Buf Protobuf Linter

---
name: "Buf Protobuf Linter"
slug: "buf-protobuf-linter"
description: "Lints Protocol Buffer definitions using the Buf CLI ruleset and validates gRPC service contracts. Detects breaking changes between proto revisions using buf breaking with git integration."
github_stars: 11049
verification: "security_reviewed"
source: "https://github.com/bufbuild/buf"
author: "Buf"
category: "Library & API Reference"
framework: "Claude Code"
tool_ecosystem:
  github_repo: "bufbuild/buf"
  github_stars: 11049
  npm_package: "@bufbuild/buf"
  npm_weekly_downloads: 1424221
---

# Buf Protobuf Linter

Lints Protocol Buffer definitions using the Buf CLI ruleset and validates gRPC service contracts. Detects breaking changes between proto revisions using buf breaking with git integration.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- brew install bufbuild/buf/buf

Requirements and caveats from upstream:
- [![Docker](https://img.shields.io/docker/pulls/bufbuild/buf)](https://hub.docker.com/r/bufbuild/buf)
- Other supported installation methods include [npm], [Windows], [Docker], [binary downloads], [tarballs], [source builds], and [minisign verification][verifying]. See the [installation docs][install] for the full list.
- [docker]: https://buf.build/docs/cli/installation/#docker

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- sh
- Initialize a workspace and run the checks you should expect every Protobuf repository to pass:
- buf config init

- Source: https://github.com/bufbuild/buf
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bufbuild/buf/HEAD/README.md

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/buf-protobuf-linter/)