golang-popular-libraries Skill for Claude Code: Pick Go Libraries

Makes Claude recommend vetted Go libraries by category, and say so when the standard library is already enough.

Installs: 40.3K; on skills.sh
Stars: 3.7K; on GitHub
Files: 4; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Nov 2026; last repo commit

golang-popular-libraries gives Claude a selection method for Go libraries and frameworks: check requirements, try the standard library first, then check maintenance, license and community adoption. It treats the imported-by count on pkg.go.dev as a popularity signal.

It bundles three catalogs: libraries by category, new and experimental standard library packages, and development tools. It bundles no scripts. Its frontmatter lets Claude fetch web pages and search the web, and it points to awesome-go for more.

Good for

Go developers choosing a web, database, testing or logging library
Teams that want the agent to prefer the standard library and well-maintained packages
Anyone who wants to know which new stdlib and x/ packages exist

Install golang-popular-libraries

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the golang-popular-libraries skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

/plugin marketplace add samber/cc
/plugin install cc-skills-golang@samber

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Pick one route, not several. The README says the skills cross-reference each other and a subset gives a partial and potentially inconsistent view, so the plugin or the whole-set CLI command is the better choice. The plugin installs the repo's 46 skill folders; its manifest declares no hooks, commands or MCP servers. Claude Code names plugin skills /plugin-name:skill-name, so after the plugin install the full name is /cc-skills-golang:golang-popular-libraries. The samber/cc marketplace lists seven plugins; the second command installs only cc-skills-golang.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Golang library and framework selection — vetted production-ready options by category (web, database, testing, logging, messaging), new and experimental stdlib packages, standard-library-first tradeoffs, and maturity signals (maintenance, license, importer counts). Apply when the user asks for library suggestions, wants to compare alternatives, needs to choose a library for a specific task, or when a new dependency is being added to the project. Not for a specific library's API once chosen (→ See that library's dedicated skill, e.g. `samber/cc-skills-golang@golang-samber-lo`), nor for go.mod mechanics, upgrades, or vulnerability audits (→ See `samber/cc-skills-golang@golang-dependency-management` skill).

Sections in SKILL.md

Core Philosophy
Reference Catalogs
General Guidelines
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Cross-References

Key facts

Author: samber (metadata.author in SKILL.md)
License: MIT (license field in SKILL.md)
Version: 1.2.2 (metadata.version in SKILL.md)
Installs on skills.sh: 40,296 as of 2026-11-02
GitHub stars: 3,749 for the whole samber/cc-skills-golang repo, 2026-11-02
Last repo commit: 2026-11-01
What is inside: 5 files including SKILL.md: 3 reference guides, an evals file. No scripts.
Needs: Programs named in the SKILL.md frontmatter: go
Works in: Designed for Claude Code, Codex or similar harness, and for projects using Golang (compatibility field in SKILL.md)

What it includes

Production-readiness, simplicity, performance, stdlib first
Four priorities for any recommendation.
Read · Core philosophy
Assess requirements, check stdlib, check maturity, weigh dependencies
Five steps. Maturity means maintenance status, license and adoption.
Read · General guidelines
Vetted third-party libraries by category
Web, database, testing, logging, messaging and more.
Read · references/libraries.md
New and experimental standard library packages
v2 packages, promoted x/exp packages and golang.org/x extensions.
Read · references/stdlib.md
Debugging, linting, testing and dependency tools
A short list of development tools.
Read · references/tools.md
Over-engineering, wrapper libraries, abandoned packages
Asks the developer before recommending unmaintained libraries.
Read · Anti-patterns

From the official docs

Permissions

Low risk

Claude can edit your Go files and run go and git commands while this skill is active. Work on a branch and read the diff before you commit.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

It edits files and runs commands in your project
The frontmatter lists Edit, Write and these shell commands: go:*, golangci-lint:*, git:*, godig:*, gopls:*. Work on a branch and read the diff before you commit. github.com
Claude may fetch web pages
The frontmatter lists WebFetch and WebSearch. Page text it reads goes into the conversation with your AI provider. github.com
The recommended plugin route installs the whole repo
The plugin route and the --all skills CLI command add all 46 skill folders in the repo, not only this one. The plugin manifest (.claude-plugin/plugin.json, version 2.0.1) declares a name, description, author, license and keywords, and lists no hooks, commands or MCP servers. The skills CLI docs say --all installs every skill into every agent it supports without prompts. github.com

Technical details

Talks to	Web fetch/search through your assistant (WebFetch, WebSearch)
Sign-in and keys	SKILL.md names no account or API key.
Scopes	Reads and edits files in your Go project Runs the shell commands listed in the allowed-tools field: go:, golangci-lint:, git:, godig:, gopls:* Frontmatter also allows MCP tools: mcp__context7__resolve-library-id, mcp__context7__query-docs, mcp__gopls__*

Questions

What does golang-popular-libraries do?

It makes Claude recommend Go libraries and frameworks from a vetted list by category, check maintenance, license and adoption, and prefer the standard library when it covers the need.

How do I install golang-popular-libraries?

Install the whole golang set, not only this skill. The README calls the skills atomic, cross-referencing units and says a partial install gives a potentially inconsistent view. The install box lists the Claude Code plugin (/plugin marketplace add samber/cc, then /plugin install cc-skills-golang@samber), the skills CLI for the whole set or for this skill alone, and the README's Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor and OpenCode routes. The README documents no Claude app route, so none is listed.

Do I need the other golang skills with golang-popular-libraries?

Installing the set is the safer choice. SKILL.md hands neighboring topics to other skills: golang-dependency-management, golang-pkg-go-dev, golang-samber-do, golang-samber-hot, golang-samber-oops, golang-stretchr-testify, golang-grpc. The README says to install the general-purpose skills together, and the whole-set install does that.

What does golang-popular-libraries need on my machine?

The frontmatter names these programs: go. SKILL.md names no API key or account.

Is golang-popular-libraries safe?

It is instruction text and reference files, and the folder bundles no scripts. When you use it, Claude can edit files and run go, golangci-lint, git, godig and gopls commands in your project, as its frontmatter allows. The frontmatter also lists WebFetch and WebSearch, so pages Claude opens are read into your conversation. Work on a branch, read the diff and approve commands you do not recognize.

golang-popular-libraries vs awesome-go?

SKILL.md links to awesome-go as the place to find more libraries. This skill is a short curated list plus a method for judging a library, not a full catalog.

Does golang-popular-libraries work in Codex, Cursor or the Claude app?

The SKILL.md compatibility field says it is designed for Claude Code, Codex or a similar harness, and the README says the skills are built for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Copilot, Antigravity and Cursor. The install box covers Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor, OpenCode and the skills CLI. The README documents no Claude app route.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: samber/cc-skills-golang
Folder: skills/golang-popular-libraries

samber/cc-skills-golang skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 6

cc-skills-golang README · github.com
skills CLI commands · github.com
cc-skills-golang plugin.json · github.com
samber/cc marketplace.json · github.com
Claude Code skills · code.claude.com
golang-popular-libraries SKILL.md · github.com