I am using boost::python to expose a C++ API into Python. Here is what I am trying to do: #include <boost/python.hpp> #include <memory> struct Subscriber { virtual ~Subscriber() = 0; static std::unique_ptr<Subscriber> create(); }; template<class T> inline T* get_pointer(std::unique_ptr<T> const& p) { return p.get(); } BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(subscriber) { // Expose the class. boost::python::class_< Subscriber , std::unique_ptr<Subscriber> , boost::noncopyable >("Subscriber"); // Expose its factory function. bp::def("createSubscriber", Subscriber::create); } boost::python::class_<> constructor invocation spits out errors (full compiler log attached): /usr/local/ots/boost-1.51.0/include/boost/python/converter/as_to_python_function.hpp:40:75: error: use of deleted function ‘std::unique_ptr<_Tp, _Dp>::unique_ptr(const std::unique_ptr<_Tp, _Dp>&) [with _Tp = Subscriber; _Dp = std::default_delete<Subscriber>; std::unique_ptr<_Tp, _Dp> = std::unique_ptr<Subscriber>]’ /usr/local/ots/boost-1.51.0/include/boost/python/object/pointer_holder.hpp:194:14: error: cannot allocate an object of abstract type ‘Subscriber’ How do I make boost::python friendly to std::unique_ptr<> and how do I wrap an abstract class please? -- Maxim