colfer
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Description:
Schema compiler for binary data exchange
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 1.8.1@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: serialization binary-format code-generation protocol performance
Install: brew install colfer
About:
Colfer is a schema compiler that generates serialization code for binary data exchange. It produces highly efficient, compact binary formats from simple schema definitions. This tool is ideal for performance-critical applications where low latency and small payload sizes are essential.
Key Features:
  • Extremely fast binary serialization and deserialization
  • Generates code for multiple languages (Go, Java, JavaScript, etc.)
  • Compact binary format with schema evolution capabilities
  • Zero-dependency generated code for easy integration
Use Cases:
  • High-performance microservices communication
  • IoT device data serialization with bandwidth constraints
  • Real-time gaming network protocols
  • Data storage in space-constrained environments
Alternatives:
  • Protocol Buffers – More widely adopted with larger ecosystem but larger binary overhead
  • MessagePack – Self-describing format, less compact but no schema compilation needed
License: CC0-1.0
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
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