The “go install” command in Go is used to compile and install packages, along with their dependencies, that are specified by the import paths.
When you use “go install”, Go will first check if the package is already present in your local build cache. If it is not, Go will first fetch the package and its dependencies from the remote repository, and then compile and install them.
The “go install” command can be used for both executable programs and libraries. When building an executable program, Go will create an executable binary file and place it in the bin directory of your workspace. On the other hand, when building a library, Go will create a package archive file and place it in the pkg directory of your workspace.
Using “go install” has several benefits. First, it ensures that the packages and their dependencies are compiled and installed correctly, making them available for use in the current project. Additionally, “go install” helps manage the build cache, allowing for faster builds in subsequent builds of the same package.
“go install” Command Examples
1. Compile and install the current package:
# go install
2. Compile and install a specific local package:
# go install path/to/package
3. Install the latest version of a program, ignoring go.mod in the current directory:
# go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest
4. Install a program at the version selected by go.mod in the current directory:
# go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls
Summary
The “go install” command in Go is used to compile and install packages and their dependencies specified by import paths. It checks if the package is in the local build cache; if not, it fetches the package and its dependencies from the remote repository. “go install” creates executable binaries or package archives and puts them in the appropriate directories of your project workspace. It ensures correct compilation and installation and helps manage the build cache for faster subsequent builds. Specify the import paths of the packages you want to install as arguments to the command.