buf.work.yaml

The buf.work.yaml file is used to define a workspace, where one or more modules can coexist and interoperate within a common directory. Workspaces make it possible for local modules to import Protobuf files from other local modules, and unlock other powerful use cases that operate on multiple modules at the same time.

The diagram and file below represent a complete example of a buf.work.yaml configuration file and its corresponding tree layout containing the buf.build/acme/petapis and buf.build/acme/paymentapis modules:

.
├── buf.work.yaml
├── paymentapis
│   ├── acme
│   │   └── payment
│   │       └── v2
│   │           └── payment.proto
│   └── buf.yaml
└── petapis
    ├── acme
    │   └── pet
    │       └── v1
    │           └── pet.proto
    └── buf.yaml

version: v1
directories:
  - paymentapis
  - petapis

Fields

version

Required. Defines the current configuration version. The only accepted value is v1.

directories

Required. Lists the directories that define modules to be included in the workspace. The directory paths must be relative to the buf.work.yaml, and can't point to a location outside of the directory where your buf.work.yaml is. For example, ../external is invalid.

The directory . is invalid as well. Given the requirement to have no overlapping directories, and given that a directory can't point to a location outside of your buf.work.yaml directory, listing a directory named . in your buf.work.yaml would mean that the buf.work.yaml only contains that single directory. It's no different than having no buf.work.yaml at all.

Each directory is included as an independent module, such that all of the Protobuf files defined within the paymentapis and petapis directories are included in the workspace, relative to the respective module root. For more information about how to import modules into each other, see the importing across modules section of the workspaces documentation.