Breaking change in protobuf v4.21.0-rc1 breaks `import tensorflow`

### Issue Type

Bug

### Source

binary

### Tensorflow Version

tf 2.9.0-rc2

### Custom Code

No

### OS Platform and Distribution

Linux Ubuntu 20.04

### Mobile device

_No response_

### Python version

3.10

### Bazel version

_No response_

### GCC/Compiler version

_No response_

### CUDA/cuDNN version

_No response_

### GPU model and memory

_No response_

### Current Behaviour?

This issue is to give a warning (that might already be known in internal CI) that [`protobuf` `v4.21.0-rc1`](https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v21.0-rc1) which was released today (2022-05-11) causes breaking changes in messages between Python and C++ that affect TensorFlow and will crash with

```pytb
AttributeError: module 'google._upb._message' has no attribute 'Message'. Did you mean: 'CMessage'?
```

on `import tensorflow`.

This is somewhat noted in the `protobuf` release notes for Python

> The C extension module for Python has been rewritten to use the upb library. This is expected to deliver significant performance benefits, especially when parsing large payloads. There are some minor breaking changes, but these should not impact most users. For more information see: https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/news/2022-05-06#python-updates

where the [Python Updates notes](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/news/2022-05-06#python-updates) mentions

> Applications that rely on sharing messages between Python and C++ break in the new version. Most developers won't be affected by this, but users of `Nucleus{.external}` and possibly other libraries may be. As a workaround, you can [set an environment variable](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/reference/python-generated#sharing-messages) that forces the library to preserve compatibility.

which finally in [Sharing Messages Between Python and C++](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/reference/python-generated#sharing-messages) tells us that

> Prior to Python 4.21.0, Python apps could share messages with C++ using a native extension. Starting in Python 4.21.0, sharing messages between Python and C++ is not supported by the default install. To enable this capability when working with 4.x and later versions of the Python API, define the environment variable, `PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION=cpp`, and ensure that the Python/C++ extension is installed.

However,

```console
$ export PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION=cpp
```

just now leads to an

```pytb
ImportError: cannot import name '_message' from 'google.protobuf.pyext' (/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/pyext/__init__.py)
```

Additionally tagging @deannagarcia who released [`protobuf` `v4.21.0-rc1`](https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v21.0-rc1).

This was noticed in `pyhf`'s nightly [pre-release and HEAD of dependencies CI jobs](https://github.com/scikit-hep/pyhf/runs/6398925572?check_suite_focus=true).

### Standalone code to reproduce the issue

Here's a `python:3.10` Docker image example

<details>
<summary>Click to exapnd:</summary>

```console
$ docker run --rm -ti python:3.10 /bin/bash
root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m venv venv && . venv/bin/activate
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip --quiet install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip --quiet install 'tensorflow==2.8.0'  # First show this with stable release v2.8.0
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip list | grep 'tensorflow\|protobuf'
protobuf                     3.20.1
tensorflow                   2.8.0
tensorflow-io-gcs-filesystem 0.25.0
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -c 'import tensorflow; print(tensorflow.__version__)'
2022-05-12 03:21:47.631420: W tensorflow/stream_executor/platform/default/dso_loader.cc:64] Could not load dynamic library 'libcudart.so.11.0'; dlerror: libcudart.so.11.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
2022-05-12 03:21:47.631464: I tensorflow/stream_executor/cuda/cudart_stub.cc:29] Ignore above cudart dlerror if you do not have a GPU set up on your machine.
2.8.0
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip --quiet install --pre --upgrade protobuf
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip show protobuf
Name: protobuf
Version: 4.21.0rc1
Summary: 
Home-page: 
Author: 
Author-email: 
License: 
Location: /venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages
Requires: 
Required-by: tensorboard, tensorflow
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -c 'import tensorflow'
2022-05-12 03:23:19.770470: W tensorflow/stream_executor/platform/default/dso_loader.cc:64] Could not load dynamic library 'libcudart.so.11.0'; dlerror: libcudart.so.11.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
2022-05-12 03:23:19.770491: I tensorflow/stream_executor/cuda/cudart_stub.cc:29] Ignore above cudart dlerror if you do not have a GPU set up on your machine.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import attr_value_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_attr__value__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/attr_value_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import resource_handle_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_resource__handle__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/resource_handle_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_shape_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__shape__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape_pb2.py", line 36, in <module>
    _descriptor.FieldDescriptor(
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 560, in __new__
    _message.Message._CheckCalledFromGeneratedFile()
AttributeError: module 'google._upb._message' has no attribute 'Message'. Did you mean: 'CMessage'?
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# export PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION=cpp  # try protobuf environment variable suggestion
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -c 'import tensorflow'
2022-05-12 03:23:50.884921: W tensorflow/stream_executor/platform/default/dso_loader.cc:64] Could not load dynamic library 'libcudart.so.11.0'; dlerror: libcudart.so.11.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
2022-05-12 03:23:50.884945: I tensorflow/stream_executor/cuda/cudart_stub.cc:29] Ignore above cudart dlerror if you do not have a GPU set up on your machine.
/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/internal/api_implementation.py:109: UserWarning: Selected implementation cpp is not available.
  warnings.warn(
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 7, in <module>
    from google.protobuf import descriptor as _descriptor
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 51, in <module>
    from google.protobuf.pyext import _message
ImportError: cannot import name '_message' from 'google.protobuf.pyext' (/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/pyext/__init__.py)
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# unset PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip --quiet install --pre --upgrade tensorflow  # Try release candidate v2.9.0-rc2
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -m pip show tensorflow
Name: tensorflow
Version: 2.9.0rc2
Summary: TensorFlow is an open source machine learning framework for everyone.
Home-page: https://www.tensorflow.org/
Author: Google Inc.
Author-email: packages@tensorflow.org
License: Apache 2.0
Location: /venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages
Requires: absl-py, astunparse, flatbuffers, gast, google-pasta, grpcio, h5py, keras, keras-preprocessing, libclang, numpy, opt-einsum, packaging, protobuf, setuptools, six, tensorboard, tensorflow-estimator, tensorflow-io-gcs-filesystem, termcolor, typing-extensions, wrapt
Required-by
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -c 'import tensorflow'
2022-05-12 03:26:20.957106: W tensorflow/stream_executor/platform/default/dso_loader.cc:64] Could not load dynamic library 'libcudart.so.11.0'; dlerror: libcudart.so.11.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
2022-05-12 03:26:20.957131: I tensorflow/stream_executor/cuda/cudart_stub.cc:29] Ignore above cudart dlerror if you do not have a GPU set up on your machine.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import attr_value_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_attr__value__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/attr_value_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import resource_handle_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_resource__handle__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/resource_handle_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_shape_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__shape__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape_pb2.py", line 36, in <module>
    _descriptor.FieldDescriptor(
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 560, in __new__
    _message.Message._CheckCalledFromGeneratedFile()
AttributeError: module 'google._upb._message' has no attribute 'Message'. Did you mean: 'CMessage'?
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# export PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION=cpp
(venv) root@a0c6928654f7:/# python -c 'import tensorflow'
2022-05-12 03:27:01.166115: W tensorflow/stream_executor/platform/default/dso_loader.cc:64] Could not load dynamic library 'libcudart.so.11.0'; dlerror: libcudart.so.11.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
2022-05-12 03:27:01.166141: I tensorflow/stream_executor/cuda/cudart_stub.cc:29] Ignore above cudart dlerror if you do not have a GPU set up on your machine.
/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/internal/api_implementation.py:109: UserWarning: Selected implementation cpp is not available.
  warnings.warn(
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 7, in <module>
    from google.protobuf import descriptor as _descriptor
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 51, in <module>
    from google.protobuf.pyext import _message
ImportError: cannot import name '_message' from 'google.protobuf.pyext' (/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/pyext/__init__.py)
```

</details>

### Relevant log output

```pytb
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import attr_value_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_attr__value__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/attr_value_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import resource_handle_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_resource__handle__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/resource_handle_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_shape_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__shape__pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape_pb2.py", line 36, in <module>
    _descriptor.FieldDescriptor(
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 560, in __new__
    _message.Message._CheckCalledFromGeneratedFile()
AttributeError: module 'google._upb._message' has no attribute 'Message'. Did you mean: 'CMessage'?
```

```pytb
/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/internal/api_implementation.py:109: UserWarning: Selected implementation cpp is not available.
  warnings.warn(
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.eager import context
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/python/eager/context.py", line 29, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import function_pb2
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/function_pb2.py", line 7, in <module>
    from google.protobuf import descriptor as _descriptor
  File "/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/descriptor.py", line 51, in <module>
    from google.protobuf.pyext import _message
ImportError: cannot import name '_message' from 'google.protobuf.pyext' (/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/google/protobuf/pyext/__init__.py)
```

Provide feedback

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly

Breaking change in protobuf v4.21.0-rc1 breaks `import tensorflow` #56077

Issue Type

Source

Tensorflow Version

Custom Code

OS Platform and Distribution

Mobile device

Python version

Bazel version

GCC/Compiler version

CUDA/cuDNN version

GPU model and memory

Current Behaviour?

Standalone code to reproduce the issue

Relevant log output

Metadata

Assignees

Labels

Type

Fields

Projects

Milestone

Relationships

Development

Breaking change in protobuf v4.21.0-rc1 breaks import tensorflow #56077

Description

Issue Type

Source

Tensorflow Version

Custom Code

OS Platform and Distribution

Mobile device

Python version

Bazel version

GCC/Compiler version

CUDA/cuDNN version

GPU model and memory

Current Behaviour?

Standalone code to reproduce the issue

Relevant log output

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

Labels

Type

Fields

Projects

Milestone

Relationships

Development

Issue actions

Breaking change in protobuf v4.21.0-rc1 breaks `import tensorflow` #56077