Install golangci-lint-langserver with Homebrew, Nix

Project links

• Homepage
• Upstream docs
• Package manager page

Commands and aliases

• golangci-lint-langserver

Project history

The project was demonstrable by an asciinema recording around 2020 and had early 0.0.x releases in that period. Its README centers on launching `golangci-lint-langserver` and passing a `golangci-lint run` command that emits JSON diagnostics.

As golangci-lint evolved from v1 to v2 output flags, the README added version-compatibility guidance: v2 uses `--output.json.path stdout --show-stats=false`, while v1 used `--out-format json`.

Adoption history

Adoption is mostly editor-driven. The README documents coc.nvim, vim-lsp, nvim-lspconfig, Emacs lsp-mode, and Helix configuration, and notes that Emacs lsp-mode has built-in support when the executable is present.

The batch input records Homebrew and Nix packaging, which matches its role as an auxiliary executable installed beside `golangci-lint` rather than as a primary Go toolchain command.

How it is used

Users install `golangci-lint` separately, install the language server with Go's install command or a package manager, and configure the editor's LSP client to run it for Go files.

The language server shells out to `golangci-lint run` and reads JSON output, so its practical behavior is tightly coupled to the installed golangci-lint version and the project's `.golangci` configuration.

Why package nerds care

For package nerds, golangci-lint-langserver is the glue package: it turns a CI-oriented linter runner into editor feedback without reimplementing the linters. That is useful in Homebrew and Nix because users can compose it with pinned versions of `golangci-lint`, Neovim, Emacs, or Helix.

Its narrow scope is also the point. The package exists to bridge command-line lint output into LSP diagnostics, so a small, dependency-light binary is more valuable than a broad feature set.

Timeline

• 2020: Public demo and early 0.0.x release line for the language server.
• 2021: Users were configuring v0.0.6 with Neovim and golangci-lint JSON output.
• 2023: README notes built-in Emacs lsp-mode support since late 2023.
• 2025: README documents golangci-lint v2 output flag compatibility.

Related projects

• golangci-lint is the required analyzer backend.
• gopls is commonly run beside it as the main Go language server.
• coc.nvim, vim-lsp, nvim-lspconfig, Emacs lsp-mode, and Helix are documented editor clients.

Sources

• https://asciinema.org/a/308369
• https://github.com/nametake/golangci-lint-langserver
• https://github.com/nametake/golangci-lint-langserver/issues/17
• https://github.com/nametake/golangci-lint-langserver/releases
• https://golangci-lint.run/docs/welcome/integrations/