Why Does \"Use of Internal Package Not Allowed\" Occur in Forged Go Projects?

Go: Understanding the Error 'Use of Internal Package Not Allowed' in Forged Projects

When working with Go, developers may encounter an error stating "use of internal package not allowed." This error occurs when attempting to run tests within a project that has been forked from another repository.

In the specific instance mentioned, the error arises when running the command "go test ." within the "eth" directory of the forked "zoonoo/go-ethereum" repository. This error stems from the 37th line of the file "eth/api.go," which imports the internal package "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi."

Addressing the Error

To understand the error, it is important to grasp the nuances of Go's package system. Go packages are identified by their repository and path. When forking a repository, the forked version exists as a separate entity with a different path while maintaining the same repository name.

This means that when trying to run tests in a forked project, Go attempts to resolve dependencies based on the project's current path, which is different from the path of the original repository. As a result, Go throws the "use of internal package not allowed" error because the internal package is specific to the original repository and cannot be imported from the forked version.

Forging vs. Modifying a Project

To resolve this error, it is crucial to distinguish between forking and modifying a project. Forking creates a copy of the original repository while adding changes to your version. However, these changes do not affect the original repository. Modifying a project, on the other hand, changes the original repository itself.

Solution

To run tests in a forged Go project, developers need to modify the import paths within the code to match the forked repository. This involves replacing the original repository URL with the forked repository URL in the import statements. By doing so, Go can resolve dependencies correctly and avoid the error.

It is worth noting that when working with forked repositories, it is recommended to keep the same package structure as the original repository. This ensures compatibility with the original project's design and code dependencies.

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