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Godog
What it is
Godog is a behavior-driven development framework for Go. It lets teams express expected behavior as Gherkin scenarios using Given, When and Then steps, then run those scenarios as tests. The framework brings specifications and test documentation together, and tests specifications automatically to help keep documentation current. Godog can run suites through Go’s standard `go test` command; its project recommends that approach because the `godog` CLI is deprecated. Configured concurrency runs scenarios simultaneously, and supplied formatters support concurrent runs. Feature files can be included in a test binary using `go:embed` with a custom filesystem loader. The project points to cucumber-html-reporter for HTML reports and pkg.go.dev for API details. Godog and Gherkin are free, MIT-licensed software that run locally. The listed plan is free; its note says the API may change before version 1.0.0. Users can seek help in the Cucumber community Discord.
For and against
For
- Runs test suites through standard `go test`.
- Supports concurrent scenario execution.
- Feature files can be embedded in test binaries.
- Free, MIT-licensed software.
Against
- The `godog` CLI is deprecated.
- The API may change before version 1.0.0.
The verdict
Godog brings Gherkin behavior specifications into Go test workflows and can keep those specifications checked alongside tests. The project recommends `go test` rather than its deprecated CLI.
Who it suits
Godog suits Go developers who want to describe and run behavior-focused tests in Gherkin. It may also fit teams that want their specifications and test documentation kept together.
Plans and prices
Godog open-source software
MIT license · API may change before 1.0.0
Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API documentation
- General API details are available through the package documentation on pkg.go.dev.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- CLI status
- The godog CLI is deprecated and the project recommends using go test instead.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Concurrency
- Configured concurrency executes scenarios concurrently, and supplied formatters support concurrency.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Documentation model
- Godog merges specification and test documentation into one cohesive whole.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Embeddable features
- Feature files can be compiled into a test binary with go:embed and a custom filesystem loader.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Go test integration
- Godog can run test suites through the standard go test command.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- License
- Godog and Gherkin are licensed under the MIT License.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Living documentation
- Specifications are automatically tested by Godog so they remain up to date.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Godog is the official Cucumber behavior-driven development framework for Golang.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Reporting
- The project references cucumber-html-reporter for generating HTML reports from Cucumber output.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Security advisories
- The repository page states that there are no published security advisories.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- Security vulnerabilities should be reported privately to [email protected] rather than through public issues, discussions or pull requests.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Specification format
- It uses Gherkin-formatted scenarios with Given, When and Then steps.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can get help through the Cucumber community Discord with users, developers and BDD practitioners.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
