A Step-by-Step Guide for Go Beginners: How to Build a Simple To-Do Client with Golang

With various platforms and integrations in the market, productivity tools are essential in helping us manage our time and tasks effectively. As developers, engineer, or other technical professionals we find ourselves wanting to improve how we do things while also learning a new skills in the work environment. Building with a problem statement to solve an everyday task often gets the job done. A to-do client can be an excellent way to get familiar with Golang (or Go), a powerful programming language known for its efficiency and simplicity. This guide will walk you through creating a basic to-do client, covering everything from setting up your environment to implementing core functionality.

Setting Up Your Go Environment

Before diving into the coding, you'll need to set up your Go development environment. Here's how you can do it:

Download and Install Go
Visit the official Go website and download the latest version for your operating system. Follow the installation instructions provided.
Set Up Your Workspace
Create a directory for your Go projects. This directory should be located in your home folder, typically named `go`. You can create it by running:

bash

mkdir ~/go

Configure Go Environment Variables
Set the `GOPATH` variable to your workspace. You can do this by adding the following lines to your `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` file (depending on your shell):

bash

export GOPATH=$HOME/go

export PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin

After editing, reload your terminal or run `source ~/.bashrc` or `source ~/.zshrc`, as appropriate.

Test Your Setup
To ensure everything is set up correctly, run:

bash

go version

You should see the installed Go version.

Creating the To-Do Client

Once you have your environment ready, follow these steps to build the to-do client.

Step 1: Initialize Your Project

Start by creating a new directory for your to-do client, and navigate into it:

bash

mkdir ~/go/todo-client

cd ~/go/todo-client

Next, initialize a new Go module:

bash

go mod init todo-client

Step 2: Define the Structure of Your To-Do Item

Create a new file named `todo.go`. This file will contain the structure to represent a to-do item:

go

package main

type Todo struct {

    ID          int

    Title       string

    Completed   bool

This simple struct defines each to-do item with an ID, title, and a completion status.

Step 3: Create Functions to Manage To-Do Items

In the same `todo.go` file, add functions that will handle CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations for your to-do list:

go

package main

import "sync"

var (

    todoList []Todo

    idCounter = 1

    mu        sync.Mutex

// Create a new to-do item

func CreateTodo(title string) Todo {

    mu.Lock()

    defer mu.Unlock()

    newTodo := Todo{ID: idCounter, Title: title, Completed: false}

    idCounter++

    todoList = append(todoList, newTodo)

    return newTodo

// Read all to-do items

func ReadTodos() []Todo {

    return todoList

// Update a to-do item

func UpdateTodo(id int, completed bool) bool {

    mu.Lock()

    defer mu.Unlock()

    for i, todo := range todoList {

        if todo.ID == id {

            todoList[i].Completed = completed

            return true

    return false

// Delete a to-do item

func DeleteTodo(id int) bool {

    mu.Lock()

    defer mu.Unlock()

    for i, todo := range todoList {

        if todo.ID == id {

            todoList = append(todoList[:i], todoList[i+1:]...)

            return true

    return false

These functions allow you to create, read, update, and delete todo items efficiently.

Step 4: Create a Basic Command Line Interface

Next, you’ll want users to interact with your todo client via the command line. Create a new file named `main.go`:

go

package main

import (

    "bufio"

    "fmt"

    "os"

    "strings"

func main() {

    scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)

    fmt.Println("Simple To-Do Client")

    for {

        fmt.Print("> ")

        scanner.Scan()

        input := scanner.Text()

        commands := strings.Fields(input)

        if len(commands) == 0 {

            continue

        switch commands[0] {

        case "add":

            if len(commands) > 1 {

                todo := CreateTodo(strings.Join(commands[1:], " "))

                fmt.Printf("Added: %+v\n", todo)

            } else {

                fmt.Println("Usage: add <task>")

        case "list":

            todos := ReadTodos()

            for _, todo := range todos {

                fmt.Printf("%d: %s [Completed: %t]\n", todo.ID, todo.Title, todo.Completed)

        case "done":

            if len(commands) == 2 {

                id := commands[1]

                // Update logic here

            } else {

                fmt.Println("Usage: done <id>")

        case "delete":

            if len(commands) == 2 {

                id := commands[1]

                // Delete logic here

            } else {

                fmt.Println("Usage: delete <id>")

        case "exit":

            fmt.Println("Exiting...")

            return

        default:

            fmt.Println("Unknown command:", commands[0])

This code provides a basic interface that allows users to add, list, complete, and delete tasks.

Step 5: Run Your To-Do Client

To run your to-do client, simply execute the following in your terminal:

bash

go run main.go todo.go

You should now see your simple to-do client running. You can add tasks, view them, and interact with the list.

Conclusion

Creating a basic to-do client using Golang is not only a fantastic way to learn about the intricacies of the language, but it also serves as a practical exercise in software development that can yield a functional and useful tool for everyday tasks. By embarking on this project, you are engaging with core concepts of programming, such as data structures, control flow, and error handling, while simultaneously familiarizing yourself with Golang's unique features, such as goroutines and channels. The application you build, although simple in its initial form, has the potential to be expanded and enhanced in numerous ways, allowing you to explore various programming paradigms and best practices.

Once you have successfully implemented the basic functionality of adding, removing, and displaying tasks, you might consider integrating additional features that can significantly improve the usability and functionality of your to-do client. For instance, incorporating persistent storage would allow users to save their tasks even after closing the application. This could be achieved by using a lightweight database like SQLite or a more robust solution like PostgreSQL, which would provide a solid foundation for storing user data securely and efficiently.

As you continue to learn and refine your skills in Golang, think about enhancing this application further by adding user authentication. This feature could enable multiple users to have their own separate task lists, enhancing the application's versatility and appeal. Implementing authentication might involve using packages such as Gorilla Sessions or JWT (JSON Web Tokens), which would not only secure user data but also provide a more personalized experience.

Another exciting avenue to explore is the creation of a web interface for your to-do client. By utilizing web frameworks like Gin or Echo, you can transform your console application into a fully functional web application. This transition would allow users to interact with your to-do list through a browser, providing a more visually appealing and accessible user experience. Additionally, you could enhance the web interface with modern front-end technologies such as React or Vue.js, which would enable you to create a dynamic and responsive user interface that improves user engagement.

The possibilities for expanding your to-do client are indeed endless and are only limited by your creativity and willingness to experiment. You could consider implementing features like task categorization, deadlines, reminders, or even collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on shared tasks. Each of these enhancements would not only make the application more robust but would also provide you with invaluable experience in software development, project management, and user experience design. As you embark on this journey, remember that every new feature you add is an opportunity to learn and grow as a developer.

Happy coding, and enjoy building with Go!

A.M. Tech Consulting