How Can I Detect and Remove Redundant #Includes in My C/C Code?

Detecting Redundant #Includes in C/C

Developers often encounter an ever-expanding header section in their code without significant reduction over time. Refactoring and class movements during a source file's lifespan can introduce unnecessary #include directives. These directives not only extend compilation times but also introduce dependencies. Manually identifying obsolete #includes can be a tedious task.

To address this, several tools can assist in detecting superfluous #includes:

1. cppclean

Google's cppclean detects various C issues, including redundant #includes, as described in its [documentation](https://github.com/google/cppclean/blob/master/README.md).

2. include-what-you-use

This Clang-based tool not only identifies superfluous #includes but also suggests forward declarations to minimize #include usage. It can even optionally clean up #includes.

3. Eclipse CDT

Recent versions of Eclipse CDT include a built-in feature to organize includes under the Source menu. This feature alphabetizes #includes, adds indirect headers, and comments out unnecessary ones, although its reliability should be considered.

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