Write or modify business logic in the clean-arch usecase layer (internal/usecase/*.go). Use when adding/editing a usecase method, defining a new Repository/Gateway/UseCase dependency interface, wiring a transaction, or wrapping errors from repositories/external calls. Enforces interface-at-point-of-use, transaction boundaries, and the error-wrapping conventions below.
Scanned 9/9/2026
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---
name: go-usecases
description: Write or modify business logic in the clean-arch usecase layer (internal/usecase/*.go). Use when adding/editing a usecase method, defining a new Repository/Gateway/UseCase dependency interface, wiring a transaction, or wrapping errors from repositories/external calls. Enforces interface-at-point-of-use, transaction boundaries, and the error-wrapping conventions below.
---
# Go Usecases
Authoritative style for the business-logic layer (`internal/usecase/*.go`) on the
clean-architecture path. Follow it exactly — these rules override generic Go habits.
Existing usecases may predate this style (notably error-message language); when you touch
one, bring it into compliance.
## When to use
- Adding a method to an existing usecase struct.
- Creating a new `{feature}_usecase.go` for a new clean-arch feature.
- Adding a dependency (repository, sub-usecase, external gateway) to a usecase.
- Reviewing usecase code for style compliance.
## Non-negotiable rules
**Structure**
- One file per feature: `internal/usecase/{feature}_usecase.go`, `package usecase`.
- Define narrow dependency interfaces **in the same file as the usecase that consumes
them** — never import a concrete repository/gateway struct:
- `{Feature}Repository` — DB access methods this usecase needs.
- `{Feature}Gateway` — third-party/external calls (e.g. `StripeSubscriptionGateway`,
`MercadoPagoSubscriptionGateway`). The HTTP client implementation lives in the
infrastructure layer — out of scope for this skill.
- `{Feature}UseCase` — when this usecase needs another usecase's business logic, not just
CRUD (e.g. `Movement` depends on `InvoiceUseCase` for
`FindOrCreateInvoiceForMovement`). It's fine to hold both a repo and a usecase
dependency for the same feature when you need plain CRUD *and* business logic (`Movement`
holds both `invoiceRepo InvoiceRepository` and `invoiceUseCase InvoiceUseCase`).
- List only the methods actually called — not the dependency's full interface.
- The usecase struct is named after the domain entity, no `Usecase` suffix (`Movement`,
`Wallet`, `CreditCard`). Dependencies are unexported fields.
- Constructor `New{Entity}(deps...) {Entity}` returns the struct **by value**. Methods may
use pointer or value receivers — pointer is more common for usecases with several
dependencies/private helpers; match whatever the file already uses. If methods use
pointer receivers, the caller in `bootstrap/{feature}/setup.go` must take the address
(`&service`) when passing it into a handler constructor or another usecase's dependency
slot, e.g. `movementService := usecase.NewMovement(...); api.NewMovementV2Handlers(r,
&movementService)`.
- Repository methods that mutate state take `tx *gorm.DB`; read-only finds don't. Only pass
a non-nil `tx` from inside a `txManager.WithTransaction` callback.
**Transactions**
- Multi-step writes that must be atomic go inside
`u.txManager.WithTransaction(ctx, func(tx *gorm.DB) error { ... })`. Assign results to an
outer-scoped variable and `return err` from the closure — never return early from the
outer function from inside the closure.
- A single mutating repo call with no other side effects doesn't need a transaction; call
the repo method directly (it opens its own local transaction if it needs one).
**Validation & cross-cutting checks**
- Optional cross-cutting validators (e.g. `limitsValidator PlanLimitsValidatorInterface`)
can be `nil` (some wiring/tests omit them) — guard with `if u.limitsValidator != nil {
... }` before calling.
- Run input/business-rule validation **before** opening a transaction, so a rejected
request never begins a DB transaction.
**Error handling** — three cases, pick the one that matches:
1. **Bubbling up a dependency's error with context** (repo, gateway, sub-usecase) →
`fmt.Errorf("doing x: %w", err)`. English, lowercase, action-phrased. This is the
dominant pattern in this package (~7x more common than `domain.Wrap*`) — don't translate
new messages to Portuguese even though an older file does (`wallet_usecase.go`'s
`"erro ao..."` strings predate this convention; don't copy them).
2. **Rejecting on a business rule the usecase itself checks** → return
`domain.WrapInvalidInput(ErrXxx, "human message")` (or `WrapNotFound` / `WrapConflict` /
etc.), wrapping a named sentinel. This makes `errors_handler.go`'s generic
`domain.Is(err, domain.ErrInvalidInput)` case classify it correctly even before a
dedicated case exists.
3. **A known business-rule violation with no dynamic error to wrap** → return the sentinel
directly, e.g. `return ErrInsufficientBalance`.
- Sentinel errors live in `internal/usecase/usecase_errors.go` as one flat `var (...)`
block — add new ones there, named `Err{Description}`. After adding one, add a matching
`case domain.Is(err, usecase.ErrXxx):` in `errors_handler.go::toAPIError` (see the
`go-api-handlers` skill) — otherwise it silently falls through to 500.
- For a one-off validation message that's truly local and never checked by callers,
`domain.New("message")` inline is acceptable instead of a named sentinel (see
`validateSubCategory` in `movement_usecase.go`).
**Business metrics (optional)**
- If a method performs a business-significant state change worth tracking as a KPI, emit
it via `pkg/metrics.IncBusiness(ctx, "biz_x_total", 1, metrics.String("tag", value), ...)`
right after the operation succeeds (see `Movement.Add`). This is opt-in — most methods
don't need it.
## Canonical template
Condensed from `movement_usecase.go` / `wallet_usecase.go`: repo + sub-usecase dependency,
a transaction, all three error-wrap cases, and an optional limits validator.
```go
package usecase
import (
"context"
"fmt"
"personal-finance/internal/domain"
"personal-finance/internal/infrastructure/repository/transaction"
"github.com/google/uuid"
"gorm.io/gorm"
)
type (
WidgetRepository interface {
Add(ctx context.Context, tx *gorm.DB, widget domain.Widget) (domain.Widget, error)
FindByID(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (domain.Widget, error)
}
GadgetUseCase interface {
Reserve(ctx context.Context, gadgetID uuid.UUID, amount float64) (domain.Gadget, error)
}
Widget struct {
repo WidgetRepository
gadgetUseCase GadgetUseCase
txManager transaction.Manager
limitsValidator PlanLimitsValidatorInterface
}
)
func NewWidget(
repo WidgetRepository,
gadgetUseCase GadgetUseCase,
txManager transaction.Manager,
limitsValidator PlanLimitsValidatorInterface,
) Widget {
return Widget{
repo: repo,
gadgetUseCase: gadgetUseCase,
txManager: txManager,
limitsValidator: limitsValidator,
}
}
func (u *Widget) Add(ctx context.Context, widget domain.Widget) (domain.Widget, error) {
if u.limitsValidator != nil {
if err := u.limitsValidator.ValidateWidgetCreation(ctx); err != nil {
return domain.Widget{}, err
}
}
if widget.Amount <= 0 {
return domain.Widget{}, domain.WrapInvalidInput(ErrInvalidWidgetAmount, "amount must be positive")
}
var result domain.Widget
err := u.txManager.WithTransaction(ctx, func(tx *gorm.DB) error {
gadget, err := u.gadgetUseCase.Reserve(ctx, *widget.GadgetID, widget.Amount)
if err != nil {
return fmt.Errorf("error reserving gadget: %w", err)
}
widget.GadgetSnapshot = gadget
created, err := u.repo.Add(ctx, tx, widget)
if err != nil {
return fmt.Errorf("error adding widget: %w", err)
}
result = created
return nil
})
if err != nil {
return domain.Widget{}, err
}
return result, nil
}
func (u *Widget) FindByID(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (domain.Widget, error) {
widget, err := u.repo.FindByID(ctx, id)
if err != nil {
return domain.Widget{}, fmt.Errorf("error finding widget: %w", err)
}
return widget, nil
}
```
New sentinel goes in `usecase_errors.go`:
```go
ErrInvalidWidgetAmount = errors.New("widget amount must be positive")
```
## Anti-patterns (reject these)
| Don't | Do |
|---|---|
| Importing the concrete repository/gateway struct in the usecase file | Declare a narrow `{Feature}Repository`/`{Feature}Gateway` interface in the usecase file, listing only the methods used |
| Swallowing or re-raising a dependency's error with no context | `fmt.Errorf("doing x: %w", err)` so the original error stays `errors.Is`-able |
| Translating new error messages to Portuguese because an old file does | Write new wrap/error messages in English, lowercase, action-phrased |
| Adding a new `usecase.ErrXxx` without a case in `errors_handler.go` | Add the sentinel to `usecase_errors.go` **and** the matching case in `toAPIError` in the same change |
| Validating input *inside* a `WithTransaction` closure when it could reject the request | Validate before opening the transaction — never open a DB transaction for a request you're about to reject |
| Calling `u.limitsValidator.Validate...()` without a nil check | `if u.limitsValidator != nil { ... }` — it's an optional cross-cutting dependency |
| Returning early from the outer function from inside a `WithTransaction` closure | Assign to an outer-scoped var, `return err` from the closure, check the transaction's returned error afterward |
## Run & verify
```bash
go build ./...
make linter
go test ./internal/usecase/...
```
Use the `go-unit-tests` skill for the usecase's test file (table-driven, AAA, testify; mock
the `{Feature}Repository` / `{Feature}Gateway` / `{Feature}UseCase` interfaces declared in
the file). Run the package's tests and confirm they pass before reporting done.
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
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