How To Install Go 1.21 (Golang) on Linux Mint

Welcome to the world of Go programming! If you’re a Linux Mint user looking to delve into the efficient and powerful realm of Golang, you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of installing Golang on your Linux Mint system, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free setup.

What is Golang?

Go, often referred to as Golang, is an open-source programming language developed by Google. Known for its simplicity, efficiency, and strong support for concurrent programming, Go is a popular choice for building everything from simple command-line tools to large-scale network servers and distributed systems.

Step 1: System Update

Before installing any new software, it’s always a good practice to update your system. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update 
sudo apt upgrade 

This ensures your system is up-to-date with the latest packages and security patches.

Step 2: Downloading Golang

Navigate to the official Golang download page in your web browser: Golang Downloads. Download the latest version of the Go tarball compatible with Linux.

Alternatively, you can download it directly using wget in your terminal:

wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.21.6.linux-amd64.tar.gz 

Replace go1.21.6.linux-amd64.tar.gz with the latest Go version.

Step 3: Extracting the Go Tarball

Once the download is complete, extract the tarball to /usr/local to install Go. Run:

sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.6.linux-amd64.tar.gz 

Step 4: Setting Go Paths

Next, you need to set up your Go paths. Add these lines to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile file:

export GOPATH=$HOME/go
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$GOPATH/bin

After adding these lines, apply the changes by running:

source ~/.bashrc 

or

source ~/.profile 

Step 5: Setting Up Your Go Workspace

Go uses a specific directory structure for its projects. It’s a good idea to set up your Go workspace:

1. Create a workspace directory:

   mkdir ~/go 
   

2. Set the GOPATH environment variable:

   echo "export GOPATH=$HOME/go" >> ~/.profile 
   source ~/.profile 
   

Step 6: Verifying the Installation

To ensure Go is installed correctly, run:

go version 

This command should display the installed version of Go.

Step 7: Creating Your First Go Project

Create a workspace for your Go projects:

mkdir -p $HOME/go/src/hello 

Navigate to your new project directory:

cd $HOME/go/src/hello 

Create a hello.go file with a simple program. For example:

package main
import "fmt"

func main() {
    fmt.Println("Hello, Golang!")
}

Run your program with:

go run hello.go 

You should see "Hello, Golang!" printed in your terminal.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully installed Golang on your Linux Mint system and created your first Go program. This marks the beginning of your exciting journey into the world of Go programming. Happy coding!

Additional Resources:

For further learning, the official Go website offers extensive documentation and tutorials: Go Documentation. Additionally, numerous online communities and forums are available for Go developers to share knowledge and experience.