/ 
Protobuf-0.03
/ Protobuf::ClassGenerator

NAME

Protobuf::ClassGenerator - Generates Perl classes from Protocol Buffer descriptors

VERSION

version 0.03

SYNOPSIS

use Protobuf::ClassGenerator;
use Protobuf::DescriptorPool;

my $pool = Protobuf::DescriptorPool->generated_pool;
my $file_def = $pool->find_file_by_name('my/app/protos.proto');

# Generate classes for all messages in the file
Protobuf::ClassGenerator->generate_for_file($file_def);

# Now you can use the generated classes
# my $msg = My::App::Message->new();

DESCRIPTION

This module is responsible for dynamically creating Perl classes based on Protocol Buffer message descriptors (Protobuf::Descriptor::MessageDef). When a .proto file is loaded into a Protobuf::DescriptorPool, this generator is invoked to build the corresponding Moo-based Perl classes, complete with accessors and other methods for each field.

Key features of the generated classes:

  • Inherit from Protobuf::Message.

  • Have methods for getting, setting, checking presence, and clearing each field (e.g., my_field(), set_my_field(), has_my_field(), clear_my_field()).

  • Return tied arrays/hashes for repeated/map fields, offering a standard Perl interface.

  • Associate the class with its Protobuf::Descriptor::MessageDef.

This module is primarily used internally by Protobuf::DescriptorPool when adding new file descriptors.

METHODS

generate_for_file($file_descriptor)

Takes a Protobuf::Descriptor::File object and generates Perl classes for all top-level and nested messages defined within that file. This method is called recursively for nested types.

generate_for_message($message_descriptor)

Generates the Perl class for a single Protobuf::Descriptor::MessageDef.

generate_type_library($file_descriptor)

(Experimental) Generates a string containing code for a Type::Library based on the message definitions in the given Protobuf::Descriptor::File.

type_library($file_descriptor)

Alias for generate_type_library.

generate_docs()

(Placeholder) Intended to generate HTML documentation from descriptors.

generate_validator_xs($message_descriptor)

(Experimental) Generates C code for a highly optimized validator function for the given message type.

SEE ALSO

Protobuf, Protobuf::DescriptorPool, Protobuf::Message, Protobuf::Descriptor

AUTHOR

C.J. Collier <cjac@google.com>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2026 by Google LLC.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the BSD 3-Clause License.