Overview
About 455 wordsAbout 2 min
2025-01-16
golint-sl (GoLint SpechtLabs) is a comprehensive Go linter with 32 analyzers that enforce code quality, safety, architecture, and observability patterns. Unlike traditional linters that focus on syntax and formatting, golint-sl focuses on production readiness.
The Problem
Most Go projects use go vet and maybe golangci-lint with a handful of linters. These catch syntax errors and common mistakes, but they miss the patterns that cause production incidents:
- Nil pointer dereferences that slip through code review
- Scattered logging that makes debugging impossible
- Resource leaks from unclosed HTTP response bodies
- Kubernetes reconcilers that forget to update status
- Context not propagated through call chains
These issues don't cause compilation errors. They cause 3 AM pages.
The Solution
golint-sl codifies the lessons learned from building production systems at SpechtLabs. Every analyzer addresses a real pattern that has caused real problems:
| Category | Analyzers | What They Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Error Handling | 3 | Bare returns, missing context, inline errors |
| Observability | 3 | Scattered logs, missing context, broken propagation |
| Kubernetes | 3 | Reconciler anti-patterns, missing status updates |
| Testability | 4 | Time dependencies, interface issues, mock problems |
| Resources | 2 | Unclosed bodies, missing timeouts |
| Safety | 5 | Nil panics, goroutine leaks, data races |
| Clean Code | 4 | Variable scope, closure complexity, interfaces |
| Architecture | 8 | Context placement, naming, documentation |
How It Works
golint-sl uses the standard Go analysis framework (go/analysis). It performs static analysis on your code without executing it, examining:
- AST (Abstract Syntax Tree) - Structure of your code
- Type Information - Types of variables and expressions
- SSA (Static Single Assignment) - Data flow for complex analysis
Each analyzer runs independently, and you can enable or disable them individually through configuration.
Design Principles
1. No False Positives
Every diagnostic should indicate a real issue. If an analyzer produces too many false positives, we fix the analyzer or remove it. Your time is valuable.
2. Actionable Messages
Every diagnostic includes:
- A clear description of the problem
- Why it matters
- How to fix it
nilcheck: pointer parameter "user" used without nil check;
add 'if user == nil { return ... }' at function start3. Production Focus
We don't lint for style preferences. We lint for patterns that cause production incidents. Every analyzer exists because the pattern it enforces has prevented real bugs.
4. Zero Configuration Required
golint-sl works out of the box with sensible defaults. You can customize it, but you shouldn't need to.
Next Steps
- Installation - Get golint-sl on your system
- Quick Start - Run your first analysis
- Philosophy - Understand the patterns we enforce