Go quickstart: 5-minute local dev environment
The shortest path to getting Go running — a minimal starting point for first-time users.
Quick answer
How do I build a cross-platform static Go binary?
Use CGO_ENABLED=0 go build for a binary free of libc dependencies. Set GOOS and GOARCH explicitly for the target platform.
Machine-readable page data: /data/go-quickstart.json
In-depth analysis
Go's lightweight goroutines and single static binary make it a perennial choice for cloud-native and edge APIs. CGO_ENABLED=0 go build yields an executable with zero runtime dependencies. The fastest path to a win is one command to scaffold, start dev, edit a line, and see hot reload.
// main.go — minimal edge-friendly HTTP service (static binary)
package main
import "net/http"
func main() {
http.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
w.Write([]byte("hello from go"))
})
http.ListenAndServe(":8787", nil)
}
// Build: CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o server .Go Quickstart · Key takeaways
- Node ≥ 20.19 and pnpm ready
- Official scaffold initialized
- Dev hot reload works
- First local page reached
FAQ & pitfalls
Why does my deployed Go binary report missing dependencies?
CGO left enabled ties the binary to libc, breaking cross-platform deploys. Always build with CGO_ENABLED=0 and static linking.
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What readers are asking
Questions that keep coming back in reader feedback, already answered.
- 01
Why does my Go binary fail with missing dependencies on another machine?
CGO was left on, so the binary depends on the target machine's libc. Build with CGO_ENABLED=0 and static linking, then cross-compile per GOOS / GOARCH.
See the full guide → - 02
Why is my Astro component's interactivity not working?
Components ship as zero-JS HTML by default, so an interactive one needs a client:* directive (client:load, client:visible, …). Without it the script is never bundled into the page.
See the full guide → - 03
Why is my custom Tailwind v4 brand colour not applied?
Colours must be declared in @theme (for example --color-brand). A missing @tailwindcss/vite plugin, or a leftover v3 config, makes bg-brand silently render nothing.
See the full guide →