Go CLI Cheat Sheet

go version

# Show the selected Go toolchain version.

go env

# Inspect Go environment variables and effective values.

go env -json

# Useful for scripting and debugging setup.

go help

# Show top-level go command help.

go help build

# Show detailed help for go build flags and behavior.

go run .

# Compile and run the current module entrypoint.

go run main.go

# Compile and run a single Go source file.

go build .

# Compile the current package or module target.

go build -o ./bin/app .

# Write the compiled binary to a specific path.

go install ./cmd/myapp

# Compile and install a package binary.

go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/stringer@latest

# Install a tool at an explicit module version.

go fmt ./...

# Run gofmt across package sources.

go vet ./...

# Report likely mistakes in Go packages.

go test -short ./...

# Run tests while skipping long-running cases.

go test -race ./...

# Detect race conditions in tests or packages.

go test -cover ./...

# Collect statement coverage while testing.

go doc net/http

# Print docs for a package.

go doc net/http Client

# Print docs for a symbol in a package.

go list ./...

# List packages under the current module.

go list -json ./...

# Emit package metadata for scripts and tooling.

go clean -cache -testcache -modcache

# Remove build outputs and cached files.

go env -w GOPRIVATE=github.com/myorg/*

# Write a Go env default into the user config.

go env -u GOPRIVATE

# Remove a persisted Go env setting.

GOTOOLCHAIN=local go test ./...

# Run with the bundled/local toolchain only.

GOTOOLCHAIN=auto go version

# Let the go command choose a newer toolchain if needed.

go tool compile -help

# Pass through to tool-specific options when needed.