Generated code doesn't honor proto3 `optional` semantics

[aohren]

Google Ads API uses proto3 optional throughout, and the distinction between a field having a default value vs. not being present at all in a message is meaningful. The current behavior of the generated Node.js protos appears to be setting default values for all fields, regardless of whether the message actually has the field set.

[rosslavery]

Just adding +1 here to mention this is impacting the Node.js client library for the Google Ads API: https://github.com/Opteo/google-ads-api .

With the upcoming deprecation of Ads API V4/5 in June, developers using this library need enough time to migrate versions without encountering errors as a result of this bug.

[Zikoel]

Are we waiting for that issue the PR #852 ? That is chained to another PR on google-gax package here and that is chained to protobufjs PR here ?

[alexander-fenster]

We are only waiting for protobuf.js release, then it will just go up through the dependency chain with no changes needed in google-gax or here. To try it, npm install protobuf.js@next everywhere in the chain :)

[alexander-fenster]

(and as for protobuf.js release, it's coming soon - I'm working on it; it's a third party library but we can release it)

[alexander-fenster]

It should all work now (after reinstalling dependencies and regenerating protos with npm run compile-protos).

[alexander-fenster]

protobufjs v6.11.0

[Zikoel]

Absolutely awesome work, many thanks! I have a question: The issue is intended to be fixed on the version 1.3.0 or on the next versions? I ask that because as I can see the dependency chain for the v1.3.0 is gapic-generator-typescript@1.3.0 ->google-gax@2.11.2 -> protobufjs@6.10.2 but the fix is from google-gax@2.12.0 -> protobufjs@6.11.0, I'm wrong reading this ?