https://weierstrass.github.io/protobuf-decoder/

Are you working with protocol buffer and wants to know what is actually inside the serialized binary data, then you might find this tool handy.

Pre-compiled binaries can be found here https://github.com/weierstrass/protobuf-decoder/releases/latest

This project uses the cmake suite to manage building and testing. The testing and mocking util used is GTest and GMock

$ cmake . && make

$ cmake . && make && ctest

$ ./src/protobuf-decoder

Open an issue here on Github.

The supported algorithms to encode the binary data are today:

• hex
• base64

If you know how to implement your algorithm in C++ then you are almost there. The project is open source and designed to make it as easy as possible for a third party to add new algorithms.

Basically this is what you have to do if you want to add a new algorithm:

1. Create a new class in src/conversion/algorithm.
2. Extend the protobuf_decoder::algorithm::BaseAlgorithm class.
3. Register the algorithm using the REGISTER_ALGORITHM macro.
4. Make sure you have added test cases for your algorithm
5. Do a pull request and I would be more than happy to review it.

An example for a new algorithm.

// src/conversion/algorithm/MyAlgorithm.hpp
...
class MyAlgorithm : public BaseAlgorithm<MyAlgorithm> // 2. Extend base Algorithm.
{
public:
  virtual ~MyAlgorithm() {}

  virtual std::string encode(const std::string& iString);

  virtual std::string decode(const std::string& iString);
};
  ...

// src/conversion/algorithm/MyAlgorithm.cpp
...
REGISTER_ALGORITHM(MyAlgorithm, "MY ALGO"); // 3. Register new algorithm.
...
std::string MyAlgorithm::encode(const std::string& iString)
{
  // Encoding implementation.
}

std::string MyAlgorithm::decode(const std::string& iString)
{
  // Decoding implementation.
}
...

This is really everything that is needed, if you follow these steps your algorithm should automatically appear in the GUI without any need to modify any existing code. How does it work?

If you do not have the necessary knowledge in C++, you can open an issue here on GitHub and I will try to do it when I find a spare moment.