grafana/contribute/backend/upgrading-dependencies.md

# Upgrading dependencies

Notes on upgrading various backend dependencies.

## Protobuf

When upgrading the [protobuf](http://github.com/golang/protobuf) library in Grafana and the plugin SDK,
you typically also want to upgrade your protobuf compiler toolchain and re-compile protobuf files.

**Note:** You need Buf CLI installed and availabile in your path, see https://buf.build/docs/installation for instructions.

Re-compile protobuf files in grafana and the plugin SDK:

```shell
cd $GRAFANA
make protobuf
cd $GRAFANA_PLUGIN_SDK_GO
mage protobuf
```

After upgrading the protobuf dependency in Grafana and the plugin SDK, it might be wise to test that things still work,
before making corresponding PRs:

- Test a plugin built with upgraded SDK on upgraded Grafana
- Test a plugin built with non-upgraded SDK on upgraded Grafana
- Test a plugin built with upgraded SDK on non-upgraded Grafana