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 # Gopls on by default in the VS Code Go extension
 01 Feb 2021
 Tags: tools, gopls
 Summary: Gopls, which provides IDE features for Go to many editors, is now used by default in VS Code Go.

 Go tools team

 ##

 We're happy to announce that the VS Code Go extension now enables the [gopls
 language server](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md)
 by default, to deliver more robust IDE features and better support for Go
 modules.

 .image gopls/features.gif _ 635
 _(`gopls` provides IDE features, such as as intelligent autocompletion, signature help, refactoring, and workspace symbol search.)_

 When [Go modules](using-go-modules) were
 released two years ago, they completely changed the landscape of Go developer
 tooling. Tools like `goimports` and `godef` previously depended on the fact
 that code was stored in your `$GOPATH`. When the Go team began rewriting these
 tools to work with modules, we immediately realized that we needed a more
 systematic approach to bridge the gap.

 As a result, we began working on a single Go
 [language server](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/),
 `gopls`, which provides IDE features, such as autocompletion, formatting, and
 diagnostics to any compatible editor frontend. This persistent and unified
 server is a [fundamental
 shift](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJfdWzBHwE&t=1s) from the earlier
 collections of command-line tools.

 In addition to working on `gopls`, we sought other ways of creating a stable
 ecosystem of editor tooling. Last year, the Go team took responsibility for the
 [Go extension for VS Code](https://blog.golang.org/vscode-go). As part of this
 work, we smoothed the extension’s integration with the language server—automating
 `gopls` updates, rearranging and clarifying `gopls` settings, improving the
 troubleshooting workflow, and soliciting feedback through a survey. We’ve also
 continued to foster a community of active users and contributors who have
 helped us improve the stability, performance, and user experience of the Go
 extension.

 ## Announcement

 January 28 marked a major milestone in both the `gopls` and VS Code Go
 journeys, as `gopls` is now enabled by default in the Go extension for VS Code.

 In advance of this switch we spent a long time iterating on the design, feature
 set, and user experience of `gopls`, focusing on improving performance and
 stability. For more than a year, `gopls` has been the default in most plugins for
 Vim, Emacs, and other editors. We’ve had 24 `gopls` releases, and we’re
 incredibly grateful to our users for consistently providing feedback and
 reporting issues on each and every one.

 We’ve also dedicated time to smoothing the new user experience. We hope that VS
 Code Go with `gopls` will be intuitive with clear error messages, but if you have
 a question or need to adjust some configuration, you’ll be able to find answers
 in our [updated documentation](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/README.md).
 We have also recorded [a screencast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXIGYrMk80)
 to help you get started, as well as
 [animations](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/features.md)
 to show off some hard-to-find features.

 Gopls is the best way of working with Go code, especially with Go modules.
 With the upcoming arrival of Go 1.16, in which modules are enabled by default,
 VS Code Go users will have the best possible experience out-of-the-box.

 Still, this switch does not mean that `gopls` is complete. We will continue
 working on bug fixes, new features, and general stability. Our next area of
 focus will be improving the user experience when [working with multiple
 modules](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/doc/workspace.md).
 Feedback from our larger user base will help inform our next steps.

 ## So, what should you do?

 If you use VS Code, you don’t need to do anything.
 When you get the next VS Code Go update, `gopls` will be enabled automatically.

 If you use another editor, you are likely using `gopls` already. If not, see
 [the `gopls` user guide](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md)
 to learn how to enable `gopls` in your preferred editor. The Language Server
 Protocol ensures that `gopls` will continue to offer the same features to every
 editor.

 If `gopls` is not working for you, please see our [detailed troubleshooting
 guide](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/troubleshooting.md)
 and file an issue. If you need to, you can always [disable `gopls` in VS
 Code](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/settings.md#gouselanguageserver).

 ## Thank you

 To our existing users, thank you for bearing with us as we rewrote our caching
 layer for the third time. To our new users, we look forward to hearing your
 experience reports and feedback.

 Finally, no discussion of Go tooling is complete without mentioning the
 valuable contributions of the Go tools community. Thank you for the lengthy
 discussions, detailed bug reports, integration tests, and most importantly,
 thank you for the fantastic contributions. The most exciting `gopls` features
 come from our passionate open-source contributors, and we are appreciative of
 your hard work and dedication.

 ## Learn more

 Watch [the screencast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXIGYrMk80) for a
 walk-through of how to get started with `gopls` and VS Code Go, and see the
 [VS Code Go README](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/README.md)
 for additional information.

 If you’d like to read about `gopls` in more detail, see the
 [`gopls` README](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md).
	# Gopls on by default in the VS Code Go extension
	01 Feb 2021
	Tags: tools, gopls
	Summary: Gopls, which provides IDE features for Go to many editors, is now used by default in VS Code Go.

	Go tools team

	##

	We're happy to announce that the VS Code Go extension now enables the [gopls
	language server](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md)
	by default, to deliver more robust IDE features and better support for Go
	modules.

	.image gopls/features.gif _ 635
	_(`gopls` provides IDE features, such as as intelligent autocompletion, signature help, refactoring, and workspace symbol search.)_

	When [Go modules](using-go-modules) were
	released two years ago, they completely changed the landscape of Go developer
	tooling. Tools like `goimports` and `godef` previously depended on the fact
	that code was stored in your `$GOPATH`. When the Go team began rewriting these
	tools to work with modules, we immediately realized that we needed a more
	systematic approach to bridge the gap.

	As a result, we began working on a single Go
	[language server](https://microsoft.github.io/language-server-protocol/),
	`gopls`, which provides IDE features, such as autocompletion, formatting, and
	diagnostics to any compatible editor frontend. This persistent and unified
	server is a [fundamental
	shift](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJfdWzBHwE&t=1s) from the earlier
	collections of command-line tools.

	In addition to working on `gopls`, we sought other ways of creating a stable
	ecosystem of editor tooling. Last year, the Go team took responsibility for the
	[Go extension for VS Code](https://blog.golang.org/vscode-go). As part of this
	work, we smoothed the extension’s integration with the language server—automating
	`gopls` updates, rearranging and clarifying `gopls` settings, improving the
	troubleshooting workflow, and soliciting feedback through a survey. We’ve also
	continued to foster a community of active users and contributors who have
	helped us improve the stability, performance, and user experience of the Go
	extension.

	## Announcement

	January 28 marked a major milestone in both the `gopls` and VS Code Go
	journeys, as `gopls` is now enabled by default in the Go extension for VS Code.

	In advance of this switch we spent a long time iterating on the design, feature
	set, and user experience of `gopls`, focusing on improving performance and
	stability. For more than a year, `gopls` has been the default in most plugins for
	Vim, Emacs, and other editors. We’ve had 24 `gopls` releases, and we’re
	incredibly grateful to our users for consistently providing feedback and
	reporting issues on each and every one.

	We’ve also dedicated time to smoothing the new user experience. We hope that VS
	Code Go with `gopls` will be intuitive with clear error messages, but if you have
	a question or need to adjust some configuration, you’ll be able to find answers
	in our [updated documentation](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/README.md).
	We have also recorded [a screencast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXIGYrMk80)
	to help you get started, as well as
	[animations](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/features.md)
	to show off some hard-to-find features.

	Gopls is the best way of working with Go code, especially with Go modules.
	With the upcoming arrival of Go 1.16, in which modules are enabled by default,
	VS Code Go users will have the best possible experience out-of-the-box.

	Still, this switch does not mean that `gopls` is complete. We will continue
	working on bug fixes, new features, and general stability. Our next area of
	focus will be improving the user experience when [working with multiple
	modules](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/doc/workspace.md).
	Feedback from our larger user base will help inform our next steps.

	## So, what should you do?

	If you use VS Code, you don’t need to do anything.
	When you get the next VS Code Go update, `gopls` will be enabled automatically.

	If you use another editor, you are likely using `gopls` already. If not, see
	[the `gopls` user guide](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md)
	to learn how to enable `gopls` in your preferred editor. The Language Server
	Protocol ensures that `gopls` will continue to offer the same features to every
	editor.

	If `gopls` is not working for you, please see our [detailed troubleshooting
	guide](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/troubleshooting.md)
	and file an issue. If you need to, you can always [disable `gopls` in VS
	Code](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/docs/settings.md#gouselanguageserver).

	## Thank you

	To our existing users, thank you for bearing with us as we rewrote our caching
	layer for the third time. To our new users, we look forward to hearing your
	experience reports and feedback.

	Finally, no discussion of Go tooling is complete without mentioning the
	valuable contributions of the Go tools community. Thank you for the lengthy
	discussions, detailed bug reports, integration tests, and most importantly,
	thank you for the fantastic contributions. The most exciting `gopls` features
	come from our passionate open-source contributors, and we are appreciative of
	your hard work and dedication.

	## Learn more

	Watch [the screencast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXIGYrMk80) for a
	walk-through of how to get started with `gopls` and VS Code Go, and see the
	[VS Code Go README](https://github.com/golang/vscode-go/blob/master/README.md)
	for additional information.

	If you’d like to read about `gopls` in more detail, see the
	[`gopls` README](https://github.com/golang/tools/blob/master/gopls/README.md).