(resend of message originally on unrelated thread) If I understand correctly, serializing a protocol-buffer message creates a byte-string that describes the fields of the serialized message. The field descriptions include their type identifiers, field numbers, and current values.
An instance of the type of message that was serialized can then configure itself to be equal to the serialized message by parsing the byte-string representation. By telling a message instance to parse its serialized representation, one is basically setting the instance's "value." It would seem reasonable that this pattern be maintained down to the level of individual fields. Meaning that message field instances could serialize themselves to byte-strings and initialize themselves from bytes-strings. I can see multiple values to such a capability. It would be possible, for example, to partially initialize message instances by initializing specific fields within the instance, which may be very useful for doing things like streaming messages. Also, protocol-buffer fields could be used outside the context of protocol-buffer messages, which may or may not be valuable. Does this capability already exist? I suppose the behaviour could be emulated by defining a message type for each field type, and then using message-type fields only. But having the capability on the fields themselves would be nice, if it doesn't exist already. Thanks, Shane --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Protocol Buffers" group. To post to this group, send email to protobuf@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/protobuf?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
