# Go API

> Build scalable REST APIs with Go. Perfect for high-performance backends.

- Skill: `heldinhow/go-api` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add heldinhow/go-api`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/heldinhow/go-api/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: Heldinhow (https://skillmd.com/u/heldinhow)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/heldinhow/go-api

---


# Go API Development

## Overview
Go is excellent for building high-performance APIs. Its concurrency model, fast compilation, and simple deployment make it ideal for microservices and REST APIs.

## Process

### 1. Project Setup
```bash
mkdir myapi && cd myapi
go mod init github.com/username/myapi
# Choose router: chi, gin, fiber, or stdlib
go get github.com/go-chi/chi/v5
```

### 2. Structure
```
├── cmd/
│   └── api/main.go
├── internal/
│   ├── handlers/
│   ├── models/
│   └── repository/
├── go.mod
└── go.sum
```

### 3. Handlers
```go
func GetUsers(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
    users, err := repository.GetAll()
    if err != nil {
        http.Error(w, err.Error(), 500)
        return
    }
    json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(users)
}
```

### 4. Middleware
- Logging (zerolog, zap)
- Authentication (JWT, OAuth)
- Rate limiting
- CORS

### 5. Database
- Use GORM, sqlx, or raw SQL
- Implement repository pattern
- Connection pooling built-in

## Examples

- **REST API**: CRUD with chi router
- **Microservice**: gRPC + HTTP gateway
- **Auth Service**: JWT + Redis sessions

## Limitations

- Learning curve for goroutines/channels
- Error handling verbose without helpers
- Dependency management requires discipline
- Not as expressive as Python/Ruby for quick prototyping