CppHeaderParser
Parse C++ header files and generate a data structure representing the class
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you have a specific legacy codebase or no active alternative. The package is abandoned (last release 2016), has high install friction, and does not support modern C++ syntax. For new projects, use an active C++ parser or AST tool. For existing code depending on it, consider migration.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- PLY (Python Lex-Yacc) must be installed separately; the package requires a valid C++ header file path and does not handle all C++ syntax variations.
- High install friction: the package is abandoned (last release 2016-11-22, no commits tracked).
- No runtime dependencies listed, but the description notes PLY as an external requirement.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license (permissive) imposes no significant restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. Suitable for both open-source and proprietary projects.
last release 2016-11-22 (3552 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 82,079 downloads/mo, #14,185 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import CppHeaderParser
try:
cppHeader = CppHeaderParser.CppHeader("example.h")
sampleClass = cppHeader.classes["SampleClass"]
methods = sampleClass["methods"]["public"]
except CppHeaderParser.CppParseError as e:
print(e)- Whether PLY is automatically installed as a dependency or must be installed separately.
- Compatibility with modern C++ standards (C++11, C++17, C++20) beyond what the 2016 release supports.
- Whether the parser handles template declarations, constexpr, and other modern C++ features.
What it is and what it does
CppHeaderParser is a Python library that reads C++ header files and builds a dictionary-like data structure representing their contents. It extracts classes with their public, protected, and private methods and properties; namespaces and nested classes; free functions; preprocessor defines; and include directives. It also parses Doxygen-style documentation comments attached to methods and properties.
The package uses PLY (Python Lex-Yacc) to tokenize and parse C++ syntax. It is intended for code generation, documentation extraction, or automated analysis of C++ codebases from Python. However, it has been abandoned since 2016 and does not track modern C++ features. Use it only when you need to extract structure from legacy C++ headers or when no active parser meets your needs.
Use it for
- Extract class and method signatures from C++ headers for automated code generation or wrapper creation.
- Parse Doxygen documentation from header files to build API documentation programmatically.
- Analyze C++ codebases to gather metrics on class hierarchies, method counts, or namespace organization.
- Generate Python bindings or language bindings for C++ libraries by introspecting header structure.
- Audit or refactor C++ code by extracting public/private method and property inventories.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you have a specific legacy codebase or no active alternative.
The package is abandoned (last release 2016), has high install friction, and does not support modern C++ syntax. For new projects, use an active C++ parser or AST tool. For existing code depending on it, consider migration.
Install
cppheaderparser on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction: the package is abandoned (last release 2016-11-22, no commits tracked). No runtime dependencies listed, but the description notes PLY as an external requirement. Maintenance status makes this a legacy choice; use only if no active alternative exists.
PLY (Python Lex-Yacc) must be installed separately; the package requires a valid C++ header file path and does not handle all C++ syntax variations.
License in practice
BSD license (permissive) imposes no significant restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. Suitable for both open-source and proprietary projects.
Quickstart
import CppHeaderParser
try:
cppHeader = CppHeaderParser.CppHeader("example.h")
sampleClass = cppHeader.classes["SampleClass"]
methods = sampleClass["methods"]["public"]
except CppHeaderParser.CppParseError as e:
print(e)Verify before relying
- Whether PLY is automatically installed as a dependency or must be installed separately.
- Compatibility with modern C++ standards (C++11, C++17, C++20) beyond what the 2016 release supports.
- Whether the parser handles template declarations, constexpr, and other modern C++ features.
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 3,552 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 82,079 / month, #14,185 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: C++Programming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Code GeneratorsTopic :: Software Development :: CompilersTopic :: Software Development :: Disassemblers |
Evidence: CppHeaderParser-2.7.4.tar.gz
Tags
Let your AI agent find packages like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 14,416 PyPI packages by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “c++ header file parser”
- CppHeaderParserParses C++ header files and extracts their structure—classes,…
- pyrfc6266Parses RFC 6266 Content-Disposition headers to extract filename and…
- www-authenticateParses WWW-Authenticate HTTP headers into structured challenge data,…
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat.
More Software Development packages
Provides backported and experimental type hints for Python 3.9+, allowing use of newer typing features on older Python versions and enabling early experimentation with type system PEPs before they enter the standard library.
NumPy provides an N-dimensional array object and a comprehensive suite of mathematical, linear algebra, Fourier transform, and random number functions for scientific computing in Python.
FastAPI is a Python web framework for building REST APIs using type hints, with automatic request validation, serialization, and interactive API documentation.
Provides a way to document function parameters, class attributes, return types, and variables inline using Python's `Annotated` type hint syntax instead of traditional docstrings.
Typer builds command-line applications from Python functions using type hints, automatically generating help text, argument parsing, and shell completion.
Install it if you are building CLIs in Python.
Distlib provides low-level packaging utilities for building, distributing, and managing Python software—including metadata handling, version specifiers, wheel support, script installation, and dependency resolution.
See also pyclibrary · cxxheaderparser · cppy · sip · pcpp · exhale · hogql-parser · pyqir · cppclean · flake8-class-attributes-order