install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install swift-protobuf

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#protoc-gen-swift

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pr/protoc-gen-swift/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Plugin and runtime library for using protobuf with Swift

Project links

Commands and aliases

protoc-gen-swift

history

Project history and usage

Swift Protobuf is Apple's Swift implementation for Protocol Buffers, combining a `protoc` code-generation plugin with the SwiftProtobuf runtime library used by generated Swift code.

Project history

The public repository was created in 2016, after Swift had become open source. The project joined Google's schema-first Protocol Buffers ecosystem by adding a Swift generator, `protoc-gen-swift`, and an idiomatic Swift runtime for generated types.

Adoption history

The README documents multiple ways to consume the project: building the plugin with SwiftPM, installing the command-line generator through Homebrew, adding the runtime as a SwiftPM dependency, or consuming it through Xcode or CocoaPods. That mix reflects its dual role as both a CLI tool and a library dependency.

How it is used

Developers install or build `protoc-gen-swift`, run `protoc --swift_out=...` on `.proto` files, and add the SwiftProtobuf runtime to their Swift package, Xcode project, or CocoaPods project. The official documentation covers plugin behavior, generated-code APIs, internals, and contribution style.

Why package nerds care

Swift Protobuf matters to package-manager users because it bridges a language-specific package ecosystem with a cross-language serialization format. It gives Swift packages a generated-code workflow that stays compatible with Protocol Buffers used by Java, C++, Python, Objective-C, and other stacks.

Timeline

2016: Public GitHub repository created.
Current docs: Provides both `protoc-gen-swift` and the SwiftProtobuf runtime library.
Current docs: Homebrew installs the protobuf compiler and Swift code-generator plugin.

Related projects

The README ties Swift Protobuf to Apple's Swift language, Google's Protocol Buffers and `protoc`, Swift Package Manager, Xcode package dependencies, and CocoaPods.

Sources

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for swift-protobuf. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`protoc-gen-swift`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-07

manager version1.38.1

manager updated2026-06-23

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/apple/swift-protobufnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:swift-protobuf
Version	1.38.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/swift-protobuf
Homepage	https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf
Repository	https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf
Upstream docs	https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf#readme
License	Apache-2.0
Source archive	https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf.git
Last updated	2026-06-23T19:48:06Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	protobuf
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	swift-protobuf
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Requirements	xcode
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix92%

protoc-gen-swift

nix profile install nixpkgs#protoc-gen-swift

installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Protoc Gen Swift

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/pr/protoc-gen-swift/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/swift-protobuf.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install swift-protobuf with Homebrew, Nix