Go architecture

Go Architecture

Opinionated, 2026-current guidance for structuring Go backend services. Favors the standard library and small, composable libraries over heavy frameworks.

Use when:

• Laying out a new Go module or service (directory structure, cmd/, internal/)
• Choosing an HTTP router (stdlib net/http ServeMux, chi, echo/gin/fiber)
• Choosing a database layer (sqlc + pgx, GORM) or wiring queries
• Wiring dependencies (constructors, DI without a framework)
• Reviewing an existing Go service for structural / architectural issues

Do NOT use for:

• Writing tests, benchmarks, fuzzing, coverage — use go-testing-quality
• SOLID line-limit / interface-placement enforcement — use fuse-solid:solid-go
• Non-Go backends (Laravel, Next.js, Rust) — use the matching expert
• Frontend / UI work — use fuse-design or a framework expert

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Decision Map

Question	Load
Where do files/packages go?	project-layout.md
Which HTTP router? How do I route?	http-routing.md
How do I talk to the database?	database-access.md
How do I wire dependencies?	dependency-injection.md
I need a full working example	templates/rest-service.md

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Core Principles (2026)

1. Standard library first. Since Go 1.22 the net/http.ServeMux supports method matching and path wildcards (GET /posts/{id}, req.PathValue("id")). Most services no longer need a routing framework. Source: https://go.dev/blog/routing-enhancements
2. internal/ is the default home for service logic. A server binary is self-contained; keep packages under internal/ and binaries under cmd/. There is no official pkg/ requirement — do not cargo-cult it. Source: https://go.dev/doc/modules/layout
3. Constructor injection, no DI framework by default. Pass dependencies as interface parameters to New… constructors; wire them in main.
4. Type-safe SQL is the 2026 default. sqlc generates idiomatic Go from raw SQL; run it on top of the pgx driver for PostgreSQL. GORM still works but is in relative decline for new services — see database-access.md for the nuance. Sources: https://docs.sqlc.dev + https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/jackc/pgx/v5

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Workflow

1. Explore the existing tree first (do not assume layout).
2. Load the relevant reference from the Decision Map above.
3. Cross-check the version-sensitive claims (router, sqlc/pgx) against the source URLs before writing code — APIs move.
4. Scaffold from templates/rest-service.md when starting fresh.
5. Keep files small and interfaces separated (defer to fuse-solid:solid-go).
6. Validate with go-testing-quality + sniper after any code change.

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Boundaries (cross-referenced, not copied)

The community skill set at github.com/samber/cc-skills-golang covers overlapping Go territory. This skill deliberately scopes to architecture / structure / routing / DB wiring and hands testing off to go-testing-quality. When in doubt about which skill owns a topic, prefer the more specific one.