# THANKS

This project benefits from the contributions and feedback of many individuals.

We would like to especially thank:

*   **Felipe Gasper** ([@felipegasper](https://github.com/felipegasper)) - For
    crucial feedback on Perl XS best practices, particularly regarding the safe
    handling of Perl strings with `SvPVbyte` and `SvPVutf8`.

*   **Dean Hamstead** ([@djzort](https://github.com/djzort)) - For publicity,
    encouragement, valuable build system feedback (identifying issues with
    missing `cpanfile` and `Makefile.PL` dependencies), and testing the
    `README.md` instructions on different environments, which led to significant
    improvements in the build process.

*   **Leon Timmermans** ([@Leont](https://github.com/Leont)) - For expressing
    interest and willingness to contribute, and for authoritative guidance on
    modern Perl XS development practices, including the use of `ppport.h` and
    standard magic extension APIs.

*   **Paul Evans** ([@LeoNerd](https://github.com/LeoNerd)) - For invaluable
    guidance on modern Perl core and XS development standards, particularly
    regarding the use of `mg_findext` and `PERL_MAGIC_ext` for robust,
    collision-free metadata attachment.

*   **Steffen Müller** ([@tsee](https://github.com/tsee)) - For offering to
    collaborate, providing valuable guidance as a veteran Perl core contributor
    and former maintainer of `ExtUtils::ParseXS`, and for pointing us towards
    Mattia Barbon's excellent `google-protobuf-dynamic` library which served as
    a key reference.

*   **Brad Fitzpatrick** ([@bradfitz](https://github.com/bradfitz)) - For the
    original 2008 `protobuf-perlxs` implementation. His comprehensive test suite
    and API design goals for high-performance Protocol Buffers in Perl continue
    to serve as the benchmark and foundation for this modern, UPB-based
    extension.

*   **Mattia Barbon** ([@mbarbon](https://github.com/mbarbon)) - For his work on
    `Google::ProtocolBuffers::Dynamic`. His implementation provided a vital
    performance target and architectural reference during the development of our
    "Fast Accessor" XSUB optimization layer.

*   **Sergey Stryapukhin**
    ([@sergey-stryapukhin](https://github.com/sergey-stryapukhin)) - For
    maintaining the pure-Perl `Google::ProtocolBuffers` implementation, which
    served as an essential baseline for performance benchmarking and API
    compatibility.

*   **Subinoy Dutta** - For his support in testing and exercising the build and
    test suite on Ubuntu and Windows.

*   The **p5p community** - For their engagement and suggestions.

*   The authors and maintainers of the **upb** library.

*   The **Google Protobuf Team** - For preparing such a welcoming,
    well-structured, and robust codebase to integrate with, and for their
    invaluable guidance throughout the integration process.

Your contributions help make this project better!
