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Godog
What Godog is
Godog is a Go framework for behavior-driven development from Cucumber. It runs specifications written in Gherkin, where scenarios describe behavior through Given, When and Then steps. Godog brings those specifications together with test documentation and automatically tests them, helping keep the documented behavior current. Test suites can run through Go’s standard `go test` command; the project recommends this route because its `godog` CLI is deprecated. Configured concurrency allows scenarios to run concurrently, and the supplied formatters support concurrent execution. Feature files can be bundled into a test binary with `go:embed` and a custom filesystem loader. For reports, the project references cucumber-html-reporter for HTML output from Cucumber results. Godog runs locally and is available as free, MIT-licensed software; Gherkin has the same license. The listed plan costs nothing, with an API change caveat before version 1.0.0. Package documentation is available on pkg.go.dev, and the Cucumber community Discord is a place to seek help. Security vulnerabilities should be reported privately to Cucumber’s security address.
Who it suits
Godog suits Go developers who want to express expected behavior as Gherkin scenarios and run them as tests. It can also fit teams that want their specifications to serve as tested documentation and need concurrent scenario execution.
What it does well
- Runs suites through the standard `go test` command.
- Gherkin scenarios use Given, When and Then steps.
- Automatically tests specifications to keep documentation current.
- Configured concurrency runs scenarios concurrently.
- MIT-licensed and free to use locally.
What to know first
- The `godog` CLI is deprecated.
- The API may change before version 1.0.0.
Limits
The listed plan is free. Its note says the API may change before version 1.0.0.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Godog open-source software | MIT license · API may change before 1.0.0 | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 1 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Godog project website on GitHub.
- Use the package documentation on pkg.go.dev for API details.
- Write behavior specifications as Gherkin scenarios.
- Run the suite through Go’s standard `go test` command.
Verdict
Choose Godog for Go projects that use Gherkin and want executable behavior specifications alongside their test documentation. It offers local execution, concurrency, and `go test` integration at no cost. Teams relying on the `godog` CLI should account for its deprecated status and use the recommended `go test` route.
Questions
How much does Godog cost?
The listed plan is free, and the pricing model is free.
Does Godog support Gherkin?
Yes. Its scenarios use Gherkin with Given, When and Then steps.
How do you run Godog tests?
Godog can run suites through the standard `go test` command, which the project recommends over its deprecated CLI.
Is Godog open source?
Godog and Gherkin are licensed under the MIT License.
Can Godog run scenarios concurrently?
Yes. Configured concurrency executes scenarios concurrently, and supplied formatters support concurrency.
Where can users get help?
The Cucumber community Discord offers help from users, developers and BDD practitioners.
Facts from Godog's own pages
- API documentation
- General API details are available through the package documentation on pkg.go.dev. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- CLI status
- The godog CLI is deprecated and the project recommends using go test instead. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Concurrency
- Configured concurrency executes scenarios concurrently, and supplied formatters support concurrency. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Documentation model
- Godog merges specification and test documentation into one cohesive whole. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Embeddable features
- Feature files can be compiled into a test binary with go:embed and a custom filesystem loader. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Go test integration
- Godog can run test suites through the standard go test command. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- License
- Godog and Gherkin are licensed under the MIT License. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Living documentation
- Specifications are automatically tested by Godog so they remain up to date. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Godog is the official Cucumber behavior-driven development framework for Golang. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Reporting
- The project references cucumber-html-reporter for generating HTML reports from Cucumber output. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Security advisories
- The repository page states that there are no published security advisories. · github.com, 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, 1 Oct 2026
- Specification format
- It uses Gherkin-formatted scenarios with Given, When and Then steps. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can get help through the Cucumber community Discord with users, developers and BDD practitioners. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
Where Godog stands on Freedom251
- BDD Testing Tools#13 of 30