Inspecting the Source of Go Modules
Hacker News
February 12, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The article highlights a critical issue in Go module management: code hosts like GitHub may not display the correct source of a Go module due to vulnerabilities such as force-pushed tags. This can lead to security risks, including typosquatting attacks where malicious code is introduced and then replaced, making it harder to detect.
Go's Checksum Database ensures package integrity by storing cryptographic hashes of module versions, preventing tampering. However, relying solely on code hosts introduces potential weaknesses. The article underscores the importance of using tools that fetch modules directly from their sources and verify checksums against the database. Such practices help maintain security despite the decentralized nature of Go modules.
_pkg.geomys.dev_ is introduced as a new service to view module sources accurately. Unlike pkg.go.dev, it links to verified code by making HTTP Range requests to module zip files, decompressing them in the browser for efficient and reliable viewing. The service enhances user experience with features like syntax highlighting, line linking, and dark mode. It also offers a browser extension to replace pkg.go.dev links, ensuring users access trusted sources.
While currently trusting the Google Modules Proxy without proof verification, plans are underway to implement optional proof checking once proxy.golang.org's CORS issues are resolved. This will ensure modules align with entries in the Go Checksum Database, though it requires downloading full archives to compute dirhashes for validation.
The article emphasizes the need for developers and module authors to verify sources and checksums, highlighting tools like `go mod verify` and the importance of transparency logs in maintaining security. By addressing these vulnerabilities, the Go ecosystem can enhance trust and integrity in its package management system.
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/12/2026