Should I Use Protobuf's `google.protobuf.Struct` for Dynamic JSON Transmission over gRPC?

Is Protobuf the Right Choice for Dynamic JSON Transmission via GRPC?

In GRPC communication, the exchange of dynamic JSON data can be facilitated using the google/protobuf/struct.proto file. This file defines a Struct message type that enables the representation of a JSON object within a Protobuf structure.

Usage of google/protobuf/struct

Based on your provided Protobuf file, utilizing the google.protobuf.Struct type is a viable approach for sending dynamic JSON data. This structure allows you to represent a JSON object as a key-value pair of strings and Value messages. Each Value message encapsulates a single JSON value, supporting types such as strings, numbers, booleans, and nested structs.

Alternative Solutions

While using google/protobuf/struct is a common choice, there are alternative approaches to consider:

• Custom Protocol Buffers: Define a Protobuf message type that specifically matches your dynamic JSON schema. This can optimize performance and reduce the overhead of converting between Protobuf and JSON.
• JSON Encoding (Not Recommended): Send raw JSON data directly over GRPC, bypassing Protobuf altogether. However, this method is generally not recommended as it lacks type safety and performance benefits.

Anuj's Solution

Anuj suggests constructing a structpb.Struct from a map directly using NewStruct. This approach simplifies the conversion process but requires careful consideration of type conversions to ensure that Go data types are correctly represented in the Value messages.

Luke's Solution

Luke initially converts the JSON data to bytes using json.Marshal and then unmarshals it back into a structpb.Struct using protojson.Unmarshal. While this method provides flexibility, it involves unnecessary conversion steps that may impact performance.

Recommendation

Considering type safety, simplicity, and performance, using the google.protobuf.Struct type as defined in proto3 is a reliable way to send dynamic JSON data over GRPC. The official structpb functions offer a user-friendly and efficient approach to construct and manipulate these structures.

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