Question 1

How do I handle protobuf imports with exprotobuf?

Accepted Answer

Since version 1.0, exprotobuf no longer supports import statements. You need to manually merge or preprocess .proto files before loading them, or consider using the underlying gpb library directly for more control.

Question 2

exprotobuf vs gpb: which is better for Elixir?

Accepted Answer

exprotobuf builds on gpb to provide a more Elixir-native interface with automatic struct generation, while gpb offers lower-level control. Choose exprotobuf for convenience and idiomatic code; use gpb if you need advanced features or direct schema manipulation.

Question 3

How to customize module names in exprotobuf?

Accepted Answer

Use options like use_package_names: true to include protobuf package names, or namespace: :"Elixir" to flatten modules to the top level. This allows flexibility in matching your team's naming conventions, as detailed in the README examples.

Question 4

Can I inject multiple protobuf types into one Elixir module?

Accepted Answer

No, due to Elixir's one-struct-per-module rule, you cannot inject multiple types into a single module. The :only option with :inject is restricted to a single type, and workarounds like use_in are limited and messy.

Question 5

Does exprotobuf support runtime schema changes?

Accepted Answer

No, exprotobuf generates modules at compile time, so any schema updates require recompilation of your Elixir code. For dynamic schemas, you might need alternative approaches or libraries that support runtime loading.

Question 6

What are the limitations of oneof handling in exprotobuf?

Accepted Answer

exprotobuf represents oneof fields as tuples, which is great for pattern matching but means you must handle the tuple structure explicitly in your code. It doesn't provide higher-level abstractions, so you're responsible for managing the tuple keys and values.

exprotobuf

What is exprotobuf?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions