GoLang Project Template

Starting a journey with a new programming language is always challenging — and I've been there myself.

I began learning Go (Golang) when I was comparing it with Python for some tasks deployed on AWS Lambda. The cold start time with Python was too high, so I started looking for alternatives. That’s when I discovered Golang.

After learning the basics, the first big question I had was:

• What is the best way to structure a Go project?
• How do companies organize and maintain Golang repositories?

Key Learnings About Go Project Setup

• Every Go file must start with a package name.
• The package name doesn't need to match the file or folder name.
• A project's go version and module is defined in the go.mod file, which should always be in the root directory.
• The go.sum file is auto-generated when you run go mod tidy. It records dependency versions to ensure reproducible builds.

In the end, you'll have a standalone executable binary file that can be published on the Go package manager or deployed (for example, on AWS Lambda).

Clean Go Project Structure (Template)
When building maintainable applications, following a clean and well-organized folder structure is essential. Here's a recommended Golang project structure you can use as a template:

root
|
|- build/              # Packaging and CI/CD related files
|- cmd/                # Application entry point
|   └── main.go        # For single entry point
|   └── EntryPointA    # For multiple entry points
|        └── *.go 
|   └── EntryPointB    # For multiple entry points
|        └── *.go 
|- internal/           # Private application and library code(internal logic)
|   └── *.go           # write your business logic also we can split them into packages like api, database, auth, etc
|   └── packageA       # packageA code 
|        └── *.go
|   └── packageB       # packageB code
|        └── *.go
|- pkg/                # Public utility functions and reusable code
|   └── *.go
|   └── util           # Add Util code like validator, generic code, etc.  
|        └── *.go
|- scripts/            # Automation and helper scripts
|- configs/            # Configuration files (YAML, JSON, TOML, etc.)
|- go.mod              # Module definition
|- go.sum              # Dependency lock file (auto-generated)

This folder layout is inspired by clean architecture principles and helps keep Go projects scalable, testable, and easier to collaborate on.

Why Follow This Folder Structure?

• Improves readability and maintainability
• Supports clean architecture and modular code
• Makes it easy for new developers to understand the project
• Ensures scalable backend development with Go

Conclusion

If you're just starting with Golang, this template will give you a solid foundation for structuring your projects. Following a clean folder structure and using Go best practices ensures your applications are easier to maintain and scale.

💬 What do you think of this Go project structure? Did I miss something important? Share your thoughts in the comments — I'd love to learn from your experience too!