# Install swift-protobuf with Homebrew, Nix Plugin and runtime library for using protobuf with Swift. Version 1.38.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-23. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:swift-protobuf ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install swift-protobuf ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#protoc-gen-swift ``` Evidence: 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 facts - **Package key:** brew:swift-protobuf - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.38.1 - **Source summary:** Plugin and runtime library for using protobuf with Swift - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-23T19:48:06Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - protoc-gen-swift (cli) - protoc-gen-swift (alias) ## Dependencies - protobuf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.38.1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-23 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/apple/swift-protobuf - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## 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 Notes 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. ## 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:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - protoc-gen-swift: installed executable or alias match | 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 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [protobuf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protobuf/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [protoc-gen-grpc-swift](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protoc-gen-grpc-swift/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [configen](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/configen/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, swift. - [create-api](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/create-api/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, swift. - [flatbuffers](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flatbuffers/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, serialization. - [gotests](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gotests/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, code-generator, developer-tools. - [hz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, protobuf. - [jsonschema2pojo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jsonschema2pojo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, code-generator, developer-tools. - [kaitai-struct-compiler](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kaitai-struct-compiler/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, serialization. - [mockolo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mockolo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-generation, developer-tools, swift. - [protoc-gen-doc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protoc-gen-doc/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, code, code-generation, developer, developer-tools. - [protobuf-c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protobuf-c/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, code, code-generation, developer, developer-tools. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/swift-protobuf.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/swift-protobuf.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph