The buf CLI is a tool for working with Protocol Buffers.

• The ability to manage Protobuf assets on the Buf Schema Registry (BSR).
• A linter that enforces good API design choices and structure.
• A breaking change detector that enforces compatibility at the source code or wire level.
• A generator that invokes your plugins based on configurable templates.
• A formatter that formats your Protobuf files in accordance with industry standards.
• Integration with the Buf Schema Registry, including full dependency management.

You can install buf using Homebrew (macOS or Linux):

brew install bufbuild/buf/buf

This installs:

• The buf, protoc-gen-buf-breaking, and protoc-gen-buf-lint binaries
• Shell completion scripts for Bash, Fish, Powershell, and zsh

For other installation methods, see our official documentation, which covers:

• Installing buf via npm
• Installing buf on Windows
• Using buf as a Docker image
• Installing as a binary, from a tarball, and from source through GitHub Releases
• Verifying releases using a minisign public key

Buf's help interface provides summaries for commands and flags:

buf --help

For more comprehensive usage information, consult Buf's documentation, especially these guides:

• buf breaking
• buf build
• buf generate
• buf lint
• buf format
• buf registry (for using the BSR)

We will never make breaking changes within a given major version of the CLI. Once buf reaches v1.0, you can expect no breaking changes until v2.0. But as we have no plans to ever release a v2.0, we will likely never break the buf CLI.

This breaking change policy does not apply to commands behind the buf beta gate, and you should expect breaking changes to commands like buf beta registry. The policy does go into effect, however, when those commands or flags are elevated out of beta.