Constructing C++ protos using structs and initializer lists

[David Chen]

Hi all,

In Go, protos can be constructed using struct literals. For instance:

p := pb.Person{
  Id:    1234,
  Name:  "John Doe",
  Email: "jd...@example.com",
  Phones: []*pb.Person_PhoneNumber{
    {Number: "555-4321", Type: pb.PhoneType_PHONE_TYPE_HOME},
  },
}

On the other hand, in C++, you have to instantiate the proto then use setter fields:

Person p;

person.set_id(1234);

person.set_name("John Doe");

person.set_email("jd...@example.com");

Person::PhoneNumber* phone_number = person.add_phones();

phone_number->set_number("555-4321");

phone_number->set_type(PhoneType::PHONE_TYPE_NONE);

It would be nice if the generated C++ code generated some structs, which could be used to construct protos using initializer lists, which IMO would be cleaner. Perhaps something like:

PersonSpec spec = {

    .id = 1234,

    .name = "John Doe",

    .email = "jd...@example.com",

    .phones = {

        {.number = "555-4321",

         .type = PhoneType::PHONE_TYPE_NONE},

    },

};

Person proto(spec);

Has the team considered something like this? I think it would make constructing protos in C++ look cleaner and clearer.

Best,

David