#!/usr/bin/python3

import re, sys

ignores = ''

regex = re.compile(r'^\s*(?:\b(?:extern|G_INLINE_FUNC|%s)\s*)*((?:const\s+|G_CONST_RETURN\s+|signed\s+|unsigned\s+|long\s+|short\s+|struct\s+|union\s+|enum\s+)*\w+)((?:\s+|\*)+(?:\s*(?:\*+|\bconst\b|\bG_CONST_RETURN\b))*)\s*(_[A-Za-z]\w*)\s*\(' % ignores)

input = 'gboolean                        g_variant_type_string_is_valid          (const gchar         *type_string);'

l = re.search(regex, input)