# go-backend-microservices

A microservices engineering skill for Go projects. It guides coding assistants to apply clean architecture, configure OpenTelemetry, and write table-driven tests.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 823 installs · ★ 286
- Author: Mindrally
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/Mindrally/skills/tree/HEAD/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-08
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/go-backend-microservices

## What it does

The skill instructs your assistant on standard Go backend conventions. Code is separated into `cmd/`, `internal/`, `pkg/`, and `api/` folders. It enforces interface-driven dependency injection across handlers, domain models, and repositories. Error handling relies on explicit checks and wrapping via `fmt.Errorf("context: %w", err)` to maintain trace stacks.

Operational patterns focus on OpenTelemetry. It adds spans to key routines, formats metrics for Prometheus, and attaches trace IDs to structured log entries. Context remains the first argument in functions, enforcing cancellation checks and external request timeouts. For background tasks, it directs the agent toward worker pools and sync primitives.

Test instructions mandate table-driven unit suites and testcontainers for external databases. The skill assumes `golangci-lint` runs in your pipeline, so generated code follows its strict checks.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Mindrally/skills --skill go-backend-microservices -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/go-backend-microservices/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Mindrally/skills --skill go-backend-microservices -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Mindrally/skills --skill go-backend-microservices -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install Mindrally/skills go-backend-microservices
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Mindrally/skills --skill go-backend-microservices -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/Mindrally/skills --path go-backend-microservices
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Mindrally/skills --skill go-backend-microservices -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/Mindrally/skills/tree/HEAD/go-backend-microservices/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- structure Go microservices using clean architecture patterns
- instrument services with OpenTelemetry tracing and Prometheus metrics
- generate table-driven unit tests and testcontainers integration suites
- manage concurrency safely using worker pools and graceful shutdowns

## Example prompts
- Scaffold an authentication microservice separating handlers, services, and repositories using clean architecture.
- Add OpenTelemetry tracing and structured logging with trace IDs to the database repository queries.
- Write a table-driven test suite with parallel execution for JWT verification routines.

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: e73fdd250e184fd6.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE e73fdd250e184fd6
````text
---
name: go-backend-microservices
description: Go backend development best practices for microservices with clean architecture, observability, and production-ready patterns
metadata:
  maintainer: Mindrally
  source: https://github.com/Mindrally/skills
---

# Go Backend Development for Microservices

## Core Principles

- Apply Clean Architecture with clear separation into handlers, services, repositories, and domain models
- Prioritize interface-driven development with explicit dependency injection
- Write short, focused functions with a single responsibility
- Ensure safe use of goroutines, and guard shared state with channels or sync primitives

## Project Structure

Maintain modular project structure with clear directories:

```
project/
├── cmd/           # Application entry points
├── internal/      # Private application code
├── pkg/           # Public library code
├── api/           # API definitions (OpenAPI, protobuf)
├── configs/       # Configuration files
└── test/          # Additional test utilities
```

## Error Handling

- Always check and handle errors explicitly
- Use wrapped errors for traceability: `fmt.Errorf("context: %w", err)`
- Create custom error types for domain-specific errors
- Return errors up the call stack with appropriate context
- Log errors at the appropriate level with sufficient context

## Context Propagation

- Use context propagation for request-scoped values, deadlines, and cancellations
- Pass context as the first parameter to functions
- Respect context cancellation in long-running operations
- Set appropriate timeouts for external calls

## Observability

Implement OpenTelemetry for comprehensive observability:

### Distributed Tracing
- Add spans for significant operations
- Propagate trace context across service boundaries
- Include relevant attributes in spans

### Metrics
- Implement custom metrics for business operations
- Use standard metric types (counters, gauges, histograms)
- Export metrics in Prometheus format

### Structured Logging
- Use structured logging with consistent field names
- Include trace IDs in log entries
- Log at appropriate levels (debug, info, warn, error)

## Security

- Apply input validation rigorously on all external inputs
- Use secure defaults for JWT tokens and cookies
- Implement proper authentication and authorization
- Sanitize data before logging to avoid leaking sensitive information
- Use prepared statements for database queries

## Testing

### Unit Tests
- Write table-driven unit tests with adequate coverage
````
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