Programmatically converting/parsing LaTeX code to plain text

Question

I have a couple of code projects in C++/Python in which LaTeX-format descriptions and labels are used to generate PDF documentation or graphs made using LaTeX+pstricks. However,

Answer 1

Try detex (shipped with most *TeX distributions), or the improved version: http://code.google.com/p/opendetex/

Edit: oh, I see you tried detex already. Still, opendetex might work for you.

Answer 2

LaTeX-format descriptions and labels are used to generate PDF documentation or graphs made using LaTeX+pstricks

This is your mistake. You shouldn't have done that.

Use RST or some other -- better -- markup language.

Use Docutils to create LaTeX and HTML from the RST source.