GoStart

Bootstrap Go projects in seconds. Search and install packages without leaving your terminal.

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The Problem

Every time you start a Go project, you do the same thing:

1. Create cmd/, internal/, pkg/, config/ manually
2. Stop coding mid-flow to Google a package URL, copy it, run go get
3. Repeat forever

GoStart eliminates both.

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Install

go install github.com/mohamed8eo/gostart@latest

Or download a prebuilt binary (no Go required) from the releases page.

Requirements: Go 1.21+ · Git

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Usage

Scaffold a new project (interactive TUI)

gostart init

Scaffold with flags (no TUI)

gostart init my-api --framework Gin --database PostgreSQL --sql GORM

Flag	Options
--framework / -f	Gin, Echo, Fiber, Chi, None
--database / -d	PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, None
--sql / -s	GORM, sqlx, sqlc, pgx, None

Generated structure

my-project/
├── cmd/
│   ├── api/
│   │   └── main.go          # API server entry point
│   └── worker/
│       └── main.go          # Background worker entry point
├── internal/
│   ├── auth/                # Authentication logic
│   ├── storage/             # Database/storage layer
│   └── transport/           # HTTP handlers/transports
├── pkg/
│   ├── logger/              # Shared logging utilities
│   └── crypto/              # Cryptographic helpers
├── api/
│   └── openapi.yaml         # API specification
├── config/
│   └── config.yaml          # Configuration files
├── scripts/
│   └── deploy.sh            # Deployment scripts
├── go.mod
└── README.md

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Search and install packages (interactive)

gostart add

• Type to search (e.g. jwt, redis, argon2)
• Browse results with star counts
• Select with a keystroke — installs via go get automatically

Requires a GitHub token (zero scopes needed — public search only):

1. Go to github.com/settings/tokens/new
2. Note: gostart-cli · Expiration: your choice · Scopes: none
3. Generate and add to your shell:

# Fish
echo 'set -x GITHUB_TOKEN "your_token"' >> ~/.config/fish/config.fish

# Bash/Zsh
echo 'export GITHUB_TOKEN="your_token"' >> ~/.bashrc

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Features

• Interactive TUI — Bubble Tea powered wizard for project setup
• Framework support — Gin, Echo, Fiber, Chi, or stdlib
• Database integration — PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB
• SQL drivers — GORM, sqlx, sqlc, pgx
• Package search — find and install Go packages without a browser
• Production-ready layout — consistent structure across all your projects

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Contributing

git clone https://github.com/mohamed8eo/gostart.git
cd gostart
go mod download
go build .

PRs welcome. Areas to contribute:

• Docker / CI-CD template generation
• pkg.go.dev integration for package search (replace GitHub search)
• More framework support (Beego, Revel)
• Tests for TUI components

See CONTRIBUTING.md or open an issue.

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Built with

• Cobra — CLI framework
• Bubble Tea — TUI framework
• Bubbles — TUI components
• Lip Gloss — terminal styling

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License

MIT