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wtf is examplelsp?

a-h/examplelsp — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-08-07 · repo last pushed 2023-08-17

11GoAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · moderate

TL;DR

A minimal Go example showing how to build a Language Server, the behind-the-scenes tool that gives code editors smart features like auto-completion and go-to-definition. It's a learning template, not a production tool.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
  What it does
    Minimal language server
    Editor smart features
    Go scaffolding
  Tech stack
    Go
    Neovim config
  Use cases
    Learn LSP basics
    Start new language server
    Support custom language
  Audience
    Developers
    Tool builders
  Limitations
    No production features
    Minimal docs

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Learn how a language server works by studying a minimal Go implementation.

REASON 2

Use as a starting point to build a language server for a new custom programming language.

REASON 3

Connect the example server to Neovim to see live auto-completion and error checking in action.

What's in the stack?

GoNeovimLSP

How it stacks up

a-h/examplelspadguardteam/go-webextcandratama/tamagosh
Stars111111
LanguageGoGoGo
Last pushed2023-08-172026-06-25
MaintenanceDormantMaintained
Setup difficultymoderatemoderateeasy
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires Go installed and a Neovim configuration to connect the language server to the editor.

No license information is provided in this repository.

Wtf does this do

The examplelsp project is a minimal example of a Language Server written in Go. A language server is the behind-the-scenes tool that gives code editors smart features like auto-completion, go-to-definition, and inline error checking. Instead of each editor building those features from scratch, they rely on a language server to do the heavy lifting, and the editor just displays the results to the programmer. At a high level, this repository provides the scaffolding needed to build one of those servers. The README doesn't go into detail about the specific features it implements or the broader architecture, but the included commands indicate how a developer would compile the Go code and test it. The "neovim-run" task shows that the project includes a way to connect the server to the Neovim text editor using a custom configuration file, allowing a developer to open a sample project and see the language server in action. A developer would use this repository if they want to learn how to build a language server from scratch or need a simple starting point for a new one. For example, if a startup is creating a new programming language or a domain-specific tool and wants it to work seamlessly in modern code editors, the creator would need a language server. Starting with a bare-bones example like this helps them understand the foundation without the overhead of a fully-featured, production-ready server. The notable thing about this project is its deliberate simplicity. With only 11 stars and a README that just lists basic build and test commands, it appears to be a learning resource or a template rather than a tool meant for production use. The tradeoff is that while it is likely easy to read and understand, it lacks the extensive features and documentation found in a complete language server implementation.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up the examplelsp Go project from github.com/a-h/examplelsp, I want to build it and connect it to Neovim using the included configuration so I can see the language server working in a sample project.
Prompt 2
I want to understand the examplelsp codebase. Walk me through the main Go files and explain how the language server communicates with an editor using the Language Server Protocol.
Prompt 3
Starting from the examplelsp template, help me add a simple auto-completion feature that suggests keywords when I type in Neovim, keeping the code minimal and easy to follow.

Frequently asked questions

wtf is examplelsp?

A minimal Go example showing how to build a Language Server, the behind-the-scenes tool that gives code editors smart features like auto-completion and go-to-definition. It's a learning template, not a production tool.

What language is examplelsp written in?

Mainly Go. The stack also includes Go, Neovim, LSP.

Is examplelsp actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2023-08-17).

What license does examplelsp use?

No license information is provided in this repository.

How hard is examplelsp to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is examplelsp for?

Mainly developer.

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