Grpc-web: How do I use protoc-gen-grpc-web on Windows?

[sandersaares]

$ sudo make install-plugin in the readme is clearly a Linux command. I wish to use this tool on Windows. What do I do?

[johanbrandhorst]

Yeah I think we need to include binary generators with the releases. Indeed, version 1.0 should probably have some pre-built binaries included with it to make adoption easier.

[stanley-cheung]

Building the plugin on Windows is currently supported via Bazel. See this comment: https://github.com/grpc/grpc-web/issues/250#issuecomment-414479303

[johanbrandhorst]

Is there a plan to release pre-built binaries of the generator plugin? I think it will lower the barrier to entry significantly.

[Yannic]

@stanley-cheung This isn't the first time someone asks about building the plugin on Windows. I think we should add something to the readme to clarify that Bazel is required to build on Windows.

Or we could even go further and say to always build with Bazel regardless of the platform, which would also eliminate the need to install protoc separately. Of course, it would still be possible to run protoc as before. WDYT?

bazel build @com_google_protobuf//:protoc //javascript/net/grpc/web:protoc-gen-grpc-web

./bazel-bin/external/com_google_protobuf/protoc \
  -I=$DIR \
  --plugin=protoc-gen-grpc=bazel-bin/javascript/net/grpc/web/protoc-gen-grpc-web \
  --js_out=...  \
  --grpc-web_out=... \
  echo.proto

[sandersaares]

Realistically speaking, without a binary release using this tool is a no-go for all of my potential use cases.

Having to compile one's development tools is just not an acceptable setup scenario in the Windows world.

[stanley-cheung]

Yes we should be putting out a pre-compiled release of the protoc plugin. Sorry we just haven't gotten around to it yet. Will certainly work on it asap.

[pumano]

@stanley-cheung amazing! I'm waiting for it too

[stanley-cheung]

The pre-built binaries for the protoc-gen-grpc-web plugin for Windows has been uploaded along with the latest 1.0.3 release. Please check it out.

https://github.com/grpc/grpc-web/releases