[Feature Request] Export generated validate proto artifacts #151

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1. newyankeecodeshop

   added

   FeatureNew feature or requestNew feature or request

   on May 21, 2026
2. timostamm commented on Aug 24, 2026

   

   timostamm

   on Aug 24, 2026

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   It's true that there are typically two copies of validate_pb.js when you use protovalidate. It's usually compressed away very well when you serve a web app, but clearly it's not ideal.

   Edition 2024 adds the import option feature (see here for an example). This feature solves the issue because the code you're generating doesn't need to generate the import anymore. Unfortunately import option isn't available in syntax proto3, so it isn't very helpful in practice.

   What's needed here is a "canonical" import location, so that instead of generating validate_pb.js, the file is simply imported from @bufbuild/protovalidate. We actually have a plugin option to enable that (see here). We never got around to testing all use cases and documenting it properly, but it looks like the cleanest solution to me. You'd drop include_imports: true from buf.gen.yaml, and instead add a rewrite_imports= line.

   Exporting the generated code from @bufbuild/protovalidate is still necessary though, and that's a good starting point. It needs to be "canonical" though: A .js extension is the most flexible and portable, so it's important that the exports use only this file extension.

   👍React with 👍1Reacted by Andrew Goodale
3. timostamm commented on Sep 3, 2026

   

   timostamm

   on Sep 3, 2026

   Last edited by timostamm

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   • Export generated validate proto artifacts #152 merged, albeit without the example.
   • Use rewrite_imports to deduplicate a copy of validate_pb.ts #184 uses the new exports with the rewrite_imports option in an internal package.
   • Use map_imports in the example #185 applies the option to the example.

   🎉React with 🎉1Reacted by Andrew Goodale
4. timostamm commented on Sep 16, 2026

   

   timostamm

   on Sep 16, 2026

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   v1.3.0 of @bufbuild/protovalidate exports gen/buf/validate/validate_pb.js now.

   v2.15.0 of @bufbuild/protoc-gen-es adds the new plugin option map_imports, which can be used to import validate_pb.js from the package instead of generating it locally.

   In buf.gen.yaml, remove include_imports: true, and add the map_imports plugin option:

   plugins:
     - local: protoc-gen-es
       opt:
         - target=ts
   +     - map_imports=buf/validate/:@bufbuild/protovalidate/gen
       out: src/gen
   -   include_imports: true

   As a result, only a single copy of validate_pb.js is used in the project.

   🎉React with 🎉2Reacted by Andrew Goodale and Andrew Goodale
5. timostamm

   closed this as completedon Sep 16, 2026
6. newyankeecodeshop commented on Sep 18, 2026

   

   newyankeecodeshop

   on Sep 18, 2026

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   Thanks for getting this over the line @timostamm !