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Using Go Toolset

Red Hat Developer Tools 2018.2

Installing and Using Go Toolset

Vladimír Slávik

Red Hat Developer Group Documentation Team

Abstract

Go Toolset is a Red Hat offering for developers on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform. The Using Go Toolset provides an overview of this product, explains how to invoke and use the Go Toolset versions of the tools, and links to resources with more in-depth information.

Chapter 1. Go Toolset

1.1. About Go Toolset

Go Toolset is a Red Hat offering for developers on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform, available as a Technology Preview. It provides the Go programming language tools and libraries. Go is alternatively known as golang.

Go Toolset is distributed as a part of Red Hat Developer Tools for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.

Important

Go Toolset is available as a Technology Preview. See the Technology Preview Features Support Scope for more details.

Libraries in Go Toolset provide no ABI compatibility with past or future releases.

Customers deploying Go Toolset are encouraged to provide feedback to Red Hat.

The following components are available as a part of Go Toolset:

Table 1.1. Go Toolset Components

NameVersionDescription

golang

1.8.7

A Go compiler.

1.2. Compatibility

Go Toolset is available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 7.3 and 7.4 on the following architectures:

  • The 64-bit Intel and AMD architectures
  • The 64-bit ARM architecture
  • The IBM Power Systems architecture
  • The little-endian variant of IBM Power Systems architecture
  • The IBM Z Systems architecture

1.3. Getting Access to Go Toolset

Go Toolset is an offering that is distributed as a part of the Red Hat Developer Tools content set, which is available to customers with deployments of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7. In order to install Go Toolset, enable the Red Hat Developer Tools and Red Hat Software Collections repositories by using the Red Hat Subscription Management and add the Red Hat Developer Tools key to your system.

  1. Enable the rhel-7-variant-devtools-rpms repository:

    # subscription-manager repos --enable rhel-7-variant-devtools-rpms

    Replace variant with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux system variant (server or workstation).

    Note

    We recommend developers to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server for access to the widest range of development tools.

  2. Enable the rhel-variant-rhscl-7-rpms repository:

    # subscription-manager repos --enable rhel-variant-rhscl-7-rpms

    Replace variant with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux system variant (server or workstation).

  3. Add the Red Hat Developer Tools key to your system:

    # cd /etc/pki/rpm-gpg
    # wget -O RPM-GPG-KEY-redhat-devel https://www.redhat.com/security/data/a5787476.txt
    # rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-redhat-devel

Once the subscription is attached to the system, and repositories enabled you can install Red Hat Go Toolset as described in Section 1.4, “Installing Go Toolset”.

Additional Resources

1.4. Installing Go Toolset

Go Toolset is distributed as a collection of RPM packages that can be installed, updated, uninstalled, and inspected by using the standard package management tools that are included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Note that a valid subscription that provides access to the Red Hat Developer Tools content set is required in order to install Go Toolset on your system. For detailed instructions on how to associate your system with an appropriate subscription and get access to Go Toolset, see Section 1.3, “Getting Access to Go Toolset”.

Important

Before installing Go Toolset, install all available Red Hat Enterprise Linux updates.

  1. To install all components that are included in Go Toolset, install the go-toolset-7 package:

    # yum install go-toolset-7

    This installs all development and debugging tools, and other dependent packages to the system.

  2. Create the Go language workspace directory and environment variable:

    $ mkdir -p workspace_dir
    $ echo 'export GOPATH=workspace_dir' >> $HOME/.bashrc
    $ source $HOME/.bashrc

    Select an appropriate value for the workspace_dir directory. A common choice is $HOME/go.

    If the GOPATH variable is not set, the go compiler uses the ~/go directory.

Additional Resources

  • Workspaces — Description of the Go language workspace organization. Official documentation for the Go programming language.

1.5. Additional Resources

A detailed description of the Go Toolset and all its features is beyond the scope of this book. For more information, see the resources listed below.

Online Documentation

Chapter 2. go

go is a build tool and dependency manager for the Go programming language.

Go Toolset is distributed with go 1.8.7.

Important

Go Toolset and go are available as a Technology Preview. See the Technology Preview Features Support Scope for more details.

Libraries used by go in Go Toolset provide no ABI compatibility with past or future releases.

Customers deploying Go Toolset are encouraged to provide feedback to Red Hat.

2.1. Installing go

In Go Toolset, go is provided by the go-toolset-7-golang package and is automatically installed with the go-toolset-7 package. See Section 1.4, “Installing Go Toolset”.

2.2. Writing Go Programs

When creating a Go program, developers must follow the rules for Go workspace layout. The .go source files must be placed in subdirectory of $GOPATH/src.

Example 2.1. Creating a Go Program

Consider a program named hello consisting of a single source file named hello.go:

$ mkdir -p $GOPATH/src/hello
$ cd $GOPATH/src/hello
$ touch hello.go

Edit the file hello.go in your favorite text editor to add the following text:

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
)

func Welcome(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {

    fmt.Fprintf(w, "<h1>Welcome to the Go toolset.</h1>")

}

func main() {

    fmt.Println("Hello.")
    fmt.Println("Starting http server.")
    // Register handler function
    http.HandleFunc("/welcome", Welcome)
    fmt.Println("Go to localhost:8080/welcome")
    fmt.Println("To terminate press CTRL+C.")
    // Start server
    http.ListenAndServe(":8080", nil)

}

Additional Resources

  • Workspaces — Description of the Go language workspace organization. Official documentation for the Go programming language.

2.3. Using the go Compiler

To build a Go program using the command line, change to the project directory and run the go compiler as follows:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go build -o output_file go_main_package'

This creates a binary file named output_file in the current working directory. If the -o option is omitted, the compiler creates a file named after the go_main_package, go_main_package.

If go_main_package is not a main package or if multiple projects or *.go files are specified, the resulting binaries are discarded. In that case, the go build command is used to verify that the supplied projects or files can be built.

Note that you can execute any command using the scl utility, causing it to be run with the Go Toolset binaries available. This allows you to run a shell session with Go Toolset go directly available:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'bash'

Example 2.2. Compiling a Go Program Using the Command Line

Assuming that you have successfully created the program hello as shown in Example 2.1, “Creating a Go Program”, compile the program:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go build hello.go'

This creates a new binary file called hello in the current working directory.

2.4. Running a Go Program

When go compiles a program, it creates an executable binary file. To run this program on the command line, change to the directory with the executable file and run the program:

$ ./file_name

Example 2.3. Running a Go Program on the Command Line

Assuming that you have successfully compiled the hello binary file as shown in Example 2.2, “Compiling a Go Program Using the Command Line”, run it by typing the following at a shell prompt:

$ ./hello
Hello.
Starting http server.
Go to localhost:8080/welcome
To terminate press CTRL+C.

2.5. Installing Go Projects

Installing a Go project means that its executable files and libraries are compiled, and copied to appropriate directories in the Go Workspace. The go tool can then use the executable files and libraries in further projects. Dependencies of the installed project are installed, too.

To install a Go project, run the go tool:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go install go_project'

The install command accepts the same options as the build command.

2.6. Downloading Go Projects

To download a 3rd party Go project from an online source and install it, run the go tool:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go get 3rd_party_go_project'

For more details about the possible values of 3rd_party_go_project option, run the following command:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go help importpath'

2.7. Additional Resources

A detailed description of the go compiler and its features is beyond the scope of this book. For more information, see the resources listed below.

Installed Documentation

  • The Go compiler help command provides information on its usage. To show the help index:

    $ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go help'
  • The Go compiler doc command shows documentation for packages. To show documentation for package package_name:

    $ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go doc package_name'

    To learn more about the doc command:

    $ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go help doc'

Online Documentation

  • Command go — Official documentation of the go compiler.

See Also

Chapter 3. gofmt

gofmt is a code formatting tool for the Go programming language, packaged together with the go compiler.

Go Toolset is distributed with gofmt 1.8.7.

Important

Go Toolset and gofmt are available as a Technology Preview. See the Technology Preview Features Support Scope for more details.

Customers deploying Go Toolset are encouraged to provide feedback to Red Hat.

3.1. Installing gofmt

In Go Toolset, gofmt is provided by the go-toolset-7-golang package and is automatically installed with the go-toolset-7 package. See Section 1.4, “Installing Go Toolset”.

3.2. Formatting Code

To format all code in the code_path path, run the gofmt tool as follows:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'gofmt -w code_path'

This command will directly change code in the code_path path. When code_path is a single file, the changes apply only to the file. When code_path is a directory, all .go files in the directory are processed.

When the code_path is omitted, gofmt reads standard input instead.

To print the formatted code to standard output instead of writing to the original file, omit the -w option.

It is possible to invoke gofmt through the go compiler with the fmt command. To achieve the same results as the command above, run:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go fmt -l -w -s code_path'

3.3. Previewing Changes To Code

To preview changes done by formatting code in a given path code_path, run the gofmt tool with the -d option as follows:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'gofmt -d code_path'

The output in unified diff format is printed to standard output.

It is possible to combine both the -d and -w options.

3.4. Simplifying Code

To simplify code in a given path code_path, run the gofmt tool with the -s option as follows:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'gofmt -s code_path'

The code under code_path is simplified. Use the -d option to show the differences, and use the -w option to apply the changes to the code.

3.5. Refactoring Code

The gofmt tool can be used to refactor code by applying arbitrary substitutions. To refactor code in a given path code_path according to a rule rewrite_rule, run the gofmt tool with the -r option as follows:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'gofmt -r rewrite_rule code_path'

The code under code_path is refactored according to the rule rewrite_rule. Use the -d option to show the differences, and use the -w option to apply the changes to the code. The additional options must be placed after the rule rewrite_rule:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'gofmt -r rewrite_rule -d code_path'

Detailed description of the rewrite rules is beyond the scope of this book. For more information, see the resources listed in Section 3.6, “Additional Resources”.

3.6. Additional Resources

A detailed description of the gofmt tool and its features is beyond the scope of this book. For more information, see the resources listed below.

Online Documentation

See Also

Chapter 4. Go Race Detector

Go Toolset includes the Go race detector. The race detector is a feature of the Go standard library. The race detector must be enabled at compile time and is used at runtime.

Important

Go Toolset and the Go race detector are available as a Technology Preview. See the Technology Preview Features Support Scope for more details.

Libraries in Go Toolset provide no ABI compatibility with past or future releases.

Customers deploying Go Toolset are encouraged to provide feedback to Red Hat.

4.1. Installing the Race Detector

In Go Toolset, the race detector is provided by the go-toolset-7-golang-race package. To install the race detector:

# yum install go-toolset-7-golang-race

A variant of the Go standard library with the runtime race detection enabled is installed.

See Also

4.2. Using the Race Detector

To use the runtime race detector for a Go project, add the -race option to the go tool commands used when manipulating the project.

For a minimal approach to using the race detector, build the project with the -race option:

$ scl enable go-toolset-7 'go build -race -o output_file go_main_package'

When you run the resulting executable, the race detector will print warnings to the standard output when a race is detected.

Important

The race detector has a significant runtime resource overhead.

4.3. Additional Resources

A detailed description of the Go race detector and its features is beyond the scope of this book. For more information, see the resources listed below.

Online Documentation

See Also

Chapter 5. Container Image

The Go Toolset is available as a docker-formatted container image which can be downloaded from Red Hat Container Registry.

5.1. Image Contents

The devtools/go-toolset-7-rhel7 image provides content corresponding to the following packages:

ComponentVersionPackage

Go

1.8.7

go-toolset-7

5.2. Access to the Image

To pull the devtools/go-toolset-7-rhel7 image, run the following command as root:

# docker pull registry.access.redhat.com/devtools/go-toolset-7-rhel7

5.3. Usage as Builder Image with Source-to-Image

The Go Toolset docker container image is prepared for use as a Source-to-Image (S2I) builder image.

To do so, set the following build environment variables:

IMPORT_URL
Set this variable to an URL specifying the location of the code. The rules for the go get command option apply.
INSTALL_URL

Set this variable to an URL specifying the location of the package that will provide the application’s main executable file when built. The rules for the go install command option apply.

This variable can be omitted if the main package location is identical with the location specified by the IMPORT_URL variable.

Example 5.1. Building a Go Application Image Using Source-to-Image

To build the md2man package from its GitHub repository:

$ s2i build -e IMPORT_URL='github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man' -e INSTALL_URL='github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man' git://github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man  registry.access.redhat.com/devtools/go-toolset-7-rhel7 md2man-app

A locally available application image md2man-app is built from the repository on github using the go-toolset-7 docker image.

To fully leverage the Go Toolset as a S2I builder image, build custom images based on it, with modified S2I assemble scripts and further modifications to accomodate the particular application being built.

A detailed description of the Go Toolset usage with Source-to-Image is beyond the scope of this book. For more information about Source-to-Image, refer to the OpenShift Container Platform 3.7 Image Creation Guide, Chapter 4. S2I Requirements and Using Red Hat Software Collections Container Images, Chapter 2. Using Source-to-Image (S2I).

5.4. Additional Resources

Chapter 6. Changes in Go Toolset in Red Hat Developer Tools 2018.2

This chapter lists some notable changes in Go Toolset since its previous release.

6.1. Go

Go has been updated from version 1.8.3 to 1.8.7. This release also fixes the discovered security issues like CVE-2018-6574, CVE-2017-15041, and CVE-2017-15042.

Additionally, the following bugs have been fixed:

  • Previously, the enable script for the go-toolset-7 Software Collection incorrectly set the GOPATH environment variable to a directory that required root permissions for write operations. As a consequence, the go compiler terminated unexpectedly when performing certain commands. The enable script has been changed to handle GOPATH correctly, and the described problem no longer occurs. (BZ#1501760)
  • Previously, the go get command allowed Go code to specify plugin options of the gcc and clang compilers during the build. As a consequence, a remote attacker capable of hosting malicious repositories could potentially use this flaw to cause arbitrary command execution on the client side. Go has been changed so that only safe options can be specified for the external compilers. As a result, it is no longer possible to achieve arbitrary command execution with the go get command. (BZ#1545319)
  • Previously, the go-toolset-7-golang package did not specify git as its dependency. As a consequence, the go get command failed in minimal environments without git when a git repository was specified as the import source. The git package has been added as a dependency to go-toolset-7-golang and the problem no longer occurs. (BZ#1536154)

6.2. Container Image

Notable changes include:

  • Source-to-Image (S2I) support has been added to the go-toolset-7-rhel7 container image. As a result, S2I can be used to build Go application containers. (BZ#1554455)

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