go script

go script. The go script pattern (often ./go at repo root) is a small GoLang program that replaces Make for project tasks: build, test, lint, and release with one cross-platform entrypoint.

Blurb

My step-dad is a cabinet-maker by trade. We chat about his work from time to time. I’ve often been struck by the similarities between building furniture and building software. Take tooling for example. Choosing high quality tools and learning how to use them correctly is of course a very important part of woodworking.

Summary

How it works: developers run ./go test or go run ./go test (depending on shebang and execute bits). Subcommands map to functions; flags use flag or cobra if the script grows.

When to use: polyglot teams need identical commands on macOS, Linux, and Windows; tasks need real code (API calls, code gen) not just shell pipelines.

When to skip: the repo is already standardized on Dagu, Nx, or a monorepo tool; a thin Makefile plus documented scripts is enough.

Reference: ThoughtWorks write-up linked in url; pair with git hooks or GitHub Actions calling the same ./go targets in CI.