Debugging Go Microservices in Docker with Delve

This repository demonstrates how to set up a debugger for Go microservices running in Docker using Delve. This setup allows for remote debugging of Go applications running in a Docker container, eliminating the need to constantly add logging statements and redeploy.

This repository serves as a demonstration of the concepts discussed in my article on dev.to.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed:

• Go (version 1.23.0 or later)
• Docker
• Delve Debugger (dlv)
• make (for running the commands)

1. Build the Application

To install Delve and build the Go application with the necessary flags, simply run:

make build

This will install Delve and compile your Go application with the correct debugging settings.

2. Start the Service in Docker

To deploy the application in Docker and expose the necessary ports for debugging, run:

make start

This will handle the Docker container deployment and ensure the service is ready for debugging.

3. Debugging with Delve

Once the service is up and running, use the following command to start the debugger, set breakpoints, and step through the code:

make debug

This command will:

• Connect to the running service using Delve.
• Allow you to set breakpoints and map paths for debugging.
• Let you start and control the execution of the application with Delve's commands (e.g., continue).

4. Send a Request to the Service

Once the service is running and you're ready to test it, use the following command to send a request to the application:

make send-request

This will trigger the service and allow you to observe its behavior in the debugger.