Googlecloudplatform Devrel Demos Go Project Setup

Go Project Setup

This skill guides the creation of clean, idiomatic Go project structures.

Core Mandates

1. Standard Layout Only: Use the official Go project layout (cmd/, internal/).
   • NEVER create a pkg/ directory. (It is an anti-pattern common in Kubernetes but not idiomatic Go).
2. Flat by Default: Start with a flat structure (all files in root) for simple apps. Only introduce cmd/ and internal/ when multiple binaries or private packages are needed.
3. Modern Go: Ensure go.mod specifies the latest stable Go version (currently 1.24+).

Workflow

1. Determine Scope

Ask the user: "Is this a simple tool, a library, or a multi-service repo?"

2. Select and Use Template

MANDATORY: You MUST read and use the templates provided in the assets/ directory. They establish idiomatic patterns like graceful shutdown, run functions, and package separation.

• Simple CLI / Tool: assets/cli-simple. Flat structure.
• Cobra CLI: assets/cli-cobra. For complex CLI tools.
• Library: assets/library. Package in root, internal/ for hidden logic.
• Application / Service: assets/webservice.
  • cmd/app-name/main.go: Entry point using the run function pattern.
  • internal/: Private application logic.
• MCP Server: assets/mcp-server.
• Game: assets/game. Using Ebitengine.

3. Initialize

1. Create Directory: mkdir my-app
2. Init Module: go mod init github.com/user/my-app
3. Linting: (Optional) Initialize .golangci.yml if the project requires rigorous style enforcement.
4. Apply Template: Copy and adapt the files from the chosen template in assets/. Ensure module names are updated.
5. Verify: Run go mod tidy and go build ./....

References

• references/project_layout.md: Official Go Module Layout guide.

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