title: Integrate Google Protocol Buffers .proto files to Visual C++ 2010
body: <p>I've added a <strong>custom build step</strong> to my <strong>Visual Studio</strong> project files which generates the <strong>google protobuf</strong> .h/.cc files from the .proto input files. But I've been wondering if it's possible to start a compile only if the content of the proto files has changed?</p>
  
  <p>Is there a way to tell VisualStudio from a custom build step exactly that? What is the optimal way to integrate proto files into a visual studio build solution?</p>
  
  <p>At the moment, at every build the .proto file is updated which then also updates the time stamp of the output .h/.cc files ...which then issues a recompile of everything dependent from that. Is there a better way around it, while still building them directly from visual studio?</p>