Go Semantic Tools

grep finds strings; the toolchain finds meaning. Method names repeat across types, interfaces are satisfied implicitly, and dot-imports lie to text search. Before changing shared code, get the truth from tools that understand types.

1. Choose the Tool

Positions are file.go:line:column (1-based). Get line/column from a prior search or gopls symbols. All gopls commands run from within the module and need a warm build cache — run go build ./... once first.

2. Standard Investigation Flows

Before changing a function

gopls references internal/service/user.go:42:6   # every call site, typed
gopls call_hierarchy internal/service/user.go:42:6

Text search for Process( would surface every type's Process; references returns only this one's call sites — including usages via interfaces and embeddings that grep cannot see.

Mapping an interface

# On the interface name: all implementations
gopls implementation internal/store/store.go:15:6

# On a method of a concrete type: interfaces it satisfies
gopls implementation internal/store/postgres/user.go:30:18

Run this before adding a method to an interface — every implementation listed will break.

Understanding the dependency graph

go list ./...                                    # all packages
go list -f '{{.ImportPath}} -> {{join .Imports " "}}' ./... # direct edges
go list -deps ./cmd/api | grep myorg             # everything a binary pulls in
go list -json ./internal/service | jq .Imports   # machine-readable

Use this to verify layering claims ("domain imports nothing") instead of trusting directory names.

Exploring an unfamiliar API

go doc ./internal/payments            # package overview
go doc ./internal/payments Gateway    # one symbol, with doc comment
go doc -all ./internal/payments       # full API surface

Prefer this to opening files: it shows the exported contract without implementation noise.

3. Semantic Rename

gopls rename -w internal/service/user.go:42:6 ProcessOrder

Renames the symbol everywhere it's referenced — through interfaces, embedding, and test packages. Never rename an identifier with find-and-replace; UserID the field and UserID the local variable are different symbols with the same spelling.

4. Diagnostics Without an Editor

gopls check ./internal/...   # type errors + analyzer findings per file
go vet ./...                 # the vet suite standalone

gopls check surfaces the same diagnostics an IDE user sees — run it when reviewing code you haven't opened in an editor.

5. When grep Is Still Right

• String literals: log messages, SQL, config keys, error text.
• Comments, TODOs, documentation.
• Code that doesn't compile yet — gopls needs a type-checkable package; grep works on broken trees.
• Quick existence checks ("is this env var referenced anywhere?").

Rule of thumb: identifiers → gopls; literals and prose → grep.

Verification Checklist

1. Call sites enumerated with gopls references (not grep) before changing any shared symbol
2. Interface changes preceded by gopls implementation on the interface
3. Renames performed with gopls rename -w, never text replacement
4. Layering assumptions verified with go list import data
5. Unfamiliar packages explored via go doc before reading implementations
6. gopls check / go vet run when reviewing without an editor
7. grep reserved for literals, comments, and non-compiling code