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<title>
The Boost Python Library (BPL)
</title>
<h1>
<img src="../../../c++boost.gif" alt="c++boost.gif (8819 bytes)" width="277"
align="center" height="86">The Boost Python Library (BPL)
</h1>
<h2>Synopsis</h2>
<p>
Use the Boost Python Library to quickly and easily export a C++ library to <a
href="http://www.python.org">Python</a> such that the Python interface is
very similar to the C++ interface. It is designed to be minimally
intrusive on your C++ design. In most cases, you should not have to alter
your C++ classes in any way in order to use them with BPL. The system
<em>should</em> simply ``reflect'' your C++ classes and functions into
Python. The major features of BPL include support for:
<ul>
<li><a href="inheritance.html">Subclassing extension types in Python</a>
<li><a href="overriding.html">Overriding virtual functions in Python</a>
<li><a href="overloading.html">[Member] function Overloading</a>
<li><a href="special.html#numeric_auto">Automatic wrapping of numeric operators</a>
</ul>
among others.
<h2>Supported Platforms</h2>
<p>BPL has been tested in the following configurations:
<ul>
<li>Against Python 1.5.2 using the following compiler/library:
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/sp/vs6sp4/dnldoverview.asp">MSVC++6sp4</a>
<li><a
href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/sp/vs6sp4/dnldoverview.asp">MSVC++6sp4</a>/<a
href="http://www.stlport.org">STLport 4.0</a>
<li><a href="http://gcc.gnu.org/">GCC 2.95.2</a> [by <a href="mailto:koethe@informatik.uni-hamburg.de">Ullrich
Koethe</a>]
<li><a href="http://gcc.gnu.org/">GCC 2.95.2</a>/<a href="http://www.stlport.org">STLport 4.0</a>
<li>Compaq C++ V6.2-024 for Digital UNIX V5.0 Rev. 910 (an <a
href="http://www.edg.com/">EDG</a>-based compiler) with <a
href="http://www.stlport.org/beta.html">STLport-4.1b3</a> [by <a
href="mailto:rwgk@cci.lbl.gov">Ralf W. Grosse-Kunstleve</a>]
<li>An upcoming release of <a href="http://www.metrowerks.com/products/windows/">Metrowerks CodeWarrior
Pro6 for Windows</a> (the first release has a bug that's fatal to BPL)
</ul>
<br>
<li>Against Python 2.0 using the following compiler/library combinations:
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/sp/vs6sp4/dnldoverview.asp">MSVC++6sp4</a> [by
<a href="mailto:aleaxit@yahoo.com">Alex Martelli</a>]
</ul>
</ul>
<h2>Credits</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../people/dave_abrahams.htm">David Abrahams</a> originated
and wrote the library.
<li><a href="mailto:koethe@informatik.uni-hamburg.de">Ullrich Koethe</a>
had independently developed a similar system. When he discovered BPL,
he generously contributed countless hours of coding and much insight into
improving it. He is responsible for an early version of the support for <a
href="overloading.html">function overloading</a> and wrote the support for
<a href="inheritance.html#implicit_conversion">reflecting C++ inheritance
relationships</a>. He has helped to improve error-reporting from both
Python and C++, and has designed an extremely easy-to-use way of
exposing <a href="special.html#numeric">numeric operators</a>, including
a way to avoid explicit coercion by means of overloading.
<li>The members of the boost mailing list and the Python community
supplied invaluable early feedback. In particular, Ron Clarke, Mark Evans,
Anton Gluck, Ralf W. Grosse-Kunstleve, Chuck Ingold, Prabhu Ramachandran,
and Barry Scott took the brave step of trying to use BPL while it was
still in early stages of development.
<li>The development of BPL wouldn't have been
possible without the generous support of <a href="http://www.dragonsys.com/">Dragon Systems/Lernout and
Hauspie, Inc</a> who supported its development as an open-source project.
</ul>
<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="extending.html">A Brief Introduction to writing Python
extension modules</a>
<li><a href="comparisons.html">Comparisons between BPL and other
systems for extending Python</a>
<li><a href="example1.html">A Simple Example</a>
<li><a href="overriding.html">Overridable Virtual Functions</a>
<li><a href="overloading.html">Function Overloading</a>
<li><a href="inheritance.html">Inheritance</a>
<li><a href="special.html">Special Method and Operator Support</a>
<li><a href="under-the-hood.html">A Peek Under the Hood</a>
<li><a href="building.html">Building an Extension Module</a>
<li>Advanced Topics
<ol>
<li><a href="pickle.html">Pickle Support</a>
<li>class_builder&lt;&gt;
<li><a href="enums.html">enums</a>
<li>References
<li><a href="pointers.html">Pointers and Smart Pointers</a>
<li>Built-in Python Types
<li>Other Extension Types
<li>Templates
<li><a href="data_structures.txt">Internal Data Structures</a>
</ol>
</ol>
<p>
Documentation is a major ongoing project; assistance is greatly
appreciated! In the meantime, useful examples of every BPL feature should
be evident in the regression test files <code>test/comprehensive.[<a
href="../test/comprehensive.py">py</a>/<a
href="../test/comprehensive.hpp">hpp</a>/<a
href="../test/comprehensive.cpp">cpp</a>]</code>
<p>
Questions should be directed to <a href=
"http://www.egroups.com/list/boost">the boost mailing list</a>.
<p>
&copy; Copyright David Abrahams 2000. Permission to copy, use, modify,
sell and distribute this document is granted provided this copyright
notice appears in all copies. This document is provided ``as is'' without
express or implied warranty, and with no claim as to its suitability for
any purpose.
<p>
Updated: Nov 26, 2000