Twirp is a simple RPC framework with protobuf service definitions that generates routing and serialization code from API definition files.
The framework solves the problem of boilerplate in service-to-service communication by letting developers define APIs in protobuf and automatically generating routing, serialization, and client code. Rather than manually managing HTTP methods, paths, and JSON encoding, developers write their business logic while Twirp handles the transport layer. It includes a smart framework for error message passing and autogenerated clients for multiple languages.
Twirp suits teams building microservices in Go who want RPC-style communication without the complexity of alternative frameworks. Unlike gRPC, it runs on the standard library's net/http Server without requiring custom HTTP implementations, supports HTTP 1.1 in addition to HTTP/2, and offers JSON serialization alongside protobuf for easier debugging and development. This makes it particularly valuable when you need broad HTTP compatibility or when you want to avoid gRPC's operational overhead. The framework is minimal by design, prioritizing simplicity over feature breadth.
The project maintains active development with regular commits addressing bug fixes and feature requests. Pull requests receive timely review and feedback from maintainers. The codebase shows consistent attention to code quality and testing practices. Documentation is comprehensive and kept current alongside code changes. The project demonstrates responsiveness to community issues and maintains backward compatibility across releases.
