How to Install Golang on Different Platforms

Installing Go (Golang) enables you to develop efficient and reliable software across various platforms. Below are step-by-step instructions for installing Go on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Key Takeaways

1. Go installation requires downloading and configuring environment variables for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. Verification of installation is essential to ensure Go is correctly set up using go version.
3. Each OS has a distinct installation method, but all involve setting the PATH variable for proper execution.

1. Installing Go on Windows

Step 1: Download the Installer

• Visit the official Go download page: https://go.dev/dl/
• Click on the Windows installer (.msi file) to download it.

Step 2: Run the Installer

• Locate the downloaded .msi file and double-click to run it.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. The default installation path is C:\Go.

Step 3: Set Up Environment Variables

• Open the Start menu, search for "Environment Variables," and select "Edit the system environment variables."
• In the System Properties window, click on "Environment Variables."
• Under "System variables," select the Path variable and click "Edit."
• Cick "New" and add C:\Go\bin.
• Click "OK" to save and exit.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

• Open Command Prompt and type:

go version

• You should see the installed Go version displayed.

2. Installing Go on macOS

Step 1: Download the Installer

• Navigate to the official Go download page: https://go.dev/dl/
• Download the macOS package installer (.pkg file).

Step 2: Run the Installer

• Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the prompts to install Go. The default installation path is /usr/local/go.

Step 3: Set Up Environment Variables

• Open Terminal.
• Add Go's binary directory to your PATH by appending the following line to your shell profile file (e.g., ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc):

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin

• Save the file and run:

  source ~/.bash_profile
  

  or

  source ~/.zshrc
  

Step 4: Verify the Installation

• In Terminal, type:

go version

• The installed Go version should be displayed.

3. Installing Go on Linux

Step 1: Download the Tarball

• Visit the official Go download page: https://go.dev/dl/
• Download the appropriate tarball for your Linux distribution.

Step 2: Extract and Install

• Open Terminal and navigate to the directory where the tarball was downloaded.
• Remove any previous Go installation:

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go

• Extract the tarball to /usr/local:

sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.xx.linux-amd64.tar.gz

Replace go1.xx.linux-amd64.tar.gz with the actual filename.

Step 3: Set Up Environment Variables

• Add Go's binary directory to your PATH. Append the following line to your shell profile file (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc):

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin

• Save the file and run:

  source ~/.bashrc
  

  or

  source ~/.zshrc
  

Step 4: Verify the Installation

• In Terminal, type:

go version

• The installed Go version should be displayed.

FAQs

What is the official source for downloading Go?

The official source is https://go.dev/dl/.

How do I check if Go is installed correctly?

Run go version in the terminal or command prompt to verify the installation.

Why do I need to modify the PATH variable after installation?

It ensures that the system recognizes Go commands globally.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have Go installed on your system, ready for development. For more detailed instructions and troubleshooting, refer to the official Go installation guide: https://go.dev/doc/install

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