Calling boost::property_tree::xml_parser::read_xml() to parse a XML file and populate a property_tree doesn't work anymore in Boost 1.39.0 (at least not in Visual C++ 2008). The compiler error I see is: boost\iterator\iterator_adaptor.hpp(230) : error C2027: use of undefined type 'boost::STATIC_ASSERTION_FAILURE<x>' with [ x=false ] The property_tree headers include boost\spirit\home\classic\iterator\position_iterator.hpp which includes boost\iterator\iterator_adaptor.hpp. I also see this warning: Warning: This header is deprecated. Please use: boost/spirit/include/classic.hpp Warning: This header is deprecated. Please use: boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp It looks like as if a change in Boost.Spirit or Boost.Iterator broke the XML parser. Does Boost.PropertyTree have a maintainer who can look into this? Boris PS: As it turns out it's broken in Boost 1.38.0, too. With 1.36.0 I don't get a compile error (1.37.0 I don't have installed and can't test).