Ponder
A C++ runtime reflection library with Lua binding and JSON/XML serialization capabilities.
What is Ponder?
Ponder is a C++ runtime reflection library that allows developers to expose C++ classes, enumerations, functions, and properties for dynamic inspection and manipulation. It solves the problem of accessing and modifying C++ objects at runtime, enabling features like scripting integration and serialization without manual boilerplate code.
C++ developers working on applications that require runtime object inspection, scripting capabilities with Lua, or serialization to JSON/XML formats, particularly in game development, tools, or simulation software.
Developers choose Ponder for its clean API, automatic Lua binding generation, and support for modern C++ standards without Boost dependencies, making it a lightweight and efficient solution for adding reflection to C++ projects.
Overview
C++ reflection library with Lua binding, and JSON and XML serialisation.
Use Cases
Best For
- Adding runtime reflection to C++ game engines for scripting and modding support
- Building tools that require dynamic inspection and manipulation of C++ objects
- Integrating Lua scripting into C++ applications with automatic binding generation
- Serializing C++ object graphs to JSON or XML for persistence or networking
- Creating plugin systems that need to discover and instantiate classes at runtime
- Developing simulation or modeling software where object metadata is used dynamically
Not Ideal For
- Projects requiring stable, production-ready APIs, as Ponder is in alpha with an unstable interface per the README.
- Applications bound to C++ standards earlier than C++17, since Ponder mandates C++17 features and compilers.
- Teams needing extensive documentation and community support, as it's a smaller project compared to alternatives like RTTR.
- Performance-critical systems where runtime reflection overhead is unacceptable, due to dynamic metadata and inspection costs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Built with C++17, removing Boost dependencies and leveraging modern language features for cleaner, efficient code as stated in the README.
Generates Lua bindings automatically for exposed C++ objects, simplifying scripting integration without manual boilerplate, a key feature highlighted.
Offers a simple, intuitive interface for exposing classes, functions, and properties, enabling dynamic object manipulation with minimal complexity.
Provides built-in serialization to JSON and XML formats, facilitating persistence and data exchange for reflected objects.
Cons
Currently at version 3.2-alpha with an evolving API, leading to frequent breaking changes and instability, as admitted in the README.
Has a smaller community and fewer third-party tools compared to established libraries, which can hinder troubleshooting and integration.
Requires CMake and manual building steps, adding setup overhead for developers unfamiliar with modern C++ toolchains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
C/C++A curated list of awesome C++ (or C) frameworks, libraries, resources, and shiny things. Inspired by awesome-... stuff.
ProtoBufProtocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format
JSON for Modern C++JSON for Modern C++
BlazorASP.NET Core is a cross-platform .NET framework for building modern cloud-based web applications on Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Found a gem we're missing?
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.