Use go run for quick testing and go build to create a permanent executable file for deployment.
Use go run to compile and execute code immediately for testing, and go build to create a standalone executable for deployment. go run compiles your code to a temporary binary and runs it, while go build produces a persistent file you can distribute.
# Run immediately (testing)
go run main.go
# Build executable (deployment)
go build -o myapp main.go
./myapp
Think of go run as a quick test drive that burns the code up immediately after use, perfect for checking if your logic works. go build is like manufacturing a car; it creates a finished product you can keep, move to another computer, or sell to others. Use the first for development and the second for shipping your software.