The fact that Go compiler treats unused variables as error is cool, but it's annoying, so many developers uses code like this:

x := dummy() // get variable
_ = x        // assign to void to suppress error

If it's a temporary solution it is OK, but if variable really not used anywhere, it can lead to unnecessary resource or time consumption. For example:

func dummy() int { // dummy simulates long running operation
    time.Sleep(time.Second * 5)
    return random.Int()
}

func main() {
    x := dummy()
    _ = x

    fmt.Println("Hello World!")
}

xbt573 $ go run main.go
... waits 5 seconds ...
Hello World!

Therefore, i propose some changes to go vet:

1. Warn user if variable used or assigned only to void register
2. Warn user if variable used, but there is a unnecessary void register assign
3. Warn user if all of function return values are assigned to void register

It will help remove really unused variables and unnecessary void register assigns