How Can I Effectively Manage Proto Files for Microservice Communication?

Managing Proto Files for Microservice Communication

Maintaining proto files for efficient communication between microservices requires careful coordination. Assuming you have created proto files and separated them from other files into a git repository, the challenge lies in ensuring that changes made to a proto file are synchronized across all microservices that rely on it.

Solution:

To address this issue, follow these steps:

1. Centralize Proto Repositories:
   Store your proto files and their accompanying go generating makefiles in a single git repository. Organize each definition in its own directory for easy import.
2. Tag Repository with Version:
   Tag the repository with a version number, especially when making potentially breaking changes. This helps identify the specific version of protos used.
3. Import Specific Proto Defs:
   Within your microservices, import specific proto definitions using the format "github.com/me/myproto/protodef2". This ensures that each microservice references the correct version.
4. Utilize Go Modules:
   Implement go modules (introduced in Go v1.11) to manage dependency versions. This ensures that microservice X obtains a compatible version of proto defs Y.

Avoiding Compatibility Issues:

To maintain backward compatibility, adhere to the following guidelines:

• Minimize Field Removal:
  Avoid removing fields from proto definitions.
• Maintain Field Indices:
  Keep field indices consistent so that old client calls remain compatible with newer proto defs.

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