Idiomatic Code Organization
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Go Project Structure
Organize your Go projects using the following structure for clarity and maintainability:
- Place the main entry point in a
cmd/directory; - Store application code in an
internal/directory for private packages; - Keep reusable packages in a
pkg/directory; - Group configuration files and assets in a
configs/orassets/directory; - Place third-party dependencies in a
vendor/directory if vendoring is required.
A typical layout:
myapp/
├── cmd/
│ └── myapp/
│ └── main.go
├── internal/
│ └── service/
│ └── service.go
├── pkg/
│ └── utils/
│ └── utils.go
├── configs/
├── assets/
├── go.mod
└── go.sum
File Organization and Naming
- Use one package per directory; name the directory after the package;
- Name files to reflect their purpose, such as
http.go,db.go, orservice.go; - Keep related types and functions together for discoverability;
- Avoid stutter by matching package and type names (e.g.,
user.Useris redundant, preferuser.Model).
Package Design Principles
- Keep packages focused on a single responsibility;
- Expose only what is necessary: use lowercase for unexported identifiers and uppercase for exported ones;
- Avoid circular dependencies between packages;
- Document packages and exported functions using Go doc comments.
Best Practices for Clean Code
- Write short, focused functions;
- Use clear, descriptive names for variables and functions;
- Prefer composition over inheritance;
- Handle errors explicitly and consistently;
- Write tests alongside your code in
*_test.gofiles.
Following these conventions makes your Go projects easier to understand, test, and maintain as they grow.
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Thanks for your feedback!
Section 1. Chapter 7
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Idiomatic Code Organization
Go Project Structure
Organize your Go projects using the following structure for clarity and maintainability:
- Place the main entry point in a
cmd/directory; - Store application code in an
internal/directory for private packages; - Keep reusable packages in a
pkg/directory; - Group configuration files and assets in a
configs/orassets/directory; - Place third-party dependencies in a
vendor/directory if vendoring is required.
A typical layout:
myapp/
├── cmd/
│ └── myapp/
│ └── main.go
├── internal/
│ └── service/
│ └── service.go
├── pkg/
│ └── utils/
│ └── utils.go
├── configs/
├── assets/
├── go.mod
└── go.sum
File Organization and Naming
- Use one package per directory; name the directory after the package;
- Name files to reflect their purpose, such as
http.go,db.go, orservice.go; - Keep related types and functions together for discoverability;
- Avoid stutter by matching package and type names (e.g.,
user.Useris redundant, preferuser.Model).
Package Design Principles
- Keep packages focused on a single responsibility;
- Expose only what is necessary: use lowercase for unexported identifiers and uppercase for exported ones;
- Avoid circular dependencies between packages;
- Document packages and exported functions using Go doc comments.
Best Practices for Clean Code
- Write short, focused functions;
- Use clear, descriptive names for variables and functions;
- Prefer composition over inheritance;
- Handle errors explicitly and consistently;
- Write tests alongside your code in
*_test.gofiles.
Following these conventions makes your Go projects easier to understand, test, and maintain as they grow.
Everything was clear?
Thanks for your feedback!
Section 1. Chapter 7