The “go tool” command in Go is used to run a specific Go tool or command as a stand-alone binary. It allows you to execute various Go commands directly, without using the “go” command line interface. This can be useful for debugging or running specific tools that are not commonly used.
The general syntax for using “go tool” is:
# go tool [toolname] [args...]
Here, “[toolname]” represents the specific Go tool or command you want to run, and “[args…]” represents any additional arguments that the tool may require.
For example, you can use “go tool compile” to directly run the Go compiler. This allows you to compile Go source files and analyze the compiler output in detail. Similarly, you can use “go tool link” to run the Go linker, “go tool pprof” to run the Go profiling tool, and so on.
By using “go tool”, you access each Go tool as an individual binary, allowing you to experiment with different options and configurations specific to that tool. It can be helpful for in-depth debugging or performance profiling of your Go programs.
However, it’s important to note that the “go tool” command is not typically used in day-to-day development work. Most commonly used Go tools are already available through the “go” command itself.
“go tool” Command Examples
1. List available tools:
# go tool
2. Run the go link tool:
# go tool link [path/to/main.o]
3. Print the command that would be executed, but do not execute it (similar to whereis):
# go tool -n [command] [arguments]
4. Display documentation for a specified tool:
# go tool [command] --help
Summary
The “go tool” command in Go allows you to run specific Go tools or commands as stand-alone binaries. It provides a way to execute Go tools directly for debugging or running less commonly used tools. You can run tools like the Go compiler (“go tool compile”), linker (“go tool link”), and profiler (“go tool pprof”). It enables in-depth debugging and performance profiling of Go programs. However, note that “go tool” is not commonly used for day-to-day development tasks.