Building a Simple Web Server Using Golang

Building a Simple Web Server Using Golang

In this post, I will guide you through the process of building a simple web server using Go. Go, also known as Golang, is a statically typed, compiled programming language designed for simplicity and efficiency. It is widely used for building web servers, networking tools, and cloud-based applications.

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have the following installed on your machine:

• Go (version 1.15 or later)
• A code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code, GoLand, or any text editor of your choice)
• Basic knowledge of Go programming language
• Familiarity with HTTP and web servers

Step 1: Create a New Go Project

Create a new directory for your Go project and navigate to it in your terminal:

mkdir simple-web-server
cd simple-web-server

Step 2: Initialize a Go Module

Initialize a new Go module by running the following command:

go mod init simple-web-server

This command creates a go.mod file that will manage your project’s dependencies.

Step 3: Create the Main Go File

Create a new file named main.go in your project directory:

touch main.go

Open main.go in your code editor and add the following code:

package main
import (
  "fmt"
  "net/http"
)

func helloHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
  fmt.Fprintf(w, "Hello, World!")
}

func main() {
  http.HandleFunc("/", helloHandler)
  fmt.Println("Starting server on :8080...")
  if err := http.ListenAndServe(":8080", nil); err != nil {
    fmt.Println("Error starting server:", err)
  }
}

Step 4: Run the Web Server

To run the web server, execute the following command in your terminal:

go run main.go

You should see the message “Starting server on :8080…” in your terminal.

Step 5: Test the Web Server

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080. You should see the message “Hello, World!” displayed in your browser.

Step 6: Customize the Web Server

You can customize the web server by adding more routes and handlers. For example, you can create a new handler for a different route:

func goodbyeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
  fmt.Fprintf(w, "Goodbye, World!")
}

Then, register the new handler in the main function:

http.HandleFunc("/goodbye", goodbyeHandler)

Restart the server by running go run main.go again. Now, if you navigate to http://localhost:8080/goodbye, you should see the message “Goodbye, World!” displayed in your browser.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully built a simple web server using Go. This is just the beginning, and you can explore more advanced features such as routing, middleware, and database integration to enhance your web server.