Given a C++ translation unit that compiles without errors, this tool lists unnecessary #include directives in the main source file. Nested #include directives in the files included from the main source file are not considered.

Definition: An #include directive is unnecessary if the translation unit compiles without errors after you remove it.

Definition: An #include directive is replaceable if it can be replaced with one or more #include directives for different headers without causing a compile error.

For example, suppose the header file Base.h defines a base class. The header file Derived.h defines a class deriving from the base class, so it includes Base.h. The main source file includes Derived.h but does not use any symbols defined in Derived.h and uses only symbols defined in Base.h. The tool will say Derive.h is replaceable, and suggest the main source file directly include Base.h instead.

• Git
• CMake 2.8 or better

The tool uses clang to preprocess and parse C++ source code. Download the llvm and clang sources to the working tree by running the commands:

git submodule init
git submodule update

Run the commands:

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

To run the tests:

make test

Run the commands:

mkdir build
cd build
cmake -G "Visual Studio 10" ..

In Visual C++, open the find-unnecessary-includes.sln solution. Build the find-unnecessary-includes project.

To run the tests, build the RUN_TESTS project.