golangci/golangci-lint · error

generate imports: %w

Error message

generate imports: %w

What it means

generateImports renders the plugins.go Go-template from the plugin configuration. If template execution (or building the imports list) fails, the error wraps the cause under 'generate imports:'. Build cannot proceed without a valid generated source.

Source

Thrown at pkg/commands/internal/imports.go:32

import (
{{range .Imports -}}
	_ "{{.}}"
{{end -}}
)
`

func (b Builder) updatePluginsFile() error {
	importsDest := filepath.Join(b.repo, "cmd", "golangci-lint", "plugins.go")

	info, err := os.Stat(importsDest)
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("file %s not found: %w", importsDest, err)
	}

	source, err := generateImports(b.cfg)
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("generate imports: %w", err)
	}

	b.log.Infof("generated imports info %s:\n%s\n", importsDest, source)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Clean(importsDest), source, info.Mode())
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("write file %s: %w", importsDest, err)
	}

	return nil
}

func generateImports(cfg *Configuration) ([]byte, error) {
	impTmpl, err := template.New("plugins.go").Parse(importsTemplate)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse template: %w", err)
	}

View on GitHub (pinned to ed7a235d2d)

Solutions

1. Fix the Plugins entries in the build configuration (valid, non-empty Import paths)
2. Ensure the Configuration passed to Builder is fully populated and not nil
3. Reconcile importsTemplate usage with the current golangci-lint version after an upgrade
4. Re-run with verbose logging to see partially generated output and pinpoint the failing plugin

Example fix

# before (config)
plugins:
  - module: example.com/myplugin
# after
plugins:
  - module: example.com/myplugin
    import: example.com/myplugin/pkg/plugin

for _, p := range cfg.Plugins {
	if p.Import == "" {
		return fmt.Errorf("plugin %q missing import path", p.Module)
	}
}

err := builder.Build(ctx)
if err != nil && strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "generate imports:") {
	return fmt.Errorf("invalid plugin configuration: %w", err)
}

When it happens

Trigger: Builder.updatePluginsFile → generateImports receives a Configuration whose Plugins data cannot be rendered, or template.Execute returns an error while producing the plugins.go source.

Common situations: Malformed plugin entries in the custom-build config (e.g. missing Import path); template data mismatch after upgrading golangci-lint source; nil/invalid cfg passed to Builder.

Related errors

• parse template: %w
• open source file: %w
• file %s not found: %w
• write file %s: %w
• failed to load packages: %w

AI-assisted analysis of golangci/golangci-lint@ed7a235d2d (2026-09-02). Data as JSON: /api/errors/f0dc42d6a0d40caa. Report an issue: GitHub.