--go-grpc_out: protoc-gen-go-grpc: Plugin failed with status code 1

Question

i am getting this error when i compile my proto file:

protoc-gen-go-grpc: program not found or is not executable
Please specify a program using absolute path or make sure the program is available in your PATH system variable
\--go-grpc_out: protoc-gen-go-grpc: Plugin failed with status code 1.

I am using these versions:

Binary	Version
protoc-gen-go	v1.25.0-devel
protoc	v3.12.4

I have tried to compile this proto file:

syntax = "proto3";

option go_package = "proto/";

message GreetingRequest {
  string first_name = 1;
  string last_name = 2;
}
message GreetingResponse{
  string result = 1;
}

service AddService{
  rpc Greet(GreetingRequest) returns (GreetingResponse) {};
}

I used this command:

protoc \
--proto_path=proto \
--go_out=proto \
--go_opt=paths=source_relative \
--go-grpc_out=proto \
--go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative \
service.proto

I installed protoc-gen-go-grpc using:

go install google.golang.org/grpc/cmd/protoc-gen-go-grpc@latest

but its still showing this error.

Adrenocorticotropic

Thank you for the clear repro of your issue. Are you running on Linux? If so, please try which protoc-gen-go-grpc to determine where (in your path), the binary can be found. I suspect, it won't be found and you'll need to add it's location to your PATH – Emerald

For me, the file is in ${GOPATH}/bin. You may not have GOPATH (and I think there's a GOBIN) too. – Emerald

When you run protoc, it looks for plugins (other binaries) in the PATH on your system. In your case, there are 2 plugins that are used. --go_* is matched to a binary protoc-gen-go and --go-grpc_* is matched to a binary protoc-gen-go-grpc. The flags are used to determine the binary's name protoc-gen-[[FLAG]]. You just need to ensure that both those binaries are in the PATH so that protoc can find them when you run it. – Emerald

Thank you for helping. Right after installing protoc-gen-go-grpc I have used following command to set path: export PATH="$PATH:$(go env GOPATH)/bin" which sets the path to: /home/zohaib/go/bin/protoc-gen-go-grpc but the path should be: /usr/bin where protoc-gen-go lies. – Adrenocorticotropic

I'm unsure whether your comment was a statement of a question. To reiterate, you need to set the PATH to include whatever paths you're using so that protoc can find protoc-gen-go and protoc-gen-go-gprc in the PATH. If these are in different locations both folders need to be in the PATH. – Emerald

Found a temporary solution to the problem, everytime before compiling my proto file I have to explicitly set path of protoc-gen-go-grpc in the terminal using: PATH="/myDirectory:$PATH". Now the problem is how to set this path permanently? – Adrenocorticotropic

Answer 1

Hello if you are running on mac m1 try using this command

export PATH="$PATH:$(go env GOPATH)/bin"

to make this change permanent you may have to modify your ~/.zshrc file and source it

got it from here

https://grpc.io/docs/languages/go/quickstart/

Periapt

This actually was my issue, thanks for that. – Salters