A linter is a software tool that analyzes source code for programming errors, suspicious constructs, and style violations.
Linting checks code against rules for errors, suspicious constructs, and style violations. It helps teams catch issues and make code more consistent before changes reach the repository. section 5.0section 5.3
Rules may come from a team style guide or a language’s established conventions. Go linters can enforce idiomatic Go patterns; automated pipeline checks can help teams enforce standards before changes are merged. Formatting and linting are related but distinct: a formatter standardizes layout, while linting checks code against broader rules. section 5.3section 5.0
Go checks in a pipeline
A Go project can run a format check before tests in its CI pipeline. This enforces formatting automatically; lint rules can provide a further check for idiomatic code. section 5.3
How Shipping Go: Develop, deliver, discuss, design, and go again covers it
How deep it goes
Defines linters’ role and links them to idiomatic Go, but does not detail specific linter rules or configuration.
Examples
Uses Go formatting and pipeline checks to illustrate automated enforcement alongside linting.
What you can do after
Evaluate how automated checks can enforce code-quality and style rules before repository changes proceed.
How it connects
Connects linting with code formatting, static code analysis, and continuous integration checks.
"Looks Good to Me"A software tool that analyzes source code to detect stylistic, structural, or potential quality problems without executing the program.
The Design of Web APIs, Second EditionA linter is a static-analysis tool that examines source or specification documents for errors, inconsistencies, and possible improvements.
Essential TypeScript 5, Third EditionA linter is a software tool that analyzes source code against configurable rules to identify problems or undesirable patterns.
ESLintincludes · ESLint is an open-source, configurable static-analysis tool that identifies and optionally fixes coding problems in JavaScript, TypeScript, and related source code.
Spectralincludes · Spectral is an open-source linter that applies configurable rules to JSON, YAML, and structured API description documents.
Pylintincludes · Pylint is a Python static-analysis tool that detects programming errors, style violations, and other code-quality issues.
static analysiskind of · Static analysis is the examination of source code or other program artifacts without executing the program to infer properties or identify potential issues.
This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Shipping Go: Develop, deliver, discuss, design, and go again. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.
