How to Effectively Manage Proto Files in a Distributed Microservice Architecture?

Proto File Maintenance in Distributed Microservice Environments

In a microservice architecture, maintaining proto files across multiple repositories can present challenges. This article proposes a solution to keep proto files synchronized and ensure compatibility among services.

Solution:

1. Centralized Proto Repository: Store proto files and their generating Makefiles in a single Git repository. Each definition should reside in its own directory for ease of import.
2. Versioning: Tag the repository with a version, especially for potentially breaking changes. This allows you to refer to a specific stable version.
3. Module-Based Import: In microservices, import proto definitions using their module path (e.g., "github.com/me/myproto/protodef2"). This enables the microservice to automatically fetch the appropriate version from the Git repository.
4. Go Modules: Use Go modules to manage dependencies and ensure compatibility. When a microservice goes through tests (e.g., go test), it will verify that the proto file hash matches the one in the centralized repository. If a mismatch occurs, it will prompt the developers to update code generation.

Additional Considerations:

• Backward Compatibility: Avoid breaking backward compatibility whenever possible. Field removal is acceptable as long as remaining field indices are unchanged.
• Code Generation: Ensure that code generation is triggered based on proto file changes, and that all microservices are updated with the same version.
• Monorepo vs. Multiple Repositories: Depending on the project structure, you may consider a monorepo or multiple repos for proto maintenance.

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