How to Install Go (Golang) in Linux (kali/ubuntu)

Golang, commonly known as Go, is a powerful programming language developed by Google. It is renowned for its simplicity, efficiency, and strong support for concurrent programming. If you’re looking to harness the capabilities of Go on a Linux system, this guide will walk you through the installation process step-by-step.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it’s always a good idea to update your system’s package list and upgrade any outdated packages. Open your terminal and execute the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Download Go

Visit the official Go programming language website to download the latest version. Alternatively, you can use wget in the terminal. Run the following command to download the latest version (replace 1.23.5 with the current version):

wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.23.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz

Step 3: Extract the Archive

Once the download is complete, you need to extract the tarball. Use the following command:

sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.23.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz

This command extracts Go into the /usr/local directory, which is the standard location for user-installed software on Linux.

Step 4: Set Up the Environment Variables

To use Go from the terminal, you need to set up the environment variables. Open your .bashrc or .profile file in a text editor:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

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

Save the file and exit the editor. To apply the changes, run:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 5: Verify the Installation

To ensure that Go is installed correctly, check the version by running:

go version

You should see output similar to: Copy

go version go1.23.5 linux/amd64

This confirms that Go is installed and ready to use.

Step 6: Set Up Your Go Workspace

Go uses a workspace structure to manage code. You can create your Go workspace by executing the following commands:

mkdir -p ~/go/{bin,src,pkg}

Next, you need to set the GOPATH environment variable. Again, open your .bashrc file:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following line:

export GOPATH=$HOME/go

Save the file and apply the changes:

source ~/.bashrc

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Go on your Linux system! With Go set up, you can start exploring its features and building your applications. Whether you are developing web servers, command-line tools, or microservices, Go provides the performance and simplicity you need.

Feel free to dive into the official Go documentation for more resources and tutorials.