Golang : Add build version and other information in executables
Problem:
You want to add version and other information such as compilation time into your executables(binaries) and display the information during run time. How to do that?
Solution:
Displaying version and compilation time information during run time can be useful for testing and debugging purpose. For example, you are a developer producing different versions of executable for the testing team to test and having this sort of information can assist the test team in providing accurate feedback.
Below is a simple example of how to include version and compilation time information during compilation time.
package main
import (
"fmt"
"time"
)
var (
version string
timeStamp string
)
func main() {
timeStamp := time.Now()
fmt.Println("Running version : ", version)
fmt.Println("Build time: ", timeStamp)
}
and build this file with -ldflags
flag
For example:
go build -ldflags "-X main.version=v1.1" buildinfo.go
when executing the binary, you will see this during run time:
$ ./buildinfo
Running version : v1.1
Build time: 2017-02-15 14:35:35.598182767 +0800 SGT
Hope this helps!
Happy coding!
NOTES:
If you encounter this error message during compilation time:
-X flag requires argument of the form importpath.name=value
simply change "-X main.version v0.1"
to "-X main.version=v0.1"
References:
https://www.socketloop.com/tutorials/golang-setting-variable-value-with-ldflags
See also : Golang : Setting variable value with ldflags
By Adam Ng
IF you gain some knowledge or the information here solved your programming problem. Please consider donating to the less fortunate or some charities that you like. Apart from donation, planting trees, volunteering or reducing your carbon footprint will be great too.
Advertisement
Tutorials
+5.1k Golang : Dealing with backquote
+20.8k Golang : Securing password with salt
+4.4k Golang : If else example and common mistake
+12.6k Golang : How to determine if a year is leap year?
+13.1k Golang : ROT47 (Caesar cipher by 47 characters) example
+3.8k JavaScript : Rounding number to decimal formats to display currency
+6.8k Golang : Check from web if Go application is running or not
+10.5k Golang : Change date format to yyyy-mm-dd
+9.4k Golang : Simple File Server
+10.6k Golang : Convert(cast) bigint to string
+3.8k Linux : How to set root password in Linux Mint
+7.8k Golang : Handle sub domain with Gin