Dev tools · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to A rival to protobuf
OpenAPI based binary serialization. Contribute to compactr/compactr.js development by creating an account on GitHub.
Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. A rival to protobuf launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.
- 1
A generator for OpenAPI 3. Contribute to egorsmkv/openapi3-generator development by creating an account on GitHub.
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 2
Hey HN, we’re building an open specification that lets agents discover and invoke APIs with natural language, built on the OpenAPI standard. agents.json clearly defines the contract between LLMs and API as a standard that's open, observable, and replicable. Here’s a walkthrough of how it works: https://youtu.be/kby2Wdt2Dtk?si=59xGCDy48Zzwr7ND. There’s 2 parts to this: 1. An agents.json file describes how to link API calls together into outcome-based tools for LLMs. This file sits alongside an OpenAPI file. 2. The agents.json SDK loads agents.json files as tools for an LLM that…
2025 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 3
🛫 Zero-codegen, no-compile TypeScript `type` inference from protobuf `message`s - nathanhleung/protobuf-ts-types
2025 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 4AF
Serialization framework with some interesting numbers: 10-20x faster on nested objects than json/protobuf. Technical approach: compile-time codegen (no reflection), compact binary protocol with meta-packing, little-endian layout optimized for modern CPUs. Unique features that other fast serializers don't have: - Cross-language without IDL files (Rust ↔ Python/Java/Go) - Trait object serialization (Box) - Automatic circular reference handling - Schema evolution without coordination Happy to discuss design trade-offs. Benchmarks:…
Oct 2025 · fory.apache.org · its alternatives →
- 5
Long-simmering side project that is finally ready to see the light. HAMTs are a cool persistent data structure and implementing one has been a lot of fun. Beyond the code, there is likely some value in the extensive and largely complete implementation docs; basic benchmarks are linked in the README, too. Kind of aiming to be "the libavl for HAMTs". That is obviously a high and aspirational bar but a distinct possibility if it stirs up a little interest and/or contribution. Anyways, it's time for this to go out, collect feedback and maybe even some use outside of toy projects. Let me…
2023 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 6
Why I built Skir: https://medium.com/@gepheum/i-spent-15-years-with-protobuf-t... Quick start: npx skir init All the config lives in one YML file. Website: https://skir.build GitHub: https://github.com/gepheum/skir Would love feedback especially from teams running mixed-language stacks.
Mar 2026 · skir.build · its alternatives →
- 7
Very low footprint DOM-style JSON parser written in portable ANSI C - json-parser/json-parser
2012 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 8
Hi Hacker News! My name is Sagar, I’m working on a startup called Speakeasy - we’re making all APIs self-service. The platform is currently in beta, but we’re independently launching this tool which you can use to generate language-idiomatic, statically-typed TS SDKs from any public OpenAPI schemas. We hope to continue iterating on this to give devs a way to easily generate high fidelity client SDKs for all the major languages. Inspiration for this product is from past experiences struggling with OpenAPI. I was originally optimistic about using the OpenAPI tools to build out our offering,…
2022 · easysdk.xyz · its alternatives →
- 9
Meta programming utilities for C++14. Merged in matt-42/lithium - matt-42/iod
2014 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 10
Hi HN! We’re excited to share our new code generator that lets you ship high-quality TypeScript SDKs, that your users will love, from your OpenAPI documents. Our ongoing goal is to help you build one SDK that runs anywhere modern JavaScript runs. This includes new runtimes like Deno and Bun in addition to the ever-popular Node.js. Additionally, the popularity of AI has meant server-sent events and file streaming are also commonplace - we wanted to cover these use cases too. This explosion in new runtimes and ways of interacting with APIs shifts cognitive burden on API developers often having…
2024 · speakeasyapi.dev · its alternatives →
- 11TA
An OpenAPI alternative to describe REST APIs for type-safe code generation.
2023 · typeapi.org · its alternatives →
- 12
A lightweight programming language built with Go. Contribute to confh/Tiny development by creating an account on GitHub.
Jun 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 13
OMF is a compact, user-friendly specification that defines a lightweight API contract between client and server for building conversational agents, and defines a standard schema for the "messages" object, which contains user and assistant interactions. - GitHub - open-llm-initiative/open-message-for
2024 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 14
Fast and simple data serialization for C++. Contribute to apankrat/cpp-serializer development by creating an account on GitHub.
2019 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 15
A Google Protocol Buffers (Protobuf) payload decoder/analyzer - sandermvanvliet/ProtobufDecoder
2021 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 16MO
Minimalist json formatter, minifier & editor
2020 · jsonformatter.live · its alternatives →
- 17
a very (x 10) basic wasm console. Contribute to rajatjindal/wasm-console development by creating an account on GitHub.
2024 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 18
Embeddable minimal in-memory GZIP decompression library for embedded systems - wkoszek/mini_gzip
2015 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 19
🎷No ceremony, just code. Blazing fast, typesafe binary serialization. - 6over3/bebop
2020 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 20
Protobuf3 with Interface support - Designed for blockchains (deterministic, upgradeable, fast, and compact) - tendermint/go-amino
2018 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 21
Lightweight and portable version of OpenFaaS. Contribute to openfaas/faasd development by creating an account on GitHub.
2019 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 22PP
2017 · afiskon.github.io · its alternatives →
- 23IL
2025 · chr15m.github.io · its alternatives →
- 24
Also compare
- A faster way to prototype your APIs using OpenAPI 3 and Swagger UI alternatives
- Agents.json – OpenAPI Specification for LLMs alternatives
- Zero-codegen, no-compile TypeScript type inference from Protobufs alternatives
- Apache Fory Rust – 10-20x faster serialization than JSON/Protobuf alternatives
- A hash array-mapped trie implementation in C alternatives
- Skir – like Protocol Buffer but better alternatives
Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →