How does one get the method names and details about the particular
class by parsing the data in the source file, not the *.class bytecode.
 Should I use JavaCC or something similar?  Any ideas?

Ideally, I am working on an application to also read just the comments?

It seems like today is parser/compiler day.  I actually found javacc to
be pretty good.  I don't know how it works, but that is ok.