Go (Golang) is an open-source, compiled programming language developed by Google. It provides a simple syntax and fast compilation speed. Due to its scalability, stability, and portability, it has become increasingly popular over the past few years and is used in many large web applications. In this article we will discuss how to install Go on Ubuntu, an operating system based on Linux kernel.

Installing Go can be quite complicated for those unfamiliar with Linux systems or command line prompts. However, with the proper instructions it does not have to be difficult; there are only a few steps that need to be followed in order to successfully install Go onto Ubuntu. This article will provide clear guidance through each step of the installation process so readers can easily complete the task at hand.

Furthermore, this article will also cover some additional topics related to installing Go such as configurations, environment variables and dependencies which may prove helpful when setting up your development environment. With these guidelines, users should find themselves well equipped for successful installation of Go on their Ubuntu machine.

 

Prerequisites

Prior to the installation of Go on Ubuntu, there are certain prerequisites that must be met. One such requirement is having a valid user account with sudo privileges for administrative tasks. It is recommended to update the system before beginning the installation process by running the command: ‘sudo apt-get update’ in order to ensure all packages are up-to-date.

Additionally, if using an earlier version of Ubuntu than 18.04, it may be necessary to install additional dependencies as specified by the official Golang website which can be accessed online. Having completed these steps, one can proceed with installing Go on their Ubuntu machine.

 

Downloading Go Binaries

The next step in the process of installing Go on Ubuntu is to download the appropriate version of binaries. While searching for downloads, it is important to ensure that the version of downloaded binaries matches with your operating system and architecture type. There are two ways to obtain these binaries; one can either manually download them from a website or use an automated tool such as Homebrew.

After downloading the correct binary package, users need to extract it into their desired directory using tar command. The extracted files will include several executables which should be placed inside any directory included in PATH environment variable so they can be used globally across the system. Additionally, setting GOROOT environment variable also helps locate Go language installation folder more quickly while running programs written in Go language.

 

Setting Up Environment Variables

In order to install Go (golang) on a Ubuntu machine, it is necessary to set up environment variables. This task can be divided in two steps:

Defining GOROOT and GOPATH variables:

  • GOROOT variable corresponds to the directory where Go was installed. It should point to the installation path of go.
  • GOPATH variable provides an additional workspace for developers. All projects related to Golang must reside in this workspace.

Once these two environment variables have been defined, they need to be added into ~/.bashrc file so that they are available when a new terminal window opens. After adding them into this file, users should then execute ‘source ~/.bashrc’ command which will make sure that all changes take effect immediately. The setup process gets complete at this stage and users can begin developing with golang by writing code inside their GOPATH workspace folder.

 

Verifying The Installation

Once the installation of Go is complete, it can be verified by checking its version. This can be done using the command line interface (CLI) and entering ‘go version’. If a message with information about the installed version appears, then the software is successfully installed.

It also possible to check if all environment variables are set correctly. For example, in Ubuntu, this can be done through running ‘printenv GOROOT’ or ‘echo $GOROOT’, which should output ‘/usr/local/go’ for an up-to-date installation.

If both commands return expected results, then Go has been successfully installed and configured on the system.

 

Running Go Programs

Once the installation of Go (golang) on Ubuntu is verified, running programs written in this language becomes possible. To do so, the user must first open a terminal window and export the directory that contains their program files to $GOPATH.

This enviromental variable will be used by Go’s toolchain when building or executing code. Then, they can move into the project folder and type ‘go build’ to compile it into an executable binary file. After successful compilation, users may execute their compiled program by calling its name from within the same folder as before.

Alternatively, if needed, further commands such as go test or go install can also be called in order to run tests or install packages respectively. Additionally, certain parameters like –race flag are available for advanced testing purposes. With these steps completed, a user has successfully ran a Go program from start to finish on Ubuntu OS system.

 

Troubleshooting Issues

If the installation of Go (golang) is not successful, there are a few steps that can be taken to solve the issue. First and foremost, ensure all system requirements for installing Go have been met. This includes having an updated version of Ubuntu as well as sufficient disk space on the device. Then check if any other software installed simultaneously with Go caused it to malfunction or conflict with applications already present in the system.

If so, remove said software and reinstall Go once again. Additionally, download a fresh copy of the latest stable version from Golang’s official website and try to install it manually by following the instructions provided there. Lastly, check if any environment variables related to Go need to be set correctly before beginning its installation process.

These solutions should resolve most issues encountered during the installation process; however, if none work then contact customer support for assistance with troubleshooting further.

 

Conclusion

Go is a powerful language that allows developers to compile and execute code quickly. Installing Go on Ubuntu is a simple process that involves downloading the binaries, setting up environment variables, verifying the installation, running programs, and troubleshooting any issues. By following these steps carefully, users can easily install Go on their Ubuntu systems with minimal effort.

The first step in installing Go on an Ubuntu system is to download the binary files from the official website. This file includes all of the necessary components needed for a successful installation; it should be downloaded directly onto the hard drive or USB storage device of choice.

After this has been done, environment variables must then be set up so that Go can be used correctly within the terminal window. Once this has been completed and verified through testing commands, programs can now be run using Go’s syntax and compiler functions. If there are any problems encountered during installation or when trying to run programs, they may need to be resolved before continuing further.

Installing Go on an Ubuntu system requires only a few basic steps to complete successfully. As long as each step is followed carefully – such as downloading the correct version of binaries, setting up environment variables correctly and verifying the installation – users will have no trouble getting started with programming in Go on their Ubuntu machine. With some patience and careful attention to detail, anyone should find success when attempting to install go (golang) on ubuntu systems.