Go Build vs. Go Install: What's the Difference?

Understanding the Difference Between 'go build' and 'go install'

The official documentation may seem lacking in explaining the differences between 'go build' and 'go install'. To provide clarity, let's delve into the functionalities of each command.

'go build' focuses solely on compiling the executable file and placing it in the desired location. In contrast, 'go install' extends this by moving the executable to $GOPATH/bin, while also caching non-main packages imported to $GOPATH/pkg. This cache proves useful in subsequent compilations, assuming the source code remains unaltered.

To illustrate the difference, consider a package tree:

.
├── bin
│   └── hello  # by go install
└── src 
    └── hello
        ├── hello  # by go build
        └── hello.go

Key Distinctions:

• 'go build' produces the executable file only.
• 'go install' moves the executable and caches imported packages.

For further explanation and detailed information, please refer to the provided source.

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