| name | go-linting |
| description | Use when setting up linting for a Go project, configuring golangci-lint, or adding Go checks to a CI/CD pipeline. Also use when starting a new Go project and deciding which linters to enable, even if the user only asks about "code quality" or "static analysis" without mentioning specific linter names. Does not cover code review process (see go-code-review). |
| allowed-tools | Bash(bash:*) |
Go Linting
Core Principle
More important than any "blessed" set of linters: lint consistently across a codebase.
Consistent linting helps catch common issues and establishes a high bar for code quality without being unnecessarily prescriptive.
Resource Routing
scripts/setup-lint.sh - Run when generating a .golangci.yml, validating the first lint pass, or producing JSON metadata.assets/golangci.yml - Use as the v2 golangci-lint baseline for established projects.
Setup Procedure
- Create
.golangci.yml with scripts/setup-lint.sh or copy assets/golangci.yml
- Run
golangci-lint run ./...
- If errors appear, fix them category by category (formatting first, then vet, then style)
- Re-run until clean
After generating .golangci.yml, run golangci-lint config verify --config .golangci.yml
to verify the configuration schema before relying on lint results.
Minimum Recommended Linters
These linters catch the most common issues while maintaining a high quality bar:
| Linter | Purpose |
|---|
| errcheck | Ensure errors are handled |
| goimports | Format code and manage imports |
| revive | Common style mistakes (modern replacement for golint) |
| govet | Analyze code for common mistakes |
| staticcheck | Various static analysis checks |
Note: revive is the modern, faster successor to the now-deprecated golint.
Lint Runner: golangci-lint
Use golangci-lint as your lint runner. See the example .golangci.yml from uber-go/guide.
Example Configuration
Use assets/golangci.yml as the maintained example. It targets
golangci-lint v2 (verified with 2.10.1 on 2026-06-19), keeps goimports
under formatters, and enables the core linters plus common production
additions.
Running
go install github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v2/cmd/golangci-lint@v2.10.1
golangci-lint run
golangci-lint run ./pkg/...
Additional Recommended Linters
Beyond the minimum set, consider these for production projects:
| Linter | Purpose | When to enable |
|---|
| gosec | Security vulnerability detection | Always for services handling user input |
| ineffassign | Detect ineffectual assignments | Always — catches dead code |
| misspell | Correct common misspellings in comments/strings | Always |
| gocyclo | Cyclomatic complexity threshold | When functions exceed ~15 complexity |
| exhaustive | Ensure switch covers all enum values | When using iota enums |
| bodyclose | Detect unclosed HTTP response bodies | Always for HTTP client code |
Nolint Directives
When suppressing a lint finding, always explain why:
_ = logger.Sync()
Rules:
- Use
//nolint:lintername — never bare //nolint
- Place the comment on the same line as the finding
- Include a justification after
//
CI/CD Integration
Run golangci-lint run ./... in CI after tests. Pin the golangci-lint version
used by CI so local and release behavior do not drift.
Pre-commit Hook
#!/bin/sh
golangci-lint run --new-from-rev=HEAD~1
Use --new-from-rev to lint only changed code, keeping the feedback loop fast.
Quick Reference
| Task | Command/Action |
|---|
| Install golangci-lint | go install github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v2/cmd/golangci-lint@v2.10.1 |
| Run linters | golangci-lint run |
| Run on path | golangci-lint run ./pkg/... |
| Config file | .golangci.yml in project root |
| CI integration | Run golangci-lint run in pipeline |
| Nolint directives | //nolint:name // reason — never bare //nolint |
| CI integration | Use golangci/golangci-lint-action for GitHub Actions |
| Pre-commit | golangci-lint run --new-from-rev=HEAD~1 |
Linter Selection Guidelines
| When you need... | Use |
|---|
| Error handling coverage | errcheck |
| Import formatting | goimports |
| Style consistency | revive |
| Bug detection | govet, staticcheck |
| All of the above | golangci-lint with config |
Related Skills
- Style foundations: See go-style-core when resolving style questions that linters enforce (formatting, nesting, naming)
- Code review: See go-code-review when combining linter output with a manual review checklist
- Error handling: See go-error-handling when errcheck flags unhandled errors and you need to decide how to handle them
- Testing: See go-testing when running linters alongside tests in CI pipelines
