Here's what I'm currently using, which I think gets the job done, but there's got to be a better way: func isWindows() bool { return os.PathSeparator == '\\' && os.PathListSeparator == ';' } As you can see, in my case all I need to know is how to detect windows but I'd like to know the way to detect any platform/os. Play: http://play.golang.org/p/r4lYWDJDxL