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.

Exercise Print the version

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

Show example solution

package main

import "fmt"

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

Test yourself

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
Show answer

It is the workspace for your Go sources — GOPATH is the workspace for your Go sources.

Version command

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

Show answer

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

Match the commands

go run

Runs the source
go build

Produces a binary
go test

Runs tests
go mod init

Starts a module

Next lesson: Your first program

We Are Enhancing Your Experience

Cookie Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Analytical Cookies