FIX: Build fails with Go 1.24.0 due to sonic library incompatibility

[ahwlsqja]

⎿  ## Build fails with Go 1.24.0 despite v29.6.1 sonic fixes

 ### Problem

 Freshly scaffolded chains fail to build with Go 1.24.0 in Ignite CLI v29.6.1, even after the sonic-related fixes in commits [1878d46](https://github.com/ignite/cli/commit/1878d462a572ea615cccf425944dd67fafb92996) and [831ce3d](https://github.com/ignite/cli/commit/831ce3df29fc14b0b152d9644ef18ff19a43a301).

 **Error:**
 ```
 link: github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader: invalid reference to runtime.lastmoduledatap
 ```

 This is a **critical blocker** - every new Ignite CLI v29.6.1 user with Go 1.24.0 (the required version) cannot build their scaffolded chain out-of-the-box.

 ### How to Reproduce

 ```bash
 # 1. Install Go 1.24.0 (required by Ignite CLI)
 # 2. Install Ignite CLI v29.6.1
 cd /tmp && git clone https://github.com/ignite/cli.git
 cd cli && git checkout v29.6.1
 make install

 # 3. Scaffold a new chain
 ignite scaffold chain test-chain
 cd test-chain

 # 4. Try to build
 go build -mod=readonly -o ./build/test-chaind ./cmd/test-chaind
 ```

 **Result:** Build fails with the sonic/loader error above.

 ### Root Cause

 I investigated the v29.6.1 commit history and found that:

 **August 14 (Commit 1878d46):** Added `replace github.com/bytedance/sonic => v1.14.0` for Go 1.25 support

 **August 19 (Commit 831ce3d):** Bumped cosmossdk.io/log to v1.6.1 and **removed** the sonic replace directive

 The team expected cosmossdk.io/log v1.6.1 to resolve the sonic issue, but it didn't. Here's why:

 ```bash
 $ go mod graph | grep "cosmossdk.io/log@v1.6.1" | grep sonic
 cosmossdk.io/log@v1.6.1 github.com/bytedance/sonic@v1.14.0
 cosmossdk.io/log@v1.6.1 github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader@v0.3.0
 ```

 **cosmossdk.io/log v1.6.1 still depends on:**
 - sonic v1.14.0 ❌ (doesn't support Go 1.24.0)
 - sonic/loader v0.3.0 ❌ (doesn't support Go 1.24.0)

 **Versions that work with Go 1.24.0:**
 - sonic v1.14.2 
 - sonic/loader v0.4.0 

 According to [bytedance/sonic's README](https://github.com/bytedance/sonic):
 > "Go1.24.0 is not supported due to [golang/go#71672](https://github.com/golang/go/issues/71672), please use higher go version or add build tag `--ldflags="-checklinkname=0"`"

 ### Proposed Solutions

 #### Option 1: Re-add sonic replace with updated versions (Recommended)

 In `ignite/templates/app/files/go.mod.plush`, add:

 ```go
 replace (
     // Force sonic versions that support Go 1.24.0 and 1.25.0
     github.com/bytedance/sonic => github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.14.2
     github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader => github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader v0.4.0
 )
 ```

 **I've tested and verified this works** with Go 1.24.0 - chains build and run successfully.

 #### Option 2: Add linker flag to Makefile template

 Add `-checklinkname=0` to generated Makefiles (this is sonic's official workaround):

 ```makefile
 LD_FLAGS = -checklinkname=0
 BUILD_FLAGS = -mod=readonly -ldflags='$(LD_FLAGS)'
 ```

 #### Option 3: Wait for upstream fix

 Report to cosmossdk.io/log maintainers to update their sonic dependency. However, this is outside Ignite's control and may take time.

 ### Workaround for Users

 Until this is fixed, users can manually add to their project's `go.mod`:

 ```go
 replace (
     github.com/bytedance/sonic => github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.14.2
     github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader => github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader v0.4.0
 )
 ```

 Then:
 ```bash
 go mod tidy
 go build -o ./build/chaind ./cmd/chaind
 ```

 Or build with the linker flag:
 ```bash
 go build -ldflags="-checklinkname=0" -o ./build/chaind ./cmd/chaind
 ```

 ### Impact

 This affects **100% of new users** trying to use Ignite CLI v29.6.1 with Go 1.24.0 (the required version). It creates a poor first impression: "I just installed Ignite CLI and it doesn't work."

 Fixing this will:
 - Enable all Ignite CLI users to build with Go 1.24.0
 - Improve onboarding for new Cosmos developers
 - Align scaffolded projects with Ignite's Go 1.24.0 requirement
 - Reduce support burden from confused users

 ### Environment

 ```
 Ignite CLI version:      v29.6.1
 Ignite CLI build date:   2025-10-15T12:20:54Z
 Ignite CLI source hash:  d17ee311b5e7bd9e95e607cf7395a40b43b4361c
 Cosmos SDK version:      v0.53.4
 Go version:              go1.24.0 linux/amd64
 OS:                      Linux (WSL2), also reproducible on macOS
 cosmossdk.io/log:        v1.6.1 (latest available)
 ```

 ### Testing Evidence

 I successfully built and ran a chain using Option 1 (the replace directive):

 ```bash
 $ go build -o ./build/studyd ./cmd/studyd
 # Build succeeds 

 $ ./build/studyd version
 # Works perfectly 

 $ ./build/studyd start
 # Chain starts and produces blocks 
 ```

 ---

 **I'm happy to submit a PR with the fix if you'd like!** I can implement Option 1 or Option 2, whichever you prefer.

[julienrbrt]

Hey! I have tried locally again, and the cosmossdk.io/log dependency is correct and the transitive dependency are correct.

[ahwlsqja]

Hi, thank you for looking into this. I apologize for any confusion on my end.

I wanted to clarify my situation and share what I discovered through additional testing.

My Setup and What Happened

I was using Go 1.24.0 because that's what Ignite CLI's go.mod specifies. When I tried lower Go versions, Ignite CLI itself would fail to build with error messages about the Go version being too old. So I installed Go 1.24.0, which Ignite CLI built fine with.

However, when I scaffolded a new chain and tried to build it with Go 1.24.0, I got the sonic error:

$ go version
go version go1.24.0 linux/amd64

$ ignite scaffold chain test-chain
$ cd test-chain
$ go build -mod=readonly -o ./build/test-chaind ./cmd/test-chaind

# Error:
link: github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader: invalid reference to runtime.lastmoduledatap

After your comment, I tested with Go 1.25.0 to understand the discrepancy:

$ /path/to/go1.25.0/bin/go version
go version go1.25.0 linux/amd64

$ cd test-chain
$ /path/to/go1.25.0/bin/go build -mod=readonly -o ./build/test-chaind ./cmd/test-chaind
# Builds successfully

So you're absolutely right - the dependencies work correctly with Go 1.25.0.

The Issue

The problem is specific to Go 1.24.0. Ignite CLI requires Go 1.24.0 in its go.mod, but the sonic library version (v1.14.0) that gets pulled in through cosmossdk.io/log doesn't support Go 1.24.0. According to sonic's README, Go 1.24.0 specifically has compatibility issues due to golang/go#71672.

This creates a gap:

• Go versions below 1.24.0: Ignite CLI won't build
• Go 1.24.0: Ignite CLI builds, but scaffolded chains won't build (sonic error)
• Go 1.25.0: Everything builds fine

Verification

$ cd test-chain
$ go list -m all | grep sonic
github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.14.0
github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader v0.3.0

$ go mod graph | grep "cosmossdk.io/log" | grep sonic
cosmossdk.io/log@v1.6.1 github.com/bytedance/sonic@v1.14.0
cosmossdk.io/log@v1.6.1 github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader@v0.3.0

Possible Solutions

Since Go 1.25.0 works correctly (as you verified), maybe the cleanest fix would be to update Ignite CLI's go.mod to require 1.25.0 instead of 1.24.0?

Alternatively, if there's a reason to keep Go 1.24.0, we could:

• Add replace directives for sonic to use v1.14.2 (which has better Go 1.24.0 compatibility)
• Add the -checklinkname=0 linker flag that sonic recommends as a workaround

What do you think would be the best approach?

Thanks again for your time on this.

[julienrbrt]

Right, we should bump the minimum go.mod to Go 1.24.1. This is where there was the fix.

In theory now Go 1.24.x has patch versions releases you should always install the latest of that version.

However feel free to submit a PR to change that (do not bump it to 1.25, just 1.24.1 tho)

[ahwlsqja]

Thanks for the quick response! I tested with Go 1.24.1 and can confirm it resolves the issue.

Test Results:

# Go 1.24.0
$ go version
go version go1.24.0 linux/amd64
$ ignite scaffold chain test && cd test
$ go build -mod=readonly -o ./build/testd ./cmd/testd
link: github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader: invalid reference to runtime.lastmoduledatap
BUILD FAILS

# Go 1.24.1
$ /path/to/go1.24.1/bin/go version
go version go1.24.1 linux/amd64
$ go build -mod=readonly -o ./build/testd ./cmd/testd
BUILD SUCCEEDS (no -checklinkname=0 flag needed)

I'll submit a PR to bump the minimum Go version to 1.24.1. The changes will include:

• Main go.mod + 4 test plugin go.mod files
• Documentation updates (installation guide & go-client docs)