diff --git a/.drone.yml b/.drone.yml
index 31706ac213d97..6e5b3da55ed45 100644
--- a/.drone.yml
+++ b/.drone.yml
@@ -49,11 +49,14 @@ steps:
       GOSUMDB: sum.golang.org
       TAGS: bindata sqlite sqlite_unlock_notify
     depends_on: [deps-backend]
+    volumes:
+      - name: deps
+        path: /go
 
   - name: lint-backend-windows
     image: gitea/test_env:linux-amd64  # https://gitea.com/gitea/test-env
     commands:
-      - make golangci-lint vet
+      - make golangci-lint-windows vet
     environment:
       GOPROXY: https://goproxy.cn # proxy.golang.org is blocked in China, this proxy is not
       GOSUMDB: sum.golang.org
@@ -61,6 +64,9 @@ steps:
       GOOS: windows
       GOARCH: amd64
     depends_on: [deps-backend]
+    volumes:
+      - name: deps
+        path: /go
 
   - name: lint-backend-gogit
     image: gitea/test_env:linux-amd64  # https://gitea.com/gitea/test-env
@@ -71,6 +77,9 @@ steps:
       GOSUMDB: sum.golang.org
       TAGS: bindata gogit sqlite sqlite_unlock_notify
     depends_on: [deps-backend]
+    volumes:
+      - name: deps
+        path: /go
 
   - name: checks-frontend
     image: node:16
@@ -100,7 +109,7 @@ steps:
     depends_on: [test-frontend]
 
   - name: build-backend-no-gcc
-    image: golang:1.16 # this step is kept as the lowest version of golang that we support
+    image: golang:1.17 # this step is kept as the lowest version of golang that we support
     pull: always
     environment:
       GO111MODULE: on
diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index 91faa75d73899..f06c9cc4804b3 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ linters:
   fast: false
 
 run:
-  timeout: 3m
+  timeout: 10m
   skip-dirs:
     - node_modules
     - public
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ linters-settings:
       - name: modifies-value-receiver
   gofumpt:
     extra-rules: true
-    lang-version: 1.16
+    lang-version: 1.17
 
 issues:
   exclude-rules:
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 74067597cb119..873ad6083290c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,9 +25,18 @@ HAS_GO = $(shell hash $(GO) > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo "GO" || echo "NOGO" )
 COMMA := ,
 
 XGO_VERSION := go-1.17.x
-MIN_GO_VERSION := 001016000
+MIN_GO_VERSION := 001017000
 MIN_NODE_VERSION := 012017000
-MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION := 001044000
+
+AIR_PACKAGE ?= github.com/cosmtrek/air@bedc18201271882c2be66d216d0e1a275b526ec4
+EDITORCONFIG_CHECKER_PACKAGE ?= github.com/editorconfig-checker/editorconfig-checker/cmd/editorconfig-checker@50adf46752da119dfef66e57be3ce2693ea4aa9c
+ERRCHECK_PACKAGE ?= github.com/kisielk/errcheck@8ddee489636a8311a376fc92e27a6a13c6658344
+GOFUMPT_PACKAGE ?= mvdan.cc/gofumpt@v0.3.0
+GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE ?= github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint@v1.44.0
+GXZ_PAGAGE ?= github.com/ulikunitz/xz/cmd/gxz@v0.5.10
+MISSPELL_PACKAGE ?= github.com/client9/misspell/cmd/misspell@v0.3.4
+SWAGGER_PACKAGE ?= github.com/go-swagger/go-swagger/cmd/swagger@v0.27.0
+XGO_PACKAGE ?= src.techknowlogick.com/xgo@latest
 
 DOCKER_IMAGE ?= gitea/gitea
 DOCKER_TAG ?= latest
@@ -125,8 +134,6 @@ ifeq ($(filter $(TAGS_SPLIT),bindata),bindata)
 	GO_SOURCES += $(BINDATA_DEST)
 endif
 
-#To update swagger use: GO111MODULE=on go get -u github.com/go-swagger/go-swagger/cmd/swagger
-SWAGGER := $(GO) run github.com/go-swagger/go-swagger/cmd/swagger
 SWAGGER_SPEC := templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
 SWAGGER_SPEC_S_TMPL := s|"basePath": *"/api/v1"|"basePath": "{{AppSubUrl \| JSEscape \| Safe}}/api/v1"|g
 SWAGGER_SPEC_S_JSON := s|"basePath": *"{{AppSubUrl \| JSEscape \| Safe}}/api/v1"|"basePath": "/api/v1"|g
@@ -234,11 +241,8 @@ clean:
 
 .PHONY: fmt
 fmt:
-	@hash gofumpt > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install mvdan.cc/gofumpt@v0.3.0; \
-	fi
 	@echo "Running gitea-fmt (with gofumpt)..."
-	@$(GO) run build/code-batch-process.go gitea-fmt -w '{file-list}'
+	@MISSPELL_PACKAGE=$(MISSPELL_PACKAGE) GOFUMPT_PACKAGE=$(GOFUMPT_PACKAGE) $(GO) run build/code-batch-process.go gitea-fmt -w '{file-list}'
 
 .PHONY: vet
 vet:
@@ -257,7 +261,7 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: generate-swagger
 generate-swagger:
-	$(SWAGGER) generate spec -x "$(SWAGGER_EXCLUDE)" -o './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
+	$(GO) run $(SWAGGER_PACKAGE) generate spec -x "$(SWAGGER_EXCLUDE)" -o './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
 	$(SED_INPLACE) '$(SWAGGER_SPEC_S_TMPL)' './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
 	$(SED_INPLACE) $(SWAGGER_NEWLINE_COMMAND) './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
 
@@ -273,24 +277,18 @@ swagger-check: generate-swagger
 .PHONY: swagger-validate
 swagger-validate:
 	$(SED_INPLACE) '$(SWAGGER_SPEC_S_JSON)' './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
-	$(SWAGGER) validate './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
+	$(GO) run $(SWAGGER_PACKAGE) validate './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
 	$(SED_INPLACE) '$(SWAGGER_SPEC_S_TMPL)' './$(SWAGGER_SPEC)'
 
 .PHONY: errcheck
 errcheck:
-	@hash errcheck > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install github.com/kisielk/errcheck@8ddee489636a8311a376fc92e27a6a13c6658344; \
-	fi
 	@echo "Running errcheck..."
-	@errcheck $(GO_PACKAGES)
+	$(GO) run $(ERRCHECK_PACKAGE) $(GO_PACKAGES)
 
 .PHONY: fmt-check
 fmt-check:
-	@hash gofumpt > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install mvdan.cc/gofumpt@0.3.0; \
-	fi
 	# get all go files and run gitea-fmt (with gofmt) on them
-	@diff=$$($(GO) run build/code-batch-process.go gitea-fmt -l '{file-list}'); \
+	@diff=$$(MISSPELL_PACKAGE=$(MISSPELL_PACKAGE) GOFUMPT_PACKAGE=$(GOFUMPT_PACKAGE) $(GO) run build/code-batch-process.go gitea-fmt -l '{file-list}'); \
 	if [ -n "$$diff" ]; then \
 		echo "Please run 'make fmt' and commit the result:"; \
 		echo "$${diff}"; \
@@ -328,10 +326,7 @@ watch-frontend: node-check node_modules
 
 .PHONY: watch-backend
 watch-backend: go-check
-	@hash air > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install github.com/cosmtrek/air@bedc18201271882c2be66d216d0e1a275b526ec4; \
-	fi
-	air -c .air.toml
+	$(GO) run $(AIR_PACKAGE) -c .air.toml
 
 .PHONY: test
 test: test-frontend test-backend
@@ -611,12 +606,9 @@ $(DIST_DIRS):
 
 .PHONY: release-windows
 release-windows: | $(DIST_DIRS)
-	@hash xgo > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install src.techknowlogick.com/xgo@latest; \
-	fi
-	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" xgo -go $(XGO_VERSION) -buildmode exe -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'windows/*' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
+	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" $(GO) run $(XGO_PACKAGE) -go $(XGO_VERSION) -buildmode exe -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'windows/*' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
 ifeq (,$(findstring gogit,$(TAGS)))
-	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" xgo -go $(XGO_VERSION) -buildmode exe -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo gogit $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'windows/*' -out gitea-$(VERSION)-gogit .
+	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" $(GO) run $(XGO_PACKAGE) -go $(XGO_VERSION) -buildmode exe -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo gogit $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'windows/*' -out gitea-$(VERSION)-gogit .
 endif
 ifeq ($(CI),drone)
 	cp /build/* $(DIST)/binaries
@@ -624,20 +616,14 @@ endif
 
 .PHONY: release-linux
 release-linux: | $(DIST_DIRS)
-	@hash xgo > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install src.techknowlogick.com/xgo@latest; \
-	fi
-	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" xgo -go $(XGO_VERSION) -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets '$(LINUX_ARCHS)' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
+	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" $(GO) run $(XGO_PACKAGE) -go $(XGO_VERSION) -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '-linkmode external -extldflags "-static" $(LDFLAGS)' -targets '$(LINUX_ARCHS)' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
 ifeq ($(CI),drone)
 	cp /build/* $(DIST)/binaries
 endif
 
 .PHONY: release-darwin
 release-darwin: | $(DIST_DIRS)
-	@hash xgo > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install src.techknowlogick.com/xgo@latest; \
-	fi
-	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" xgo -go $(XGO_VERSION) -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '$(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'darwin-10.12/amd64,darwin-10.12/arm64' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
+	CGO_CFLAGS="$(CGO_CFLAGS)" $(GO) run $(XGO_PACKAGE) -go $(XGO_VERSION) -dest $(DIST)/binaries -tags 'netgo osusergo $(TAGS)' -ldflags '$(LDFLAGS)' -targets 'darwin-10.12/amd64,darwin-10.12/arm64' -out gitea-$(VERSION) .
 ifeq ($(CI),drone)
 	cp /build/* $(DIST)/binaries
 endif
@@ -652,10 +638,7 @@ release-check: | $(DIST_DIRS)
 
 .PHONY: release-compress
 release-compress: | $(DIST_DIRS)
-	@hash gxz > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install github.com/ulikunitz/xz/cmd/gxz@v0.5.10; \
-	fi
-	cd $(DIST)/release/; for file in `find . -type f -name "*"`; do echo "compressing $${file}" && gxz -k -9 $${file}; done;
+	cd $(DIST)/release/; for file in `find . -type f -name "*"`; do echo "compressing $${file}" && $(GO) run $(GXZ_PAGAGE) -k -9 $${file}; done;
 
 .PHONY: release-sources
 release-sources: | $(DIST_DIRS)
@@ -685,6 +668,15 @@ deps-frontend: node_modules
 .PHONY: deps-backend
 deps-backend:
 	$(GO) mod download
+	$(GO) install $(AIR_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(EDITORCONFIG_CHECKER_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(ERRCHECK_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(GOFUMPT_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(GXZ_PAGAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(MISSPELL_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(SWAGGER_PACKAGE)
+	$(GO) install $(XGO_PACKAGE)
 
 node_modules: package-lock.json
 	npm install --no-save
@@ -778,29 +770,19 @@ pr\#%: clean-all
 	$(GO) run contrib/pr/checkout.go $*
 
 .PHONY: golangci-lint
-golangci-lint: golangci-lint-check
-	golangci-lint run --timeout 10m
-
-.PHONY: golangci-lint-check
-golangci-lint-check:
-	$(eval GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION := $(shell printf "%03d%03d%03d" $(shell golangci-lint --version | grep -Eo '[0-9]+\.[0-9.]+' | tr '.' ' ');))
-	$(eval MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT := $(shell printf "%g.%g.%g" $(shell echo $(MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION) | grep -o ...)))
-	@hash golangci-lint > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		echo "Downloading golangci-lint v${MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT}"; \
-		export BINARY="golangci-lint"; \
-		curl -sfL "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v${MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT}/install.sh" | sh -s -- -b $(GOPATH)/bin v$(MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT); \
-	elif [ "$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)" -lt "$(MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)" ]; then \
-		echo "Downloading newer version of golangci-lint v${MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT}"; \
-		export BINARY="golangci-lint"; \
-		curl -sfL "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v${MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT}/install.sh" | sh -s -- -b $(GOPATH)/bin v$(MIN_GOLANGCI_LINT_VER_FMT); \
-	fi
+golangci-lint:
+	$(GO) run $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE) run
+
+# workaround step for the lint-backend-windows CI task because 'go run' can not
+# have distinct GOOS/GOARCH for its build and run steps
+.PHONY: golangci-lint-windows
+golangci-lint-windows:
+	@GOOS= GOARCH= $(GO) install $(GOLANGCI_LINT_PACKAGE)
+	golangci-lint run
 
 .PHONY: editorconfig-checker
 editorconfig-checker:
-	@hash editorconfig-checker > /dev/null 2>&1; if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; then \
-		$(GO) install github.com/editorconfig-checker/editorconfig-checker/cmd/editorconfig-checker@50adf46752da119dfef66e57be3ce2693ea4aa9c; \
-	fi
-	editorconfig-checker templates
+	$(GO) run $(EDITORCONFIG_CHECKER_PACKAGE) templates
 
 .PHONY: docker
 docker:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bbe27fab4d9c6..305931b1b8cca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ or if SQLite support is required:
 
 The `build` target is split into two sub-targets:
 
-- `make backend` which requires [Go 1.16](https://golang.org/dl/) or greater.
+- `make backend` which requires [Go 1.17](https://golang.org/dl/) or greater.
 - `make frontend` which requires [Node.js LTS](https://nodejs.org/en/download/) or greater and Internet connectivity to download npm dependencies.
 
 When building from the official source tarballs which include pre-built frontend files, the `frontend` target will not be triggered, making it possible to build without Node.js and Internet connectivity.
diff --git a/build/code-batch-process.go b/build/code-batch-process.go
index 8139fe7623754..b2290af771573 100644
--- a/build/code-batch-process.go
+++ b/build/code-batch-process.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func passThroughCmd(cmd string, args []string) error {
 	}
 	c := exec.Cmd{
 		Path:   foundCmd,
-		Args:   args,
+		Args:   append([]string{cmd}, args...),
 		Stdin:  os.Stdin,
 		Stdout: os.Stdout,
 		Stderr: os.Stderr,
@@ -271,9 +271,9 @@ func main() {
 				log.Print("the -d option is not supported by gitea-fmt")
 			}
 			cmdErrors = append(cmdErrors, giteaFormatGoImports(files, containsString(subArgs, "-l"), containsString(subArgs, "-w")))
-			cmdErrors = append(cmdErrors, passThroughCmd("gofumpt", append([]string{"-extra", "-lang", "1.16"}, substArgs...)))
+			cmdErrors = append(cmdErrors, passThroughCmd("go", append([]string{"run", os.Getenv("GOFUMPT_PACKAGE"), "-extra", "-lang", "1.17"}, substArgs...)))
 		case "misspell":
-			cmdErrors = append(cmdErrors, passThroughCmd("misspell", substArgs))
+			cmdErrors = append(cmdErrors, passThroughCmd("go", append([]string{"run", os.Getenv("MISSPELL_PACKAGE")}, substArgs...)))
 		default:
 			log.Fatalf("unknown cmd: %s %v", subCmd, subArgs)
 		}
diff --git a/docs/config.yaml b/docs/config.yaml
index f2b98ba5545d7..333870028cbc3 100644
--- a/docs/config.yaml
+++ b/docs/config.yaml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ params:
   author: The Gitea Authors
   website: https://docs.gitea.io
   version: 1.16.4
-  minGoVersion: 1.16
+  minGoVersion: 1.17
   goVersion: 1.17
   minNodeVersion: 12.17
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index d1f4b7c4cf980..a545dacca75dd 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module code.gitea.io/gitea
 
-go 1.16
+go 1.17
 
 require (
 	code.gitea.io/gitea-vet v0.2.2-0.20220122151748-48ebc902541b