What does cannot find package mean in Go?
Common causes
The error typically appears when you import a package that isn't part of your module or its dependencies. Go looks in your module cache and in the standard library, and if it can't find it, you get this message.
Another common cause is a typo in the import path, or using a package that requires a different module path than you expect.
- The package is not in your go.mod file.
- The import path is misspelled or has wrong case.
- You haven't run 'go get' to download the package.
- The package is part of a module that hasn't been added as a dependency.
- Your GOPATH or module setup is misconfigured.
How to fix it
First, check the import path for typos. Then, if it's an external package, run 'go get <import-path>' to add it to your module. This updates go.mod and go.sum.
If you're working in a module, make sure you're in the right directory and that your go.mod file exists. If you're using an older GOPATH mode, consider switching to modules.
If the package is part of the standard library, double-check the path; standard library packages don't need to be downloaded.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the package is missing when it's just not downloaded yet.
- Forgetting to run 'go mod tidy' after adding imports manually.
- Using a relative import path instead of a full module path.
