chrisirhc/precompiled-grpc-in-bazel-python

Using a precompiled gRPC plugin for Python in Bazel

This repository is an example of how to use a precompiled gRPC protobuf plugin for compiling Python gRPC stubs.

Why do this?

• Faster cold start builds (~29X speed-up, see below)
  • Avoid C++ compilation of dependencies when not editing any C++ files

Typical compile (with C++ compilation), 99s	Precompiled Binary, 3.3s

• More reasons at: https://github.com/aspect-build/toolchains_protoc?tab=readme-ov-file#bazel-toolchain-for-pre-built-protoc

Approach

• Use the compiled gRPC plugin that's built into the executable in grpcio-tools
• Follow the approach laid out in https://github.com/aspect-build/toolchains_protoc for setting up precompiled tooling for protoc.

Alternative approaches

• Request for grpc to publish the compiled plugin and use it once it exists: grpc/grpc#38078