Protobuf is commonly associated with code generation. However, in large projects with tens of thousands of message definitions, this approach can lead to an overwhelming amount of generated code. Combined with additional boilerplate or macros for converting between generated classes and domain entities, it can significantly impact both compile times and developer productivity.

Is another path possible? In this talk, I’ll share my journey in search of a different approach to this problem—how it led me to an alternative path, the challenges I faced, and the key discoveries I made along the way.