Shorthand return in Go (golang)

Question

The following code generates a syntax error (unexpected ++ at end of statement) in Go 1.6 or 1.7:

package main

import \"fmt\"

var x int

func          


        

Answer 1

The accepted solution is right that the OP's code does not work because in go increment/decrement(x++/x--) statements are expressions that don't return a value.

However the solution presented has a slightly different effect than the original request.

x++ would return the value of x then increment in C like syntax.

however the opposite would happen if you do it this way:

x++
return x

You can negate that issue by reducing your initial value by one or by using a defer statement as written here:

func incr() int {
    defer func() { counter++ }()
    return counter
}

https://play.golang.org/p/rOuAv7KFJQw