SoFunction
Updated on 2025-05-20

Manually install Go environment on Ubuntu and resolve "executable file format error" issue

1. Preface

In production environments or development machines, the latest stable version of Go (Golang) is often required to use the latest features.

The APT source version that comes with Ubuntu may lag, so this article will explain howManually download the official binary packageCarry out installation and focus on how to troubleshoot and solve the problem.Executable file format error"question.

2. System architecture detection

First, confirm the CPU architecture of the current machine to download the corresponding Go installation package.

uname -m

Common outputs and corresponding installation packages:

  • x86_64oramd64→ Downloadlinux-amd64Version
  • aarch64orarm64→ Downloadlinux-arm64Version
  • i386ori686→ Downloadlinux-386Version

Optional: Further confirm whether the decompressed Go binary architecture matches itself:

file /usr/local/go/bin/go
# Sample output：ELF 64-bit LSB executable, x86-64, ...

likefileThe architecture detected by the command anduname -mIf it is inconsistent, it means that the binary does not match the system and you need to re-download the correct version.

3. Uninstall the old version Go

If you have installed Go manually or APT before, it is recommended to remove it completely first:

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go

Notice：

Don't forget to clean up the old ones/usr/local/goDirectory to avoid conflict between old and new versions.

4. Download and install the correct version

1. Get the download link

Access /dl/ and copy what is suitable for your architecture.Link.

2. Download and decompress

Go 1.21.0,amd64As an example:

wget /dl/go1.21.
sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.
rm go1.21.

3. Verify the decompression result

ls /usr/local/go/bin
# Should include：go gofmt etc executable files

5. Configure environment variables

In the user's shell configuration file (~/.bashrc、~/.zshrcetc.) Add:

# Go root directoryexport GOROOT=/usr/local/go

# Go workspace (can be modified on demand)export GOPATH=$HOME/go

# Add the go executable file to PATHexport PATH=$PATH:$GOROOT/bin:$GOPATH/bin

Save to make the configuration take effect:

source ~/.bashrc

6. Verify installation

  • View Go version
go version
# Expected output：go version go1.21.0 linux/amd64
  • Run the sample program
mkdir -p $GOPATH/src/hello && cd $_
cat >  << 'EOF'
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    ("Hello, Go on Ubuntu!")
}
EOF

go run            # Run directlygo build -o hello        #Compilation./hello                  # implement

The output should be:

Hello, Go on Ubuntu!

7. Frequently Asked Questions and Suggestions

"Executable file format error"

  • Most of the reasons why the download package architecture does not match the system.
  • Be sure to useuname -mandfileAfter checking the command, select the correct one to download.。

Subsequent upgrades

  • Just delete/usr/local/goAnd follow the above steps to download the new version, without repeated configuration of environment variables.

Go Modules

  • Go 1.11+ has natively supported modular management without strict dependenciesGOPATH, execute in the project root directory:
go mod init /your-module

You can enable module mode.

IDE Support

  • It is recommended to use VS Code + Go plug-in, or IDEs such as GoLand to enjoy intelligent completion, debugging and code formatting.
  • Through the above steps, you can obtain a Go development environment that exactly matches the system architecture on Ubuntu, avoiding common pitfalls such as "executable file format errors".

Summarize

The above is personal experience. I hope you can give you a reference and I hope you can support me more.