title: Why do I need a semicolon here?
body: <p>Here is a test Go program:</p>
  
  <pre><code>package main
  import fmt "fmt"
  func main () {
      ex := "moo cow\n";
      fmt.Print (ex)
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>With the semicolon, it compiles. However, if the semicolon is removed, it doesn't:</p>
  
  <pre>
  string.go:5: syntax error near fmt
  </pre>
  
  <p>Any ideas?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>Update (March 2012)</strong>: Newer Go releases are able to compile both forms (with and without the semicolon).</p>