I’ve been diving into Go (Golang) for a little while now but, honestly, it’s just not clicking for me. I’ve decided to move on to another language that better suits my needs—maybe something like Python or JavaScript. But before I jump into that, I need to completely wipe Go off my Ubuntu system.
I’ve tried installing and uninstalling it a couple of times, but I’m unsure if I’ve really gotten rid of everything. I don’t want any remnants hanging around, you know? So, if someone could help me figure this out, that would be awesome.
First off, I installed Go using the official tarball from the website, and I think I also added some paths to my `.bashrc` file, which probably means there are still some leftovers in there. I’ve already run the commands to uninstall it, but I have this nagging feeling there’s more to do. Do I just delete the Go folder from wherever I unpacked it? Is there a way to clean up the environment variables I set? And, what about managing packages or libraries I might’ve installed?
I’ve heard some people mention that there might be other hidden files or directories that need removing, like from the `$GOPATH`. So, if anyone’s had a similar experience and could guide me through this, I would really appreciate it! I want to make sure I’m starting fresh without any leftover bits that might cause confusion down the road.
Oh, and if there are any other commands I should know about for completely purging Go from my system, that would be great too! I’m not the most experienced with Linux commands yet, so any detailed steps or advice would really help a lot. Looking forward to your suggestions! Thanks!
Uninstalling Go from Your Ubuntu System
Totally understand the struggle with Go! Here’s a step-by-step guide to make sure you wipe it off your system completely.
Step 1: Remove the Go Installation
First, find the Go folder you unpacked. It’s typically in your home directory or /usr/local. You can delete it with the following command:
Step 2: Clean Up Environment Variables
You might’ve added some environment variables in your
.bashrc
. Let’s check and clean that up:nano ~/.bashrc
to edit your bashrc file.export GOROOT=
orexport GOPATH=
and remove them.:$GOROOT/bin
or:$GOPATH/bin
and remove those too.CTRL + X
, thenY
, and hitEnter
).source ~/.bashrc
to apply changes.Step 3: Remove Packages or Libraries
If you installed any Go packages, they might be in your
GOPATH
. It’s usually in$HOME/go
by default:Step 4: Check for Hidden Files
Sometimes there might be hidden files from Go in your home directory. You can list them with:
Look for any folders like
.go
, and if you find any, delete them.Final Step: Verify Everything is Gone
Finally, just check if any Go commands are still recognized:
If you see an error, you’re all set! You’ve wiped Go off your system.
Once you’re ready, jumping into Python or JavaScript sounds like a solid plan. Happy coding!
To completely remove Go (Golang) from your Ubuntu system, you’ll need to tackle several components: the installation files, environment variables, and any packages you’ve installed. Since you installed Go using the official tarball, start by locating the Go installation directory, which is typically found in /usr/local/go or wherever you unpacked it. You can remove it with the command
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go
or the pertinent directory you specified during installation. This will clear the primary installation files that are not handled by package managers.Next, you’ll want to clean up your environment variables, particularly in your
.bashrc
file. Open it using your favorite text editor, for instance,nano ~/.bashrc
, and look for lines that export Go-specific variables, such asGOPATH
orGOBIN
. Remove those lines, and also if you see a line that adds the Go binary directory to yourPATH
, delete that as well. After making these changes, refresh your terminal session by runningsource ~/.bashrc
. Finally, if you used any Go packages, these would likely reside in your$GOPATH
directory, typically~/go
by default. You can remove that entirely withrm -rf ~/go
to ensure a clean slate. Once you’ve followed these steps, Go should be completely purged from your system.