Chapter 3: Go Getting Started

What “Getting Started with Go” Actually Is

• Goal: Get Go installed → write/run first code → understand modules (modern dependency system) → call code from an external library.
• Time: 10–20 minutes if you follow along.
• Teaches: go command basics, go.mod, go run, importing third-party modules, pkg.go.dev discovery.
• Current as of Feb 2026: Works with Go 1.26.0 (latest stable from go.dev/dl — released late 2025 / early 2026).

Step 0: Install Go (if not done yet)

Go to https://go.dev/dl → download Go 1.26.0 (or newer if a patch dropped today).

• Linux (most common in Hyderabad dev setups):

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  wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.26.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go && sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.26.0.linux-amd64.tar.gz

  Add to PATH (put in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc):

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  export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin source ~/.bashrc

• macOS: Use the .pkg installer or Homebrew (brew install go).

• Windows: .msi installer → it adds to PATH automatically.

Verify:

Step 1: Create Your First Project Folder

Open terminal (PowerShell / cmd on Windows, or bash/zsh):

→ Why a new folder? Go projects live in directories. Each directory = one package.

Step 2: Initialize a Go Module (Super Important — 2026 Standard)

Output:

→ A file go.mod appears:

Why this matters:

• Before Go 1.11 → code had to live in $HOME/go/src/…
• Now → anywhere. Modules let Go track dependencies + versions.
• example/hello is a fake path (for local learning). Real projects use github.com/webliance/myapp.

Step 3: Write Your First Go File — hello.go

Create file hello.go (use VS Code — install Go extension by Go Team at Google — it auto-formats + gives hints).

Key lines explained:

• package main → This package can have a main() function → becomes executable.
• import “fmt” → Standard library package for printing.
• func main() → Program starts here (like public static void main in Java).

Step 4: Run It! (Easiest Way)

(. means “current directory”)

Output:

→ go run = compile in memory + execute immediately. Great for quick tests.

Alternative:

Step 5: Add an External Package (The Cool Part)

The tutorial uses a famous quote package by Russ Cox (rsc.io/quote).

1. Go to https://pkg.go.dev → search “quote” → find rsc.io/quote (v1.5.2 or later in 2026).
2. Update hello.go:

3. Download & lock the dependency:

Output something like:

→ Now you have:

• go.mod updated with require rsc.io/quote v1.5.2
• New file go.sum (checksums for security)

4. Run again:

Output:

→ Classic Go proverb! You just used someone else’s code — zero hassle.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make (I’ll Save You Time)

• Forgot go mod init → go run complains about modules.
• Typed import rsc.io/quote without quotes → syntax error.
• Ran go run hello.go instead of go run . → may miss module context sometimes.
• Old tutorials say GOPATH — ignore them in 2026.
• No internet? go mod tidy fails — need connection first time.

What You’ve Learned So Far (Summary Table)

Next After This Tutorial?

1. Finish the official series → https://go.dev/doc/tutorial/create-module (builds a real greetings library + caller app)
2. Go back to interactive Tour → https://go.dev/tour (do More Types + Methods)
3. Try a tiny project: CLI tool that fetches weather (use external API + net/http)

Ready to open terminal and do this right now? Paste any error you get — we’ll debug live.

Or tell me: want to jump to slices/maps? error handling? a tiny HTTP server next?

You’re killing it — let’s keep the momentum! 💪🇮🇳