Compiling and installing the application

In this lesson, you'll learn how to compile, install, and run your Go application seamlessly. Follow these steps to build your code, create an executable, and configure your environment so the application can be run from anywhere.

Compiling the Application

Begin by opening your terminal and navigating to your module directory. Compile your Go code into an executable by executing the following command:

go build

After running the command, an executable file will be generated in your current working directory. On Linux or macOS, run the executable using:

./cryptit

On Windows systems, ensure you include the .exe extension when executing the file.

When you run the executable, you should see output similar to:

> go build
> ./cryptit
Nrghnorxg
Kodekloud

zsh: no such file or directory: ./cryptit

Installing the Application with Go Install

To enable running your application from any directory, install the binary into a directory that is part of your system's PATH. Follow these steps:

1. Determine your Go installation path (GOPATH):
   Locate where your Go binaries are stored.

2. Update your PATH environment variable:
   On Linux or macOS, add your GOPATH's bin directory to the PATH by running:

   export PATH=$PATH:/Users/priyanka/go/bin
   

   On Windows, you can update the PATH using the set command or by modifying your system environment variables.

3. Install the Application:
   Go back to your module directory and install the application with:

   go install
   

   This command compiles the package and places the binary in the bin directory under your GOPATH.

4. Verify the Installation:
   Navigate to your GOPATH's bin directory and list its contents:

   cd ~/go/bin
   ls
   

   You should see the binary (e.g., cryptit) listed. Now, you can run your application from any location by simply typing:

   cryptit
   

   This will display the same expected output as before.

Sample Application Code

Below is an example of the Go code used in this lesson to demonstrate encryption and decryption functionalities:

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "encrypt"
    "decrypt"
)

func main() {
    encryptedStr := encrypt.Nimbus("Kodekloud")
    fmt.Println(encryptedStr)
    fmt.Println(decrypt.Nimbus(encryptedStr))
}

That's it for this lesson. We hope these instructions help you successfully compile and install your Go application. Happy coding, and see you in the next tutorial!