# README

## Install the protobuf Python package
In PyCharm, install the protobuf package by going to “Python Packages”, searching for “protobuf” and installing version 3.20.0 (to run the example and exercise).

## Install the protocol buffer compiler
- Go to https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v23.3 
- Manually download the zip file corresponding to your OS
- Unzip the file
- Update your environment’s path variable to include the path to the protoc executable, for example with
```
export PATH=“$PATH:$HOME/protoc-23.3-osx-universal_binary/bin"
```

## Compile a .proto file
If running from the same folder where the input for the protoc is defined:
```
protoc --python_out=./ addressbook.proto
```
