Generally, extra tabs and spaces do not change semantics; nor do new lines (when inlining statements you just can't imply the semicolon).

Go files run just fine without any indentation whatsoever. People often assume enforced formatting by the `gofmt` tool is mandatory for the compiler, but most of it is addressed at human beings for readability.

Here's the 'official' blog post about gofmt: https://blog.golang.org/go-fmt-your-code

Edit: downvotes don't change reality ; )

Try it yourself: https://play.golang.org/p/_bXvXryM5Ih — how incredibly ugly, and yet it runs just fine. Please hit format to clean your eyes.

That actually is a syntax error, as go enforces (that is they are not optional) trailing commas. gofmt only formats syntactically correct code.

The above example was just to make a point, and perhaps give insights into how the compiler works.

IMHO, Go's 'enforcement' of common formatting is powerful; it has an incredible compound effect which gains momentum as you get acquainted with the language.