Install and Update Go on Linux

July 31, 2017 ยท 2 minutes read

This is the easiest way to install Google’s GoLang (Go programming language) on a Linux machine and then perform an update when a new Go version is released.

GoLang Gopher

Install Go

Installing Go is as simple as downloading a binary archive file and extracting the contents in the right location on your machine.

1. Download Go

First, visit the Go downloads page and download the binary suitable for your machine.

2. Extract Archive File

Go into your downloads folder and extract the newly downloaded archive file into the /usr/local directory.

$ cd Downloads/
$ tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.8.linux-amd64.tar.gz

Change go1.8.linux-amd64.tar.gz to the file you downloaded.

3. Add Path

Add /usr/local/go/bin to the PATH environment variable.

$ export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin

4. Check Installation

Finally, check the installation by requesting the Go version number. It should print the Go version you have just installed.

$ go version

GoLang Gopher

Update Go

Updating Go is as simple as removing the old Go binary on your machine and repeating the install process with a new version of Go.

1. Delete Go

Delete the Go binary directory that was created during the installation process.

$ sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go

2. Download new Go Version

Revisit the Go downloads page and download the newest Go binary suitable for your machine.

3. Extract Archive File

Go into your downloads folder and extract the new archive file into the /usr/local directory.

$ cd Downloads/
$ tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.8.3.linux-amd64.tar.gz

Change go1.8.3.linux-amd64.tar.gz to the file you downloaded.

4. Check the Path

The PATH environment variable doesn’t need to be modified again but it doesn’t hurt to check that it still contains /usr/local/go/bin.

$ echo $PATH | grep "/usr/local/go/bin"

5. Check the Installation

Lastly, check the installation by requesting the Go version number. It should print the updated Go version you have just freshly installed.

$ go version