boost/python/wrapper.hpp

To wrap a class T such that its virtual functions can be "overridden in Python"—so that the corresponding method of a Python derived class will be called when the virtual function is invoked from C++—you must create a C++ wrapper class derived from T that overrides those virtual functions so that they call into Python. This header contains classes that can be used to make that job easier.

Class `override`

Encapsulates a Python override of a C++ virtual function. An override object either holds a callable Python object or None.

namespace boost
{
  class override : object
  {
   public:
      unspecified operator() const;
      template <class A0>
      unspecified operator(A0) const;
      template <class A0, class A1>
      unspecified operator(A0, A1) const;
      ...
      template <class A0, class A1, ...class An>
      unspecified operator(A0, A1, ...An) const;
  };
};

Class `override` observer functions

unspecified operator() const;
template <class A0>
unspecified operator(A0) const;
template <class A0, class A1>
unspecified operator(A0, A1) const;
...
template <class A0, class A1, ...class An>
unspecified operator(A0, A1, ...An) const;

Effects: If *this holds a callable Python object, it is invoked with the specified arguments in the manner specified here. Otherwise, throws error_already_set.
Returns: An object of unspecified type that holds the Python result of the invocation and, when converted to a C++ type R, attempts to convert that result object to R. If that conversion fails, throws error_already_set.

Class template `wrapper`

Deriving your wrapper class from both T and wrapper<T> makes writing that derived class easier.

namespace boost
{
  class wrapper
  {
   protected:
      override get_override(char const* name) const;
  };
};

Class template `wrapper` observer functions

override get_override(char const* name) const;

Requires: name is a ntbs.
Returns: If *this is the C++ base class subobject of a Python derived class instance that overrides the named function, returns an override object that delegates to the Python override. Otherwise, returns an override object that holds None.

Example

#include <boost/python/module.hpp>
#include <boost/python/class.hpp>
#include <boost/python/wrapper.hpp>
#include <boost/python/call.hpp>

using namespace boost::python;

// Class with one pure virtual function
struct P
{
    virtual ~P(){}
    virtual char const* f() = 0;
    char const* g() { return "P::g()"; }
};

struct PCallback : P, wrapper<P>
{
    char const* f()
    {
        return this->get_override("f")();
    }
};

// Class with one non-pure virtual function
struct A
{
    virtual ~A(){}
    virtual char const* f() { return "A::f()"; }
};

struct ACallback :  A, wrapper<A>
{
    char const* f()
    {
        if (override f = this->get_override("f"))
            return f();
        return A::f();
    }

    char const* default_f() { return this->A::f(); }
};

BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE_INIT(polymorphism)
{
    class_<PCallback,boost::noncopyable>("P")
        .def("f", pure_virtual(&P::f))
        ;

    class_<ACallback,boost::noncopyable>("A")
        .def("f", &A::f, &ACallback::default_f)
        ;
}