Scratch files

Sometimes you may need to create temporary notes or draft up some code outside the project context. Instead of switching to a different application, you can use scratch files and scratch buffers.

Scratch files are fully functional, runnable, and debuggable files that support syntax highlighting, code completion, and all other features for the corresponding file type. For example, while working on one project, you may come up with an idea for a method that you could later use in another project. You can create a scratch file with a draft of the method, which is not stored in your project directory but can be opened when you're working on any other project. You can use scratch files to draft code constructs, HTTP requests, JSON documents, and so on.
Scratch buffers are simple text files without any coding assistance features. Scratch buffers can be used for simple task lists and notes to yourself. They are also not stored in the project directory and can be opened from any other project. You can create up to five scratch buffers with default names, which are rotated and reused by clearing the content.

Create a scratch file

Go to File | New | Scratch File or press Control+Alt+Shift+Insert. Alternatively, in the Project tool window , right-click any area and navigate to New | Scratch File.
Select the language of the scratch file.
Scratch files of the same type are automatically numbered and added to the Scratches and Consoles directory of the Project view.
When you create a Go scratch file, GoLand automatically adds a main package and a main() function.

Alternatively, you can create a new scratch file with the contents of the current selection in the editor. Select some text or code, press Alt+Enter and then select Create new scratch file from selection. GoLand will attempt to detect the language of the selected fragment and use the appropriate type and extension. If it can't detect the language of the selection, GoLand will create the file with the same type and extension as the original file.

Create a scratch buffer

There is no dedicated menu item for the action to create a new scratch buffer, but you can use the Find Action popup Control+Shift+A and run the New Scratch Buffer action.

You can also add a shortcut for the New Scratch Buffer action as described in Keyboard shortcuts.

GoLand creates a text file named buffer1.txt.

The next scratch buffer you create is named buffer2.txt, and so on up to buffer5.txt. When GoLand reaches that limit, it will recreate buffer1.txt and suggest clearing the content for it. If you want to make sure GoLand does not clear the scratch buffer after you have five, you can rename it.

View all scratch files and buffers

Open the Project view and expand Scratches and Consoles | Scratches.
Consoles are used to compose and execute SQL statements for databases defined in GoLand as data sources. This functionality is available only when the Database Tools and SQL plugin is enabled. For more information, refer to Query consoles.
Use the Find Action popup Control+Shift+A to invoke the Show Scratch Files action and view all available scratch files in a popup:

Location of scratch files and buffers

By default, GoLand stores scratch files and buffers in the IDE configuration directory under scratches. They are available from any IDE and project that uses this configuration directory.

Syntax: %APPDATA%\JetBrains\<product><version>
Example: C:\Users\JohnS\AppData\Roaming\JetBrains\GoLand2023.3

Syntax: ~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/<product><version>
Example: ~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/GoLand2023.3

Syntax: ~/.config/JetBrains/<product><version>
Example: ~/.config/JetBrains/GoLand2023.3

To change the location of the Scratches and Consoles directory, use the idea.scratch.path platform property. To change the location of just the Scratches directory, use the idea.scratch.path/scratches platform property. For more information, refer to Advanced configuration.

Include a scratch file into your project

If a scratch file grows into something that you want to use in your project, move it into the desired directory of your project structure.

Open a scratch file in the editor or select it under the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view, press F6, and select the target directory in your project.
Drag a scratch file from the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view to the target directory in your project.
Select a scratch file in the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches directory in the Project view and press Control+X, then select the target directory in your project and press Control+V.

Change the language of a scratch file or buffer

In the Project tool window, open the Scratches and Consoles | Scratches.
Right-click a scratch file or buffer and then click Change Language.
Select the desired language. You can start typing the name of the language to narrow down the list.

View documentation for scratches

Select any scratch file or buffer in the Project tool window and press Control+Q to view quick documentation with the location, type, size, creation and modification date of the file.

Running code

Run scratch files with non-standard-library packages

Copy your code from a project file to a scratch file.
Press the Run button.
GoLand creates a Run configuration with the -overlay flag. This flag is used with a JSON file that maps file paths to go.mod and go.sum in your original project.

Run an SQL scratch file

You can run scratch files the same way that you run regular files. For more information about running SQL files, refer to Run SQL files.

Run queries in scratch files

To run queries in an SQL scratch file, you need to have a connection to a data source. For this, attach a scratch file to a session.

When you attach your scratch file to a session, GoLand resolves the objects in your SQL code. As a result, you can navigate from the SQL code to the database objects.

Press Control+Enter or click on the toolbar. In the Sessions window, select a session.
Click the <session> switcher in the upper right corner of the window and select a session. The switcher menu includes sessions that are associated with the same language as your scratch file.
If you want to attach a session of another DBMS, change the scratch file language. To change a language, right-click any area in the open scratch file and click Change Language.
Right-click any area in the open scratch file and click Execute. In the Sessions window, select a session.

Running your code in the Go Playground

Select code that you want to run in the Go Playground.
Right-click the selection and navigate to Open In | Playground.
Click the Run icon () on the toolbar.
Note: if you run your code from the context menu or from the gutter, GoLand runs your code locally. Also, you can run your code locally by selecting the Run locally.

For more information about running code in the Go Playground, refer to Running applications in Go Playground.

Last modified: 12 January 2024