---
title: "Cross-compilation in Go."  
description: "Cross-compilation in Go."  
author: "Sandra Emily"  
published: 2023-10-25  
updated: 2023-10-25  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160264/cross-compilation-in-go  
category: "go"  
tags: ["go", "golang"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Cross-compilation in Go.

[Cross](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/33892/how-to-handle-cross-thread-exception-in-winforms)-[compilation](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/358/which-is-the-first-level-of-compilation-in-the-dot-net-languages) in Go.

## Replies

### Reply by Aryan Kumar

Cross compilation in Go refers to the process of building executable files for a target platform or operating system that is different from the one on which the compilation is performed. Go makes cross compilation relatively straightforward due to its design and support for multiple platforms and architectures. Here are the steps to perform cross compilation in Go:

## Set Your Environment:

- Before you start, make sure that you have Go installed on your development machine. Additionally, ensure that your Go environment is properly configured.

## Choose the Target Platform:

- Decide which platform and architecture you want to compile for. Go supports a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and different CPU architectures.

## Specify the Target OS and Architecture:

- To specify the target OS and architecture, you can use the **GOOS** and **GOARCH** environment variables. For example:

## Compile Your Code:

- Run the **go build** command with the appropriate **GOOS** and **GOARCH** values to compile your Go code for the target platform and architecture. For example:

## Verify the Output:

- After compilation, you will have an executable file in your project directory that is compatible with the target platform and architecture you specified.

## Test on the Target Environment:

- To ensure that the cross-compiled executable works as expected, transfer it to a machine running the target operating system, and test it there.

Cross compilation allows you to create executables for different platforms and architectures without needing to have a development environment set up on each target machine. This can be particularly useful for deploying your Go applications on servers, containers, or devices with varying environments.

Keep in mind that while cross compilation is relatively simple in Go, there may still be some platform-specific considerations in your code, such as file paths and system calls, that need to be addressed to ensure your application works seamlessly across different platforms.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160264/cross-compilation-in-go

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