---
title: Zig Examples
description: Direct Zig commands and Go CGO builds with a managed Zig distribution.
---

# Zig Examples

These examples pin Zig `0.16.0`. Replace it deliberately when the project changes toolchain versions. No global Zig installation is needed.

## Run Zig Directly

```python
load("@zig@0.16.0", "zig")
load("@os@1", "run")

run(("zig", "version"), deps=[zig])
```

`zig` puts the managed executable directory first in `PATH`.

## Build a Go Binary with Zig C/C++ Compilers

```python
load("@go@1.26.5", "go_binary")
load("@zig@0.16.0", "zig_cc")

go_binary(
    entry_point="cmd/server",
    output="bin/server",
    deps=[zig_cc("x86_64-linux-gnu")],
)
```

`zig_cc` sets both `CC` and `CXX` to managed Zig compiler commands and adds Zig to `PATH`. The target must be valid for Zig. This example configures the C and C++ target only; it does not set Go's `GOOS` or `GOARCH`. It works directly when the Go build target already matches, such as a Linux x86-64 host or build environment.

For true Go cross-compilation, set matching Go target variables and enable CGO:

```python
load("@go@1.26.5", "go_binary")
load("@os@1", "env_set")
load("@zig@0.16.0", "zig_cc")

go_binary(
    entry_point="cmd/server",
    output="bin/server",
    deps=[
        zig_cc("x86_64-linux-gnu"),
        env_set("GOOS", "linux"),
        env_set("GOARCH", "amd64"),
        env_set("CGO_ENABLED", "1"),
    ],
)
```

Dependencies apply in order: `zig_cc` configures managed compilers and `PATH`, then the environment dependencies add Go's matching target settings. Project code and dependencies must also support the destination platform. For a portable host build, use `zig_cc()` to omit `-target` and use Zig's host default.

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