object_detection API protoc installation step fails

[radzfoto]

System information

• What is the top-level directory of the model you are using: ~/tensorflow/models/research
• Have I written custom code (as opposed to using a stock example script provided in TensorFlow): NO
• OS Platform and Distribution (e.g., Linux Ubuntu 16.04): Linux Ubuntu 16.04
• TensorFlow installed from (source or binary): binary
• TensorFlow version (use command below): v1.7.0-3-g024aecf414 1.7.0
• Bazel version (if compiling from source): N/A
• CUDA/cuDNN version: Cuda compilation tools, release 9.0, V9.0.176, CUDNN: 7.0.4.31-1+cuda9.0
• GPU model and memory: nVidia Titan Xp, 12GB, driver 390.48
• Exact command to reproduce: protoc object_detection/protos/*.proto --python_out=.

Describe the problem

I followed object_detection installation instructions step by step. When I tried protoc command, .proto files could not be compiled to .py files.

I issued this command:

protoc object_detection/protos/*.proto --python_out=.

And obtained these errors:

object_detection/protos/ssd.proto:87:3: Expected "required", "optional", or "repeated".
object_detection/protos/ssd.proto:87:12: Expected field name.
object_detection/protos/model.proto: Import "object_detection/protos/ssd.proto" was not found or had errors.
object_detection/protos/model.proto:12:5: "Ssd" is not defined.

Note that all the .proto files exist including ssd.proto.

Source code / logs

No custom source code. Just following object_detection API installation instructions

[he44]

I encountered the same issue and I think it's because of the update/latest commit. I bypassed the protoc error by checking out an older version (2018-04-13).

git reset --hard 490813bdb3499290633919a9867eb0bb6d346d87 

(How to checkout previous commit: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3555107/git-clone-particular-version-of-remote-repository/18037563 )

[denglixi]

Upgrade your protoc.

[derekjchow]

@denglixi is correct. Update your protobuf compiler/runtime to 3.x.x

[radzfoto]

@denglixi and @derekjchow, you were both correct. I removed the 2.6 protobuf-compiler and installed the 3.5.1 protobuf-compiler from github. What is frustrating is that the installation instructions in the object_detection api github still say to use the 2.6 version. I hope that this gets updated. Thank you!

[derekjchow]

Will update the docs for next release

[lechatthecat]

related?
#4047

[lechatthecat]

I have protobuf 3.5.2 and still fail to compile. Why?

object_detection/protos/ssd.proto:87:3: Expected "required", "optional", or "repeated".
object_detection/protos/ssd.proto:87:12: Expected field name.
object_detection/protos/model.proto: Import "object_detection/protos/ssd.proto" was not found or had errors.
object_detection/protos/model.proto:12:5: "Ssd" is not defined.

[sandunadhikari]

Make sure you grab the latest version

curl -OL https://github.com/google/protobuf/releases/download/v3.2.0/protoc-3.2.0-linux-x86_64.zip

Unzip

unzip protoc-3.2.0-linux-x86_64.zip -d protoc3
change your protobuf to protobuf3

Move protoc to /usr/local/bin/

sudo mv protoc3/bin/* /usr/local/bin/

Move protoc3/include to /usr/local/include/

sudo mv protoc3/include/* /usr/local/include/

Optional: change owner

sudo chwon [user] /usr/local/bin/protoc
sudo chwon -R [user] /usr/local/include/google

[AliceDinh]

@radzfoto: please show how did you install the 3.5.1 protobuf-compiler from github please!
I grab the latest version from:
https://github.com/google/protobuf/releases/download/v3.2.0/protoc-3.2.0-linux-x86_64.zip
then I don't know what to do next

[radzfoto]

Hi @AliceDinh, here are some basic steps that may help to get you started:
To download version 3.5.1 you need to go here:
then download file protoc-3.5.1-osx-x86_64.zip. Unzip the file in some directory, let's say something like ~/protobuf/

If you are using Ubuntu or similar, then use the archive manager to unzip everything in the file, or install unzip. Make sure that you put the protoc zip file in your target directory, then with unzip in a terminal window

$ cd ~/protobuf
$ sudo apt-get install unzip
$ unzip protoc-3.5.1-osx-x86_64.zip

You will now see a readme.txt file and two directories, bin and include. The protobuf compiler is a file in the bin directory called protoc. It doesn't hurt to make sure that protoc is executable, so do

$ cd bin
$ chmod +x protoc

Now you could add this directory to your PATH so you can execute from anywhere, for example:

$ export PATH=$PATH:~/protobuf/bin

If you want this to be permanent, add that line to your .bashrc file

To use the protobuf compiler now, all you have to do is

$ protoc /path/to/the/protobuf/file/you/want/to/compile

I hope this helps.