Fix Protobuf Compiler Build Error | Generated by AI
Understanding the Error
This build failure happens during the compilation of Protocol Buffers (.proto files) in the greptime-proto crate. The build script (using prost-build) requires the protoc binary to generate Rust code from those proto definitions, but it can’t find it on your system. This is a common prerequisite oversight when building projects like GreptimeDB that rely on gRPC and protobuf for internal communication.
The listed .proto files (e.g., database.proto, health.proto) are GreptimeDB’s core definitions for metadata, regions, WAL, etc., so skipping this step blocks the entire build.
Quick Fix
- Install the Protobuf Compiler (≥ 3.15 required):
- On Debian/Ubuntu (which matches your error hint):
sudo apt update sudo apt install protobuf-compiler - On Fedora/RHEL:
sudo dnf install protobuf-compiler - On macOS (if applicable):
brew install protobuf - Manual download (cross-platform): Get the latest release from Protocol Buffers releases, extract, and add
bin/protocto your PATH.
- On Debian/Ubuntu (which matches your error hint):
- Verify Installation:
protoc --versionIt should output something like
libprotoc 3.21.12(or higher; anything ≥ 3.15 works). - Retry the Build:
make clean # Optional, to clear any partial artifacts makeIf
protocis installed but still not found (e.g., PATH issue), set the env var:export PROTOC=/usr/bin/protoc # Adjust path as needed make
Additional Tips
- Ensure you have the other prerequisites: Nightly Rust (which you seem to have from the prior error), GCC/G++ (install via
sudo apt install build-essential), and glibc dev headers (sudo apt install libc6-dev). - If you’re in a container or custom env, add the install step there.
- For testing post-build:
cargo run --bin greptime -- standalone start.
This should get you past the proto compilation. If it fails on something else (e.g., C++ deps), check the full prerequisites.