Static analysis of Golang source code: a survey

V. V. Dvortsova, A. E. Borodin

Ivannikov Institute for System Programming of the RAS

Abstract: Static analysis methods determine the properties of a program without executing it, while different properties allow solving different tasks. We have reviewed articles on Golang static analysis. In this paper, we have reviewed 34 papers published since the release of Go 1.0 (2012 – 2025) and focused on static analysis in Golang. Based on our analysis, we have identified the main trends and methods for performing static analysis as well as intermediate representations and features of Golang that affect the process. We have also examined the challenges faced by developers of static analyzers. This survey will be helpful for both developers of static analyzers and Golang developers, providing a systematic understanding of current research in static analysis for Go.

Keywords: Static analysis, Golang, Survey

DOI: 10.15514/ISPRAS-2025-37(6)-4