Let’s learn to install Golang on the Windows Operating System.
- Download Golang Installer for Windows
- Install Golang on Windows
- Validate Golang Installation on Windows
- Define the GOPATH in Windows
- References
Download Golang Installer for Windows
Visit the official website of Golang to find their releases
https://go.dev/dl/
You will see the different stable versions here. You may see a different stable version number when you open the official website of Golang. In our case, we will be installing the go1.22.4 version
Find the Windows installer and download the installer file. I have downloaded it in the Downloads Folder
Install Golang on Windows
Double-click on the downloaded file to start the installation process and click on Next
Select the Licence Agreement and click Next. Then choose the location where you want to install the Golang. we will keep the default location which is being shown in the installer and click Next
C:\Program Files (x86)\Go\
Finally, click on Install to start the installation process. The installer will take some time to complete the installation.
The installer will automatically attach Golang to the PATH Environment variable
Validate Golang Installation on Windows
Open the Command Prompt and type the command go. If the installation is successful then it will output the result for go CLI
go
Define the GOPATH in Windows
The GOPATH environment variable lists places to look for Go code. On Unix, the value is a colon-separated string and on Windows, the value is a semicolon-separated string. On Plan 9, the value is a list. GOPATH must be set to get, build, and install packages outside the standard Go tree.
In our case, we will create a new directory go-projects in F drive and use it as GOPATH
F:\go-projectsThis can be set in the environment variable of windows
Open Control Panel on Windows and then select System
Then click on the Advanced System setting. This will open a popup and you need to click Environment Variables on it
Click on Add New
This will ask you to define a Variable Name and Value
- Variable Name: GOPATH
- Variable Value: F:\go-projects
- Note: The Variable Value will be different for you if you have chosen a different location.
Click on OK and this will create the GOPATH environment variable on your Windows machine.
This is the process to install Golang on Windows
Raj Ranjan