Encore Go Service Structure Instructions
In Encore Go, each package with an API endpoint is automatically a service. No special configuration needed.
Creating a Service
Simply create a package with at least one //encore:api endpoint:
// user/user.go package user
import "context"
type User struct {
ID string json:"id"
Email string json:"email"
Name string json:"name"
}
//encore:api public method=GET path=/users/:id func GetUser(ctx context.Context, params GetUserParams) (User, error) { // This makes "user" a service }
Minimal Service Structure user/ ├── user.go # API endpoints ├── db.go # Database (if needed) └── migrations/ # SQL migrations └── 1_create_users.up.sql
Application Patterns Single Service (Recommended Start)
Best for new projects - start simple, split later if needed:
my-app/ ├── encore.app ├── go.mod ├── api.go # All endpoints ├── db.go # Database └── migrations/ └── 1_initial.up.sql
Multi-Service
For distributed systems with clear domain boundaries:
my-app/ ├── encore.app ├── go.mod ├── user/ │ ├── user.go │ ├── db.go │ └── migrations/ ├── order/ │ ├── order.go │ ├── db.go │ └── migrations/ └── notification/ └── notification.go
Large Application (System-based)
Group related services into systems:
my-app/ ├── encore.app ├── go.mod ├── commerce/ │ ├── order/ │ │ └── order.go │ ├── cart/ │ │ └── cart.go │ └── payment/ │ └── payment.go ├── identity/ │ ├── user/ │ │ └── user.go │ └── auth/ │ └── auth.go └── comms/ ├── email/ │ └── email.go └── push/ └── push.go
Service-to-Service Calls
Just import and call the function directly - Encore handles the RPC:
package order
import ( "context" "myapp/user" // Import the user service )
//encore:api auth method=GET path=/orders/:id func GetOrderWithUser(ctx context.Context, params GetOrderParams) (OrderWithUser, error) { order, err := getOrder(ctx, params.ID) if err != nil { return nil, err }
// This becomes an RPC call - Encore handles it
orderUser, err := user.GetUser(ctx, &user.GetUserParams{ID: order.UserID})
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return &OrderWithUser{Order: order, User: orderUser}, nil
}
When to Split Services
Split when you have:
Signal Action Different scaling needs Split (e.g., auth vs analytics) Different deployment cycles Split Clear domain boundaries Split Shared database tables Keep together Tightly coupled logic Keep together Just organizing code Use sub-packages, not services Internal Helpers (Non-Service Packages)
Create packages without //encore:api endpoints for shared code:
my-app/ ├── user/ │ └── user.go # Service (has API) ├── order/ │ └── order.go # Service (has API) └── internal/ ├── util/ │ └── util.go # Not a service (no API) └── validation/ └── validate.go
Guidelines A package becomes a service when it has //encore:api endpoints Services cannot be nested within other services Start with one service, split when there's a clear reason Cross-service calls look like regular function calls Each service can have its own database Package names should be lowercase, descriptive Don't create services just for code organization - use sub-packages instead