title: Issue with using protobufs with python ImportError: cannot import name descriptor_pb2
body: <p><strong>Context</strong></p>
  
  <p>Steps taken:</p>
  
  <p><em>Environment Setup</em></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>I've installed protobufs via <code>Home Brew</code></p></li>
  <li><p>I've also followed the steps in the proto-bufs python folder's readme on installing python protobufs - namely running the <code>python setup.py install</code> command</p></li>
  <li><p>I've using the <code>protobuf-2.4.1</code> files</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><em>Coding</em></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>I have a python file (generated from a .proto file I compiled) that contains the statement, among other import statements, but I believe this one is the one causing issues: </p>
  
  <p><code>from google.protobuf import descriptor_pb2</code></p></li>
  <li><p>The above python file, I'm importing in another python file, it's
  this python file that I want to write up logic for parsing the
  protobufs data files I receive</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>Error received</strong> </p>
  
  <p>I get this error when running that file:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/CX11E.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p><strong>Steps taken to fix</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Searched google for that error - didn't find much</li>
  <li>Looked at this question/answer <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1828379/why-do-i-see-cannot-import-name-descriptor-pb2-error-when-using-google-protoco">Why do I see &quot;cannot import name descriptor_pb2&quot; error when using Google Protocol Buffers?</a></li>
  <li>I don't really understand the above questions selected answer,I tried to run the command in the above answer <code>protoc descriptor.proto --python_out=gen/</code> by coping and pasting it in the terminal in different places but couldn't get it to work</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>Question</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>How do I fix this error?</li>
  <li>What is the underlying cause?</li>
  <li>How do I check if the rest of my protobuf python compiler/classes are set up correctly? </li>
  </ul>