writing-go

Provide idiomatic Go development guidance with stdlib-first design and explicit error handling.

35|5|Updated Jul 5, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/alexei-led/claude-code-config --skill writing-go
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: writing-go
Source: https://github.com/alexei-led/claude-code-config/tree/main/skills/writing-go
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/alexei-led/claude-code-config --skill writing-go

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill enforces Go's philosophy of simplicity and clarity, helping you avoid common pitfalls like nested conditionals, misuse of any, and improper error handling to produce robust, readable code.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Idiomatic Go Patterns: Apply private interfaces at the consumer, flat control flow with guard clauses, and concrete types over generics for business logic.
  • Production-Ready Tooling: Integrate testing with testify/mockery and structured logging with slog.
  • Use Case: Imagine you're designing a service layer. Use this Skill to define a private userStore interface where it's used, inject a concrete PostgresStore, and write flat, testable functions with wrapped errors.

Quick Start

Use the writing-go skill to refactor this deeply nested function into a flat control flow using guard clauses and early returns.

Frequently Asked Questions about writing-go

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write idiomatic Go code that follows Go's philosophy?

Idiomatic Go emphasizes simplicity through concrete types over `any`, private interfaces defined at the consumer, flat control flow with guard clauses, and explicit error handling. This approach produces readable, maintainable code aligned with Go's core design principles.

What's the best way to structure error handling in Go?

Wrap errors with context using `errors.Is` and `errors.As` to enable proper error inspection and handling downstream. This preserves error chains while allowing callers to check specific error types without nested conditionals.

How do I refactor deeply nested Go functions into flat control flow?

Replace nested conditionals with guard clauses and early returns at function entry points. This reduces cognitive load, improves readability, and makes testing easier by eliminating deeply indented business logic paths.

When should I use private interfaces instead of `any` in Go?

Define private interfaces at the point of consumption within your package to enforce concrete implementations. This provides type safety, enables dependency injection, and prevents misuse of generic `any` types in public APIs.

Can I use testify and mockery for testing Go services?

Yes. Testify and mockery integrate with Go's testing framework to provide assertion helpers and automatic mock generation. Pair them with private interfaces and concrete types for testable, production-ready service layers.

What's the difference between using stdlib and external dependencies in Go?

Go's standard library provides robust, well-tested foundations for most tasks. A stdlib-first design minimizes external dependencies, reduces deployment complexity, and aligns with Go's philosophy of explicit, maintainable code.