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Go Scripting on Linux

Go Scripting on Linux

1
posts
2018

Cloudflare has explored and implemented methods to use Go as a scripting language on Linux. This involves overcoming limitations of the standard `go run` command and the shebang mechanism by leveraging the Linux kernel's `binfmt_misc` module. This allows `.go` files to be executed directly as scripts, preserving proper error code propagation and enabling a seamless edit-execute cycle without requiring a separate build step for simple scripts. This approach enhances developer productivity for scripting tasks by utilizing Go's strengths like strong typing and its rich library ecosystem.

2018

Using Go as a scripting language in Linux

2/20/2018

This post details a method for using Go as a scripting language on Linux by leveraging the `binfmt_misc` kernel module. It addresses the limitations of `go run` with shebang lines, specifically the inability to properly return error codes and the conflict with Go's comment syntax. The solution involves using a wrapper program like `gorun` and configuring `binfmt_misc` to associate `.go` files with this interpreter. This enables direct execution of Go scripts with proper error handling and a streamlined development workflow.