Quick guide
Can macCurrent update Go tools on Mac?
macCurrent finds standalone Go command-line tools in supported installation folders and updates eligible tools from qualified public module families. Current update checks cover golang.org/x/tools, golang.org/x/tools/gopls and golang.org/x/vuln, including supported gopls and govulncheck installations. It does not update every Go binary, the Go SDK or a project’s go.mod and go.sum.
Which Go tools can macCurrent update?
The Go package route is for standalone, versioned command-line tools with verifiable module and build information. Current public module coverage is limited to golang.org/x/tools, golang.org/x/tools/gopls and golang.org/x/vuln. Other discovered tools can remain in inventory without an update action.
macCurrent checks supported Go bin folders, including the applicable GOBIN or GOPATH/bin and the default ~/go/bin location. Each installed copy keeps its path and identity. The tool’s displayed name alone does not authorize replacement.
Homebrew-owned tools, vendor-managed binaries, Go SDK installations, project dependencies and cached modules stay with their owning tools. Renamed executables, replaced modules and custom build settings can also prevent updates.
Use case: refresh gopls for a Go editor setup
Your editor uses a standalone gopls executable for Go language features. You installed it in a supported Go bin folder and want to update that copy before your next development session.
- Find gopls in Packages > Go and check its executable path. Confirm it is the copy configured in your editor.
- Review the qualified module release and installed Go compiler requirements.
- Start an eligible update. macCurrent prepares and verifies the new executable before replacing the selected copy.
The selected gopls executable is updated with a verified previous copy available for the supported recovery route. Restart or reload your editor’s language server if it is still using the old process.
macCurrent does not reconfigure the editor’s tool path or update an editor-managed, Homebrew-owned or custom gopls build through this route. The Go gopls guide explains its role as a language server.
Use case: refresh govulncheck before reviewing a service
You maintain a Go service and use a standalone govulncheck executable to review dependency vulnerabilities. Before running that check yourself, you want to update the scanner tool.
- Select the eligible govulncheck installation and confirm the path you use in your workflow.
- Review the release from the qualified golang.org/x/vuln family and its compiler requirements.
- Update the tool, then run your normal project check separately.
macCurrent updates the executable itself. You can then use that version in your usual vulnerability-review workflow.
This does not run a vulnerability scan, fix vulnerable dependencies or rewrite go.mod or go.sum. Follow the official govulncheck tutorial to review and address findings.
Use case: stop when an update needs a newer Go compiler
A selected standalone tool release needs a Go compiler newer than the compatible installation macCurrent can verify on your Mac.
- Read the reported compiler requirement in the tool’s update details.
- Install or select a suitable Go SDK through its owning manager.
- Scan again and retry the tool update after its requirements pass.
The update stays blocked until a compatible installed compiler can be verified. The selected live executable is not replaced during the failed requirement check.
macCurrent does not silently upgrade your Go SDK or change a project’s toolchain choice to make the update proceed.
How to update a supported Go command-line tool
- Run Scan and open the Go category under Packages. Select the tool’s installed copy.
- Review its installation path, current version, offered module version and any source or compatibility message.
- Start an eligible update. macCurrent checks the installed Go compiler and the selected module’s requirements before building in a separate location.
- After the prepared executable passes verification, macCurrent saves the previous executable and replaces the selected copy. Review the installed result.
- If recovery is required, use the action in the tool’s details. An incomplete update must be resolved before starting another one.
A compatible Go compiler must already be installed. An update can stop if the compiler is too old or cannot be verified. macCurrent does not upgrade your Go SDK as part of a standalone tool update.
Public sources, checksums and build settings
macCurrent qualifies the public module source and checks the release before preparing a replacement. Private or custom source settings prevent public update checks. It does not infer that a module is public merely because its path resembles a public repository.
Eligible updates preserve supported architecture and build requirements. Custom CPU settings, local module replacements and unsupported builds need their owning toolchain. A discovered version or a failed check is not proof that a tool is current.
The Go modules reference explains versioned command installation. If you manage a tool manually, confirm the command path, version and destination for that specific installation.
Go tools, the Go SDK and project dependencies
| What you want to update | Where it belongs |
|---|---|
| Eligible standalone Go command | The Go package route in macCurrent, when its source and build qualify. |
| Homebrew-installed tool or Go formula | The matching Homebrew installation. |
| Go compiler / SDK | The manager or installer that owns that runtime. |
| Dependencies in go.mod and go.sum | Your project’s Go dependency workflow. |
For Rust tools, Python environments, npm and PHP tools, see the developer package overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can macCurrent update Go tools on Mac?
Yes, for eligible standalone tools from qualified public module families. Current coverage includes golang.org/x/tools, golang.org/x/tools/gopls and golang.org/x/vuln. Other discovered binaries may have inventory only or require their owning toolchain.
Can macCurrent update gopls and govulncheck?
Supported standalone gopls and govulncheck installations can qualify for updates. Their module identity, installed path, source settings, build settings and compiler requirements must pass checks. A Homebrew-owned or custom build may need another route.
Does macCurrent update the Go SDK or go.mod?
No. Standalone Go tool updates do not upgrade the Go SDK or change project go.mod and go.sum files. Update the compiler through its owning manager and project dependencies through the project’s Go workflow.
Do Go tool updates require an installed compiler?
Yes. A compatible installed Go compiler must be verified before macCurrent builds an eligible tool update. If its requirements cannot be met, the update stops.
What happens if a Go tool update fails?
macCurrent retains a verified copy of the previous executable for supported replacement updates. If recovery is required, use the tool’s recovery action and resolve the incomplete operation before trying again.