Objective
The objective is to install Go on Ubuntu 18.04. Go also know as Golang, is an open source programming language developed by Google.
This guide will show you how to install Go on Ubuntu using a standard Ubuntu repository by use of the apt command and use of the Google’s Golang installer as well as how to install go using the snap command.
Operating System and Software Versions
- Operating System: – Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver
- Software: – go version go1.10 linux/amd64 or higher
Requirements
Privileged access to your Ubuntu System as root or via sudo command is required.
Conventions
- # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of
sudocommand - $ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Other Versions of this Tutorial
Instructions
Install Prerequisites
To install and test Go we will need the following linux commands: wget and git. These tools are most likely already installed on your Ubuntu system. In case they are not, run:
$ sudo apt install wget git
Install Go using Golang installer
Using Google’s golang installer is most likely the most convenient way how to install Go on your Ubuntu system. Let’s start by downloading the Golang installer:
$ wget -q https://storage.googleapis.com/golang/getgo/installer_linux
Make the Golang installation executable:
$ chmod +x installer_linux
Lastly, run the installer_linux executable to install Go on your Ubuntu system. The installer will download and install the latest version Go:
$ ./installer_linux Welcome to the Go installer! Downloading Go version go1.10 to /home/linuxconfig/.go This may take a bit of time... Downloaded! Setting up GOPATH GOPATH has been set up! One more thing! Run `source /home/linuxconfig/.bash_profile` to persist the new environment variables to your current session, or open a new shell prompt.
As prompted by installer, run the source command to update your current shell session variables to include the new GOPATH, or simply open a new shell session:
$ source /home/linuxconfig/.bash_profile
Check for go version:
$ go version go version go1.10 linux/amd64
Lastly, as a test, try to get and execute Golang’s hello world example:
$ go get github.com/golang/example/hello $ hello Hello, Go examples!
The disadvantage of using Golang installer to install Go on Ubuntu system is that we are unable to select an installation version. But I’m sure this is just a temporary setback:
$ ./installer_linux -i Welcome to the Go installer! Would you like to install Go? Y/n [Y]: y The latest go version is go1.10, install that? Y/n [Y]: n Aborting install.
Install Go from Ubuntu repostiory
Another alternative to install Go on Ubuntu 18.04 is by using the apt command to install Go binaries from the Ubuntu’s repository:
$ sudo apt install golang
This will install the latest traditional package which at the the time of writing is go version go1.10:
$ go version go version go1.10 linux/amd64
Before we perform a test we first need to set GOPATH:
$ echo 'export GOPATH=$HOME/go' >> ~/.bashrc
$ echo 'export PATH=${PATH}:${GOPATH}/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
$ source ~/.bashrc
Perform a go command test with pre-compiled hello world:
$ go get github.com/golang/example/hello $ hello Hello, Go examples!
Install Go using snap
In this section we will perform an installation of Go on Ubuntu 18.04 using the snap command. To install Go on Ubuntu 18.04 using snap is as easy as the following linux command:
$ sudo snap install go --classic go 1.10 from 'mwhudson' installed
Check for installed version:
$ go version go version go1.10 linux/amd64
Next, set GOPATH:
$ echo 'export GOPATH=$HOME/go' >> ~/.bashrc
$ echo 'export PATH=${PATH}:${GOPATH}/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
$ source ~/.bashrc
Lastly, to test go installation, use the go command to download and execute Hello World example:
$ go get github.com/golang/example/hello $ hello Hello, Go examples!
Alternatively, the snap command allows you to select a Go version to be installed on you Ubuntu system. The below command will list all available Go versions:
$ snap info go name: go summary: Go programming language compiler, linker, stdlib publisher: mwhudson contact: michael.hudson@ubuntu.com license: BSD-3-Clause description: | This snap provides an assembler, compiler, linker, and compiled libraries for the Go programming language. snap-id: Md1HBASHzP4i0bniScAjXGnOII9cEK6e channels: stable: 1.10 (1473) 64MB classic candidate: 1.10rc2 (1406) 64MB classic beta: ↑ edge: devel-86a3389 (1598) 69MB classic 1.10/stable: 1.10 (1473) 64MB classic 1.10/candidate: ↑ 1.10/beta: ↑ 1.10/edge: ↑ 1.6/stable: 1.6.4 (122) 49MB classic 1.6/candidate: ↑ 1.6/beta: ↑ 1.6/edge: ↑ 1.7/stable: 1.7.6 (324) 48MB classic 1.7/candidate: ↑ 1.7/beta: ↑ 1.7/edge: ↑ 1.8/stable: 1.8.7 (1407) 51MB classic 1.8/candidate: ↑ 1.8/beta: ↑ 1.8/edge: ↑ 1.9/stable: 1.9.4 (1404) 55MB classic 1.9/candidate: ↑ 1.9/beta: ↑ 1.9/edge: ↑
For example, the bellow command will install Go 1.7 stable:
$ sudo snap install go --channel 1.7 --classic go (1.7/stable) 1.7.6 from 'mwhudson' installed $ go version go version go1.7.6 linux/amd64
Getting Started Go Example
Let’s start a new project by creating a new directory within ~/go/src/. We will call it the linuxconfig project:
$ mkdir ~/go/src/linuxconfig
Using nano or any other text editor edit the new file linuxconfig.go:
$ nano ~/go/src/linuxconfig/linuxconfig.go
While in the editing mode, enter the following Go code:
package main
import (
"fmt"
"github.com/golang/example/stringutil"
)
func main() {
fmt.Println(stringutil.Reverse("gro.gifnoCxuniL gnitisiv rof uoY knahT"))
}
Compile and install new binary:
$ go install linuxconfig
Run Golang binary executable:
$ linuxconfig Thank You for visiting LinuxConfig.org