---

name: go-packages description: Use when creating Go packages, organizing imports, managing dependencies, or deciding how to structure Go code into packages. Also use when starting a new Go project or splitting a growing codebase into packages, even if the user doesn't explicitly ask about package organization. Does not cover naming individual identifiers (see go-naming). license: Apache-2.0 metadata: sources: "Google Style Guide, Uber Style Guide, Go Wiki CodeReviewComments"

Go Packages and Imports

When this skill does NOT apply: For naming individual identifiers within a package, see go-naming. For organizing functions within a single file, see go-functions. For configuring linters that enforce import rules, see go-linting.

Package Organization

Avoid Util Packages

Package names should describe what the package provides. Avoid generic names like util, helper, common — they obscure meaning and cause import conflicts.

// Good: Meaningful package names
db := spannertest.NewDatabaseFromFile(...)
_, err := f.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)

// Bad: Vague names obscure meaning
db := test.NewDatabaseFromFile(...)
_, err := f.Seek(0, common.SeekStart)

Generic names can be used as part of a name (e.g., stringutil) but should not be the entire package name.

Package Size

| Question | Action | |----------|--------| | Can you describe its purpose in one sentence? | No → split by responsibility | | Do files never share unexported symbols? | Those files could be separate packages | | Distinct user groups use different parts? | Split along user boundaries | | Godoc page overwhelming? | Split to improve discoverability |

Do NOT split just because a file is long, to create single-type packages, or if it would create circular dependencies.

Read references/PACKAGE-SIZE.md when deciding whether to split or combine packages, organizing files within a package, or structuring CLI programs.

---

Imports

Imports are organized in groups separated by blank lines. Standard library packages always come first. Use goimports to manage this automatically.

import (
    "fmt"
    "os"

    "github.com/foo/bar"
    "rsc.io/goversion/version"
)

Quick rules:

| Rule | Guidance | |------|----------| | Grouping | stdlib first, then external. Extended: stdlib → other → protos → side-effects | | Renaming | Avoid unless collision. Rename the most local import. Proto packages get pb suffix | | Blank imports (import _) | Only in main packages or tests | | Dot imports (import .) | Never use, except for circular-dependency test files |

Read references/IMPORTS.md when organizing imports with extended grouping, renaming proto packages, or deciding on blank/dot imports.

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Avoid init()

Avoid init() where possible. When unavoidable, it must be:

1. Completely deterministic
2. Independent of other init() ordering
3. Free of environment state (env vars, working dir, args)
4. Free of I/O (filesystem, network, system calls)

Acceptable uses: complex expressions that can't be single assignments, pluggable hooks (e.g., database/sql dialects), deterministic precomputation.

Read references/PACKAGE-SIZE.md when you need to refactor init() into explicit functions or understand acceptable init() uses.

---

Exit in Main

Call os.Exit or log.Fatal* only in main(). All other functions should return errors.

Why: Non-obvious control flow, untestable, defer statements skipped.

Best practice: Use the run() pattern — extract logic into func run() error, call from main() with a single exit point:

func main() {
    if err := run(); err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
}

Read references/PACKAGE-SIZE.md when implementing the run() pattern, structuring CLI subcommands, or choosing flag naming conventions.

---

Command-Line Flags

Advisory: Define flags only in package main.

• Flag names use snake_case: --output_dir not --outputDir
• Libraries should accept configuration as parameters, not read flags directly — this keeps them testable and reusable
• Prefer the standard flag package; use pflag only when POSIX conventions (double-dash, single-char shortcuts) are required

// Good: Flag in main, passed as parameter to library
func main() {
    outputDir := flag.String("output_dir", ".", "directory for output files")
    flag.Parse()
    if err := mylib.Generate(*outputDir); err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
}

---

Related Skills

• Package naming: See go-naming when choosing package names, avoiding stuttering, or naming exported symbols
• Error handling across packages: See go-error-handling when wrapping errors at package boundaries with %w vs %v
• Import linting: See go-linting when configuring goimports local-prefixes or enforcing import grouping
• Global state: See go-defensive when replacing init() with explicit initialization or avoiding mutable globals