Idiomatic Go Happy Path

Suppose we have a function that returns some value and an error. What's the preferred way of handling the error and value declarations?

func example_a(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
	var err error
	var bytes []byte
	if bytes, err = json.Marshal(data); err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}
    // ... 
	return use(bytes), nil
}

func example_b(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
	if bytes, err := json.Marshal(data); err != nil {
		return nil, err
	} else {
        // ... 
		return use(bytes), nil
	}
}

func example_c(data interface{}) (result interface{}, err error) {
	var bytes []byte
	if bytes, err = json.Marshal(data); err != nil {
		return
	}
    // ... 
	return use(bytes), nil
}

func example_d(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
    bytes, err := json.Marshal(data)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    // ... 
    return use(bytes), nil
}

func example_dream(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
	if bytes, err ≡ json.Marshal(data); err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}
    // ... 
	return use(bytes), nil
}

Example A is clear, but it adds 2 extra lines. Moreover, I find that it's unclear why in this particular case we should use var, and at the same time := is not always appropriate. Then you want to reuse the err declaration somewhere down the line, and I'm not a big fan of splitting declaration and assignment.

Example B is using the if-declare-test language feature, which I surmise is encouraged, but at the same time you are forced to nest function continuation violating the happy-path principle, which too is encouraged.

Example C uses the named parameter return feature, which is something between A and B. Biggest problem here, is that if your code base is using styles B and C, then it's easy to mistake := and =, which can cause all kinds of issues.

Example D (added from suggestions) has for me the same kind of usage problem as C, because inevitably I run into the following:

func example_d(a, b interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
    bytes, err := json.Marshal(a)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }

    bytes, err := json.Marshal(b) //Compilation ERROR
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }

    // ... 
    return use(bytes), nil
}

So depending on previous declarations I have to modify my code to either use := or =, which makes it harder to see and refactor.

Example Dream is what I kind of intuitively would have expected from GO - no nesting, and quick exit without too much verbosity and variable reuse. Obviously it doesn't compile.

Usually use() is inlined and repeats the pattern several times, compounding the nesting or split declaration issue.

So what's the most idiomatic way of handling such multiple returns and declarations? Is there a pattern I'm missing?

If you look at lots of Go code you will find the following to be the usual case:

func example(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
    bytes, err := json.Marshal(data)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    // ... 
    return use(bytes), nil
}

The declare and test if construct is nice in its place, but it is not generally apropriate here.