go install regal does not provide any version information

[sbp-bvanb]

install regal
go install github.com/styrainc/[email protected]

issue regal version

Version:    unknown
Go Version: go1.23.3
Platform:   darwin/arm64
Commit:     unknown
Timestamp:  unknown
Hostname:   unknown

while

Version:    0.29.2
Go Version: go1.22.5
Platform:   darwin/amd64
Commit:     20a5cfaf7a721cc4d54b82f2f4ffc6c09b0b07cb
Timestamp:  2024-11-15T09:12:15Z
Hostname:   github.actions.local

is expected

[srenatus]

I think this is to be expected since the build you grab from github was done via goreleaser, injects certain ldflags, etc. I believe most Go CLI tools fail to show proper versioning information when installed via go install.

That said, if you or someone else wants to tackle the problem, using runtime/debug's ReadBuildInfo() might be a way to figure out some of the fields even when installed via go install.

[sbp-bvanb]

I still think that go install should be supported including versioning when this option is chosen to install regal. I can come up with more than five other golang tools that support versioning when they have been installed using go install.

[anderseknert]

Like you allude to, go install isn't "supported" in the sense that we list that as a recommended way to install Regal, but it's not like we'd stop anyone from improving that experience should they want that 🙂

Considering the huge number of golang tools around, "more than five" isn't exactly a large number. But if you drop some links to projects that does this, perhaps that would be helpful for whoever wants to work on this.

[sbp-bvanb]

Project that show a version once they have been installed using go install:

• https://github.com/daixiang0/gci
• https://github.com/mikefarah/yq
• https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa
• https://github.com/vektra/mockery
• https://github.com/Yamashou/gqlgenc
• https://golang.org/x/vuln/cmd/govulncheck

[anderseknert]

https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa

lol, touché! 🤣

Thanks 👍 that's helpful

[sbp-bvanb]

Please let me know if I should create a PR. I am looking forward to this as I prefer go install over curl to install a go package.

[anderseknert]

By all means, please do! 👍

[sbp-bvanb]

PR has been created. Please review.

[anderseknert]

@sbp-bvanb did you find a satisfiable solution to this eventually?

Given that this would require a larger effort to our build process, I don't think we're going to change this in the near future. I'll close this, but if someone is interested enough in this to put in the work, I'm happy to re-open.

[sbp-bvanb]

I download the binary instead of using go install as a workaround as the former contains the version information. In other words, it is fine if this issue will be closed.

[anderseknert]

Thanks! In case you missed it, and you're using GitHub Actions, you can use https://github.com/StyraInc/setup-regal/ for some added convenience.