# Go Language Support
## Overview
AI Distiller provides support for Go (Golang) source code analysis and distillation. The Go processor uses the standard `go/ast` parser to build a comprehensive Abstract Syntax Tree, which is then transformed into a simplified, AI-friendly format.
## Main Constructs
Go is a statically typed, compiled language with the following primary constructs:
- **Packages**: Organizational units (`package main`)
- **Imports**: Dependency management with aliasing support
- **Types**: Structs, interfaces, type aliases
- **Functions**: Standalone functions and methods with receivers
- **Variables/Constants**: Package and function-scoped declarations
- **Interfaces**: Behavioral contracts with implicit satisfaction
- **Generics**: Type parameters and constraints (Go 1.18+)
## Key Features
The Go distiller focuses on extracting the essential structure that helps AI understand:
1. **Type System**: All types are preserved including custom types, built-in types, and generic type parameters
2. **Interface Satisfaction**: Implicit interface implementation relationships (currently limited)
3. **Method Receivers**: Distinction between value and pointer receivers
4. **Visibility**: Uppercase = exported (public), lowercase = unexported (package-private)
5. **Import Aliases**: Support for renamed imports (`import m "math"`)
## Text Format Output
The default text format provides a Python-like representation optimized for AI consumption:
```
package main
import (
"fmt"
m "math"
)
type Writer interface
Write(p []byte) (int, error)
type Logger struct
prefix string
writer Writer
func NewLogger(prefix string) *Logger
return &Logger{prefix: prefix}
func (l *Logger) Log(message string)
fmt.Printf("[%s] %s\n", l.prefix, message)
```
## Known Issues
### 1. Parameter and Field Grouping
**Status**: Expanded in AST
**Impact**: Low - Cosmetic difference
Grouped parameters and fields are expanded:
```go
// Original
func Move(x, y int)
type Point struct { X, Y int }
// Distilled
func Move(x int, y int)
type Point struct
X int
Y int
```
### 2. Single Import Formatting
**Status**: Always uses parentheses
**Impact**: Low - Cosmetic issue
Single imports are formatted with parentheses like multi-imports:
```go
// Original
import "fmt"
// Distilled
import (
"fmt"
)
```
### 3. Implementation Details
**Status**: Some simplification
**Impact**: Medium - Implementation may differ
Complex implementations may be simplified. For example, compound assignments like `+=` might appear as simple assignments.
### 4. Generic Type Parameters
**Status**: Basic support
**Impact**: Medium - Complex constraints may not be fully preserved
Basic generic syntax is supported, but complex type constraints might be simplified.
### 5. CGO Support
**Status**: Minimal
**Impact**: Low - C code blocks not properly preserved
CGO import "C" and associated C code blocks are not handled correctly.
## Examples
Basic Go Constructs
construct_1_basic.go - source
```go
// Package basic provides fundamental Go constructs.
// It serves as the baseline for parser testing.
package basic
import (
"fmt" // Standard library import
m "math" // Aliased import
)
// Global constant Pi, a fundamental value.
const Pi = 3.14159
// var block for multiple declarations.
var (
// IsEnabled controls a feature. Doc comments for vars are important.
IsEnabled = true
// UserCount is a package-level counter.
UserCount int64 = 100
)
// Add sums two integers. A trivial function.
// It tests basic function declaration and parameter parsing.
func Add(x int, y int) int { // Line comment on the function signature
// A comment inside the function body.
z := x + y // Short variable declaration
var result = z // Standard variable declaration
_ = m.Abs(-1) // Using an aliased import
fmt.Println(result)
return result
}
```
Default compact AI-friendly version (`default output (public only, no implementation)`)
```
package basic
import (
"fmt"
m "math"
)
const Pi = 3.14159
var IsEnabled = true
var UserCount int64 = 100
func Add(x int, y int) int
```
Full version (`--public=1 --protected=1 --internal=1 --private=1 --implementation=1`)
```
// Package basic provides fundamental Go constructs.
// It serves as the baseline for parser testing.
package basic
import (
"fmt"
// Standard library import
m "math"
// Aliased import
// Global constant Pi, a fundamental value.
)
const Pi = 3.14159
// var block for multiple declarations.
// IsEnabled controls a feature. Doc comments for vars are important.
var IsEnabled = true
// UserCount is a package-level counter.
var UserCount int64 = 100
// Add sums two integers. A trivial function.
// It tests basic function declaration and parameter parsing.
func Add(x int, y int) int
z := x + y
var result = z
_ = m.Abs(-1)
fmt.Println(result)
return result
// Line comment on the function signature
// A comment inside the function body.
// Short variable declaration
// Standard variable declaration
// Using an aliased import
```
Structs and Methods
construct_2_simple.go - source
```go
package simple
import "io"
// Writer defines a simple interface for writing data.
type Writer interface {
// Write accepts a byte slice and returns bytes written and an error.
Write(p []byte) (n int, err error)
}
// Data represents a container for a piece of data.
// It demonstrates a basic struct with a single field.
type Data struct {
value string // unexported field
}
// NewData is a constructor-like function, a common Go idiom.
func NewData(v string) *Data {
return &Data{value: v}
}
// ReadValue returns the current value. This is a value receiver method.
// It can be called on both Data and *Data types.
func (d Data) ReadValue() string {
return d.value
}
// UpdateValue modifies the value. This is a pointer receiver method.
// It can only be called on a *Data type.
func (d *Data) UpdateValue(v string) {
d.value = v
}
// Ensure Data does not satisfy the io.Writer interface, but we use it
// to test how the distiller handles imported interfaces.
var _ io.Writer = (*customWriter)(nil) // compile-time check idiom
type customWriter struct{}
func (cw *customWriter) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) { return 0, nil }
```
Default compact AI-friendly version
```
package simple
import (
"io"
)
type Writer interface
Write(p []byte) (n int, err error)
type Data struct
func (d Data) ReadValue() string
func (d *Data) UpdateValue(v string)
func NewData(v string) *Data
```
Full version
```
package simple
import (
"io"
)
type Writer interface
Write(p []byte) (n int, err error)
type Data struct
value string
func (d Data) ReadValue() string
return d.value
func (d *Data) UpdateValue(v string)
d.value = v
var _ io.Writer = (*customWriter)(nil)
type customWriter struct
func (cw *customWriter) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error)
return 0, nil
func NewData(v string) *Data
return &Data{value: v}
```
Generics and Type Constraints
construct_4_complex.go - source
```go
package complex
// Number is a constraint that permits any integer or floating-point type.
type Number interface {
~int | ~int64 | ~float32 | ~float64
}
// Node is a generic struct representing a node in a linked list.
type Node[T any] struct {
Value T
Next *Node[T]
}
// Map applies a function to each element of a slice, returning a new slice.
// This is a generic function with a closure.
func Map[T, V any](input []T, f func(T) V) []V {
output := make([]V, len(input))
for i, v := range input {
output[i] = f(v)
}
return output
}
// ProcessNumericChan processes a channel of generic Nodes.
// It uses a type constraint.
func ProcessNumericChan[T Number](ch <-chan *Node[T]) T {
var total T
for node := range ch {
total += node.Value // This operation is only valid because of the Number constraint.
}
// This function literal captures 'total' from its surrounding scope.
defer func() {
println("Final total:", total)
}()
return total
}
```
Default compact AI-friendly version
```
package complex
type Number interface
~int | ~int64 | ~float32 | ~float64
type Node[T any] struct
Value T
Next *Node[T]
func Map[T any, V any](input []T, f func(T) V) []V
func ProcessNumericChan[T Number](ch <-chan *Node[T]) T
```