# Protobuf Contracts

The contracts project contains the public gRPC API and the gateway-to-worker
IPC messages. The `.proto` files are the source of truth; generated C# files are
recreated by the contracts project build.

## Files

`src/MxGateway.Contracts/Protos/mxaccess_gateway.proto` defines the public
`MxAccessGateway` gRPC service, command payloads, command replies, event DTOs,
`MxValue`, `MxArray`, and `MxStatusProxy`.

`src/MxGateway.Contracts/Protos/mxaccess_worker.proto` defines the named-pipe
worker IPC envelope and control messages. It imports
`mxaccess_gateway.proto` so the worker and gateway use the same command, reply,
event, value, and status shapes.

Generated C# output is written to `src/MxGateway.Contracts/Generated/`. Do not
hand-edit generated files.

## Generation

Run the contracts build to regenerate C# protobuf and gRPC code:

```bash
dotnet build src/MxGateway.Contracts/MxGateway.Contracts.csproj
```

Run the focused contract tests after changing either `.proto` file:

```bash
dotnet test src/MxGateway.Tests/MxGateway.Tests.csproj --filter ProtobufContractRoundTripTests
```

The full solution build also regenerates the C# contracts before compiling
gateway and test projects:

```bash
dotnet build src/MxGateway.sln
```

## Related Documentation

- [Gateway Process Detailed Design](./gateway-process-design.md)
- [MXAccess Worker Instance Detailed Design](./mxaccess-worker-instance-design.md)
- [Protobuf Style Guide](./style-guides/ProtobufStyleGuide.md)