1---2name: geth3description: Go Ethereum (geth) — CLI, JSON-RPC, Clef, abigen, and developer workflows.4metadata:5 author: hairy6 version: "2026.2.9"7 source: Generated from https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum and https://geth.ethereum.org/docs8---910> Skill based on go-ethereum (geth), generated 2026-02-09. Official docs: https://geth.ethereum.org/docs1112Go Ethereum (geth) is the Golang execution-layer client for Ethereum. It runs full/archive/light nodes, exposes JSON-RPC over HTTP/WebSocket/IPC, and ships tools like Clef (signer) and abigen (Go contract bindings).1314## Core References1516| Topic | Description | Reference |17|-------|-------------|-----------|18| Overview | What geth is, executables (geth, clef, abigen, evm, rlpdump), common flows | [core-overview](references/core-overview.md) |19| CLI | Command-line options, subcommands, config file (TOML) | [core-cli](references/core-cli.md) |20| JSON-RPC | Transports (HTTP, WS, IPC), namespaces, security | [core-rpc](references/core-rpc.md) |21| Sync modes | Snap (default), full, archive, light; when to use which | [core-sync-modes](references/core-sync-modes.md) |2223## Features2425### Tools2627| Topic | Description | Reference |28|-------|-------------|-----------|29| Clef | Standalone signer, external API, UI API (stdio-ui) | [feature-clef](references/feature-clef.md) |30| abigen | Go contract bindings from ABI/bytecode, deploy and call | [feature-abigen](references/feature-abigen.md) |31| EVM | Stateless t8n/t9n/b11r, bytecode run for testing and debugging | [features-evm](references/features-evm.md) |32| devp2p | P2P debugging, ENR, node keys, DNS discovery, discv4/discv5, eth protocol tests | [features-devp2p](references/features-devp2p.md) |33| JavaScript console | Interactive console and attach, web3 and management API | [features-console](references/features-console.md) |34| Dev mode | Single-node PoA with prefunded account, instant blocks | [features-dev-mode](references/features-dev-mode.md) |35| Simulated backend | In-process blockchain for Go tests without live node | [features-simulated-backend](references/features-simulated-backend.md) |36| rlpdump | Decode RLP dumps to readable format | [features-rlpdump](references/features-rlpdump.md) |37| ethkey | Keyfile generate, inspect, sign/verify message, change password | [features-ethkey](references/features-ethkey.md) |38| Beacon/Engine API | Post-merge consensus connection, JWT, checkpoint sync | [features-beacon-engine](references/features-beacon-engine.md) |39| Docker | Run geth in Docker; ports, volume, exposing RPC | [features-docker](references/features-docker.md) |40| Kurtosis | Multi-node private network (geth + consensus stack) | [features-kurtosis](references/features-kurtosis.md) |4142## Best Practices4344| Topic | Description | Reference |45|-------|-------------|-----------|46| RPC security | Which APIs to expose, avoid unlock over HTTP/WS, prefer IPC and Clef | [best-practices-rpc-security](references/best-practices-rpc-security.md) |4748## External Links4950- [geth.ethereum.org/docs](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs)51- [go-ethereum GitHub](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum)52- [Execution APIs (JSON-RPC)](https://github.com/ethereum/execution-apis)