Recompiled with Go 1.25 and cannot start application

[aaigr11]

I am compiling go-sqlite3 into my application on Windows 10 64bit - since Go 1.22. When I upgraded Go to 1.25, compilations still works, however the application cannot be started anymore - getting message "...is not a valid Win32 application".

go-sqlite3 has been updated to the latest (v1.14.17 => v1.14.32), all caches cleaned up, but the problem still exists.

Disabling CGO and go-sqlite3 resolves the problem, but I am losing functionality. Reverting back to Go 1.24 fixes the problem.

Is there a known issue with Go 1.25? If YES - is there a workaround/fix?

Thank you in advance!

[otoolep]

You should provide a step-by-step reproduction for your problem. Show the source of the actual program you are compiling, and the actual command line you use to compile the program.

Ideally you write a tiny Go program which shows the problem and show the source code.

[jimbobmcgee]

Not the OP, but experiencing this issue as well.

Minimal recreation is as minimal as it comes...

package main

import _ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"

func main() {
	println("Hello World")
}

Actual steps taken...

1. mkdir d:\temp\sqlite3spike
2. cd d:\temp\sqlite3spike
3. go mod init example.com/sqlite3spike
4. go get -u github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3
5. notepad .\main.go (paste in code from above and save)
6. go run .\main.go (successful run -- observe Hello World)
7. go build (compiles and creates sqlite3spike.exe)
8. .\sqlite3spike.exe (fails)

Error message (when run from Powershell)

Program 'sqlite3spike.exe' failed to run: The specified executable is not a valid application for this OS platform
+ .\sqlite3spike.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
At line:1 char:1
+ .\sqlite3spike.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ResourceUnavailable: (:) [], ApplicationFailedException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandFailed

Error message (when run from Windows Explorer)

This app can't run on your PC
To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher
Close

Commenting out the import _ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3" is enough to allow the resulting executable to run.

go.sum for above spike project

github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3 v1.14.32 h1:JD12Ag3oLy1zQA+BNn74xRgaBbdhbNIDYvQUEuuErjs=
github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3 v1.14.32/go.mod h1:Uh1q+B4BYcTPb+yiD3kU8Ct7aC0hY9fxUwlHK0RXw+Y=

go env

set AR=ar
set CC=gcc
set CGO_CFLAGS=-O2 -g
set CGO_CPPFLAGS=
set CGO_CXXFLAGS=-O2 -g
set CGO_ENABLED=1
set CGO_FFLAGS=-O2 -g
set CGO_LDFLAGS=-O2 -g
set CXX=g++
set GCCGO=gccgo
set GO111MODULE=
set GOAMD64=v1
set GOARCH=amd64
set GOAUTH=netrc
set GOBIN=
set GOCACHE=D:\Users\me\AppData\Local\go-build
set GOCACHEPROG=
set GODEBUG=
set GOENV=D:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\go\env
set GOEXE=.exe
set GOEXPERIMENT=
set GOFIPS140=off
set GOFLAGS=
set GOGCCFLAGS=-m64 -mthreads -Wl,--no-gc-sections -fmessage-length=0 -ffile-prefix-map=D:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\go-build3840355377=/tmp/go-build -gno-record-gcc-switches
set GOHOSTARCH=amd64
set GOHOSTOS=windows
set GOINSECURE=
set GOMOD=D:\Projects\Personal\GoScratch\sqlite\go.mod
set GOMODCACHE=D:\Users\me\go\pkg\mod
set GONOPROXY=
set GONOSUMDB=
set GOOS=windows
set GOPATH=D:\Users\me\go
set GOPRIVATE=
set GOPROXY=https://proxy.golang.org,direct
set GOROOT=C:\Program Files\Go
set GOSUMDB=sum.golang.org
set GOTELEMETRY=local
set GOTELEMETRYDIR=D:\Users\me\AppData\Roaming\go\telemetry
set GOTMPDIR=
set GOTOOLCHAIN=auto
set GOTOOLDIR=C:\Program Files\Go\pkg\tool\windows_amd64
set GOVCS=
set GOVERSION=go1.25.1
set GOWORK=
set PKG_CONFIG=pkg-config

[aaigr11]

@jimbobmcgee thank you for beating me in providing the example. This is basically our case too.

@otoolep sorry for a delayed response on my end. Please let me know if you still need an example from me. Otherwise if you have a potential solution/fix, I am happy to test it and provide results.

[jimbobmcgee]

Can also confirm that downgrading Go to 1.24.7 does allow the executable to build and run.

Steps (assuming my previous minimal test case)...

1. go install golang.org/dl/go1.24.7@latest
2. go1.24.7 download
3. notepad .\go.mod (change go 1.25.1 to go 1.24.7 and save)
4. go1.24.7 run .\main.go (successful run -- observe Hello world)
5. go1.24.7 build (compiles and creates sqlite3spike.exe)
6. .\sqlite3spike.exe (successful -- observe Hello world)

(But this is the first time I've tried to operate two versions of Go side-by-side, so it is possible my 'downgrade' is not exact.)

Difference between go env for 1.25.1 and 1.24.7

PS > Compare-Object (& go env) (& go1.24.7 env)

InputObject                                                                                                                                                                            SideIndicator
-----------                                                                                                                                                                            -------------
set GOGCCFLAGS=-m64 -mthreads -Wl,--no-gc-sections -fmessage-length=0 -ffile-prefix-map=D:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\go-build2200569743=/tmp/go-build -gno-record-gcc-switches       =>
set GOROOT=D:\Users\me\sdk\go1.24.7                                                                                                                                                    =>
set GOTOOLDIR=D:\Users\me\sdk\go1.24.7\pkg\tool\windows_amd64                                                                                                                          =>
set GOVERSION=go1.24.7                                                                                                                                                                 =>
set GOGCCFLAGS=-m64 -mthreads -Wl,--no-gc-sections -fmessage-length=0 -ffile-prefix-map=D:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\go-build2138555752=/tmp/go-build -gno-record-gcc-switches       <=
set GOROOT=C:\Program Files\Go                                                                                                                                                         <=
set GOTOOLDIR=C:\Program Files\Go\pkg\tool\windows_amd64                                                                                                                               <=
set GOVERSION=go1.25.1

[otoolep]

This sounds more like an issue with Go 1.25 -- and perhaps an interaction with your installed C compiler. Have you searched the issues on https://github.com/golang/go/issues?

[aaigr11]

Looks like the root cause is discussed here: golang/go#75077 as well as suggestion how to overcome this. I will try, will reconfirm my results.

[aaigr11]

Can also confirm that downgrading Go to 1.24.7 does allow the executable to build and run.

confirmed - compiles and runs with Go to 1.24.7 without problems

[jimbobmcgee]

Looks like the root cause is discussed here: golang/go#75077 as well as suggestion how to overcome this. I will try, will reconfirm my results.

That's a good find. Having never (knowingly) installed gcc/MinGW, I had always assumed that the cgo toolchain was was bundled with Go. Turns out I've been using an old Strawberry Perl-distributed binary from 2019!

After specifically installing a more-recent MinGW (in this case, winget.exe install --id "BrechtSanders.WinLibs.POSIX.UCRT") and dealing with the inevitable %PATH% hell, my ability to build under 1.25.1 has resumed.