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Doxygen

doxygen.nl

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Spec score 7.8 #11 of 37 in Documentation Generators

What it is

Doxygen is a free documentation generator that turns source-code comments into reference material, parsing items such as classes, functions and variables. It supports C/C++, Lex, Java, Python, VHDL, PHP IDL, C#, Fortran, Objective-C 2.0 and some D sources. Output can be generated as HTML, PDF through LaTeX, Word through RTF or structured XML for external tools. Graphviz’s dot tool can add include-dependency, collaboration, call, directory-structure and class-hierarchy diagrams. Doxywizard provides a graphical interface for editing settings and running the generator on Windows, Linux and macOS; Doxygen also works on many Unix flavors. It supports HTML Help, docsets, Qt-Help and Eclipse Help, with more than 100 configurable options. The tool runs without registration and does not collect personal or usage data. It is self-hosted and licensed under the GNU General Public License, without express or implied warranty. Help is listed through Stack Overflow and the doxygen users mailing list; commercial feature and bug-fix support has limited capacity.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Doxygen is a documentation generator that creates documentation from source-code comments and parses classes, functions and variables.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Privacy
The Doxygen tool does not collect personal or usage data and operates without user registration.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Compliance
Doxygen's privacy policy describes handling of website data under the European Union General Data Protection Regulation.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Support
Users are directed to Stack Overflow and the doxygen users mailing list, while commercial feature or bug-fix support has limited capacity.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
License
Doxygen is licensed under the GNU General Public License and is provided without express or implied warranty.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Configuration
Doxygen provides more than 100 configurable options for fine-tuning output.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Cross-platform
Doxygen works on Windows and many Unix flavors, including Linux and macOS.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Diagrams
Doxygen uses Graphviz's dot tool to generate include-dependency, collaboration, call, directory-structure and class-hierarchy graphs.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
GUI
Doxygen includes the Doxywizard GUI for editing options and running Doxygen, available on Windows, Linux and macOS.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Help integrations
Doxygen supports HTML Help, docsets, Qt-Help and Eclipse Help formats.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Languages
Doxygen supports C/C++, Lex, Java, Python, VHDL, PHP IDL, C#, Fortran, Objective-C 2.0 and some D sources.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
Output formats
Doxygen generates HTML, PDF via LaTeX, Word via RTF and XML documentation.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl
XML integration
Doxygen generates structured XML output for parsed sources that can be used by external tools.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl

Plans and prices

Free and open source software Free GNU General Public License · Windows, Linux and macOS downloads Read 1 Oct 2026 · doxygen.nl

Every Doxygen plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free under the GNU General Public License
  • Supports Windows, Linux and macOS
  • Generates HTML, PDF, Word and XML
  • Offers more than 100 configurable options
  • Does not collect personal or usage data

Limits

  • Provided without express or implied warranty
  • Commercial feature and bug-fix support is limited

Who it suits

Doxygen suits developers who want to generate reference documentation from source comments across its supported languages. It also fits teams that need several output formats, graph diagrams or XML for other tools.

Verdict

Doxygen combines broad language support with multiple output formats and configurable documentation generation. Check its support limits and warranty terms if commercial assistance is important.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to DoxygenAll alternatives →