2 Modules

  1. go mod init
  2. package and import
  3. The main package
  4. Multiple files
  5. go.sum and dependencies
  6. Summary - Modules

3 Variables

  1. Declaration with var
  2. Short declaration :=
  3. const and iota
  4. Zero value
  5. Type inference
  6. Summary - Variables

4 Data types

  1. int and float
  2. bool and string
  3. byte and rune
  4. Type conversion
  5. Type definitions
  6. Summary - Data types

5 Project: Calculator

  1. Project design
  2. Add and subtract
  3. Multiply and divide
  4. Command-line menu

6 Functions

  1. func declaration
  2. Parameters and return
  3. Multiple return
  4. Variadic functions
  5. Anonymous functions
  6. Summary - Functions

7 Control flow

  1. if, else if, else
  2. for loop
  3. Iterating with range
  4. switch and fallthrough
  5. break and continue
  6. Summary - Control flow

8 Array and slice

  1. Array declaration
  2. Slice declaration
  3. Appending with append
  4. Sub-slice
  5. len and cap
  6. Summary - Array and slice

9 Project: Shopping cart

  1. Product struct
  2. Adding to cart
  3. Computing total
  4. Printing the cart

10 Map

  1. Map declaration
  2. Adding elements
  3. Looking up in a map
  4. Deleting from a map
  5. Iterating a map with range
  6. Summary - Map

11 String

  1. String and byte
  2. String concatenation
  3. Conversion with strconv
  4. The strings package
  5. Rune and UTF-8
  6. Summary - String

12 Pointer

  1. What is a pointer?
  2. & and * operators
  3. The new function
  4. Pointers and functions
  5. Nil pointer
  6. Summary - Pointer

13 Struct

  1. Struct declaration
  2. Creating a struct
  3. Field access
  4. Struct embedding
  5. Struct and pointer
  6. Summary - Struct

14 Methods

  1. Method declaration
  2. Pointer receiver
  3. Value receiver
  4. Methods and embedding
  5. Method chaining
  6. Summary - Methods

15 Interface and error

  1. Interface declaration
  2. Implicit satisfaction
  3. The error interface
  4. Returning errors
  5. errors.Is and errors.As
  6. Summary - Interface and error

16 Beginner final

  1. Challenge 1 - Combined program
  2. Challenge 2 - Data structure
  3. Challenge 3 - Error handling
  4. Challenge 4 - Mini app