title: Automate compilation of protobuf specs into python classes in setup.py
body: <p>I have a python project that uses google protobufs as a message format for communicating over the network.  Generating python files from the .proto files is straight-forward using the <code>protoc</code> program.  How can I configure my <code>setup.py</code> file for the project so that it automatically calls the <code>protoc</code> command?</p>