---
id: mcap-protobuf-support
version: "0.5.4"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# mcap-protobuf-support — Protobuf support for the Python MCAP library

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 624.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

mcap-protobuf-support is a plugin for the Python MCAP library that enables reading MCAP files containing protobuf-encoded messages. MCAP is a container format for time-series data commonly used in robotics and autonomous systems; this package bridges the gap between MCAP's file reading capabilities and protobuf message deserialization, allowing you to extract and work with protobuf messages stored in MCAP files.

The package is lightweight, depending only on mcap and protobuf, and integrates directly into the MCAP reader workflow. It's maintained by Foxglove and actively used in production environments for processing sensor data and logs from robotics systems.

Use it for:

- Extract and deserialize protobuf messages from MCAP log files recorded by robotics systems
- Process time-series sensor data stored in MCAP format with protobuf message encoding
- Build data pipelines that read MCAP files and convert protobuf messages into Python objects for analysis
- Integrate MCAP protobuf support into existing robotics data processing workflows

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Adds protobuf message deserialization support to the Python MCAP file format reader, enabling you to read MCAP files that contain protobuf-encoded data.

Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, carries a permissive MIT license, and solves a specific need for anyone working with MCAP files containing protobuf data. Install friction is low and the dependency chain is minimal.

## Install

pip install mcap-protobuf-support
uv add mcap-protobuf-support
poetry add mcap-protobuf-support

## Installing mcap-protobuf-support

Before you install: Low friction install with two straightforward runtime dependencies (mcap and protobuf). The package is actively maintained with a recent release and no known vulnerabilities.

License in practice: MIT license permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making it safe to adopt in most projects.

Quickstart:

pip install mcap-protobuf-support

from mcap.reader import MCAPReader

with MCAPReader(open('file.mcap', 'rb')) as reader:
    for msg in reader.messages():
        print(msg)

Requires Python 3.7 or later; the underlying mcap and protobuf packages must be installed and compatible.

Verify before relying:

- Whether protobuf schema registration or additional setup is required beyond installing the package
- Performance characteristics when reading large MCAP files with protobuf messages

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 624.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

mcap protobuf support, read mcap protobuf messages, mcap file format protobuf, protobuf deserialization mcap, mcap data format reader, mcap, protobuf, robotics

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/mcap-protobuf-support) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/mcap-protobuf-support/)