How can I run Golang code in Argo Workflow and get the exit code?

Running Golang code in Argo Workflow and capturing its exit code involves a few key steps. Argo Workflows executes containers, so you need to package your Golang code into a container image. Here's how to achieve this:

1. Create a Dockerfile for your Golang application:

- First, ensure that your Golang code compiles and functions as expected. Then create a `Dockerfile` that will build a container image for it.

- Here's an example `Dockerfile`:

FROM golang:1.20-alpine AS builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY go.mod go.sum ./
RUN go mod download
COPY . .
RUN go build -o main .

FROM alpine:latest
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=builder /app/main ./
ENTRYPOINT ["/app/main"]

2. Build and Push your Docker Image:

- Use Docker to build your image and push it to a container registry (e.g., Docker Hub, Google Container Registry, etc.).

- Example commands:

docker build -t your-docker-registry/your-image:your-tag .
docker push your-docker-registry/your-image:your-tag

3. Define your Argo Workflow:

- Create an Argo Workflow YAML file that utilizes your container image. Argo Workflows automatically capture the exit code of the container process.

- Here's a basic workflow example:

apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: Workflow
metadata:
  generateName: golang-example-
spec:
  entrypoint: main
  templates:
  - name: main
    container:
      image: your-docker-registry/your-image:your-tag


4. Access the Exit Code in Argo Workflow:

- After your workflow runs, you can view the exit code of your container in the Argo UI or via the command line.

- The exit code is located under the "Outputs" section for a completed step or pod.

- If you want to access the exit code programmatically, you can make it an output parameter:

apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
kind: Workflow
metadata:
  generateName: golang-example-
spec:
  entrypoint: main
  templates:
  - name: main
    container:
      image: your-docker-registry/your-image:your-tag
    outputs:
      parameters:
      - name: exit-code
        valueFrom:
          jsonPath: '{.status.containerStatuses[0].state.terminated.exitCode}'

- In this last example, you can use {{steps.main.outputs.parameters.exit-code}} to access the exit code in other steps.

By packaging your Golang code in a Docker image and running it within an Argo Workflow, you can naturally get the exit code of the executed process. Argo Workflows handle container lifecycle and expose the exit code through their API and UI.

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