Is there a definitive *nix command line tool for inspecting protocol buffers? [closed]

The Protocol Compiler -- protoc -- has this functionality built-in via the --decode and --decode_raw flags. This is the same tool you use to generate code from a .proto file so is likely already installed.

For example:

protoc --decode_raw < message.bin

Or using the .proto file:

protoc --decode mypkg.MyType myschema.proto < message.bin

Here is the --help text:

Usage: protoc [OPTION] PROTO_FILESParse PROTO_FILES and generate output based on the options given:  -IPATH, --proto_path=PATH   Specify the directory in which to search for                              imports.  May be specified multiple times;                              directories will be searched in order.  If not                              given, the current working directory is used.  --version                   Show version info and exit.  -h, --help                  Show this text and exit.  --encode=MESSAGE_TYPE       Read a text-format message of the given type                              from standard input and write it in binary                              to standard output.  The message type must                              be defined in PROTO_FILES or their imports.  --decode=MESSAGE_TYPE       Read a binary message of the given type from                              standard input and write it in text format                              to standard output.  The message type must                              be defined in PROTO_FILES or their imports.  --decode_raw                Read an arbitrary protocol message from                              standard input and write the raw tag/value                              pairs in text format to standard output.  No                              PROTO_FILES should be given when using this                              flag.  -oFILE,                     Writes a FileDescriptorSet (a protocol buffer,    --descriptor_set_out=FILE defined in descriptor.proto) containing all of                              the input files to FILE.  --include_imports           When using --descriptor_set_out, also include                              all dependencies of the input files in the                              set, so that the set is self-contained.  --include_source_info       When using --descriptor_set_out, do not strip                              SourceCodeInfo from the FileDescriptorProto.                              This results in vastly larger descriptors that                              include information about the original                              location of each decl in the source file as                              well as surrounding comments.  --error_format=FORMAT       Set the format in which to print errors.                              FORMAT may be 'gcc' (the default) or 'msvs'                              (Microsoft Visual Studio format).  --print_free_field_numbers  Print the free field numbers of the messages                              defined in the given proto files. Groups share                              the same field number space with the parent                               message. Extension ranges are counted as                               occupied fields numbers.  --plugin=EXECUTABLE         Specifies a plugin executable to use.                              Normally, protoc searches the PATH for                              plugins, but you may specify additional                              executables not in the path using this flag.                              Additionally, EXECUTABLE may be of the form                              NAME=PATH, in which case the given plugin name                              is mapped to the given executable even if                              the executable's own name differs.  --cpp_out=OUT_DIR           Generate C++ header and source.  --java_out=OUT_DIR          Generate Java source file.  --python_out=OUT_DIR        Generate Python source file.