A few months ago I decided to embark on some major re-factoring of our code base. I knew that one of the toughest tasks I wanted to perform was going to be the renaming of 1000's of units. Renaming the files was easy. Fixing all the broken unit clauses was going to be tricky.

-

A few months ago I decided to embark on some major re-factoring of our code base. I knew that one of the toughest tasks I wanted to perform was going to be the renaming of 1000's of units. Renaming the files was easy. Fixing all the broken unit clauses was going to be tricky.

To make the job easier I ended up writing the "Delphi Unit Dependency Scanner". It scans your source code and builds up a tree of the dependencies between your units. Once the source has been scanned, you can run a search and replace on unit names. Not only are the file names changed, but also the uses clauses in all the affected units.

I found that the application gives you a great overview of your source code. It helps in finding units that are not used, locating circular references, actual lines of code etc.

I can't open source the code, but if anybody is interested in getting a copy, let me know and I'll knock together an installer and put it online.

Comments

  1. Krom SternDecember 18, 2012 at 5:45 AM

    Do you have any plans on graphical representation?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nándor KissDecember 18, 2012 at 5:46 AM

    I think we (programmers) don't need an installer :)
    Just put an executable online and done :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bora AydemirDecember 18, 2012 at 6:18 AM

    I need something like that

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anton AksenovDecember 18, 2012 at 6:38 AM

    me too

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lars FosdalDecember 18, 2012 at 6:41 AM

    That looks like a very handy tool!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bill MeyerDecember 18, 2012 at 6:56 AM

    I'd like to have a copy, as well. I have been tempted myself, to write one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kevin PowickDecember 18, 2012 at 7:05 AM

    Would love to try it out.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Paul ThorntonDecember 18, 2012 at 7:11 AM

    Krom Stern - Not really... what were you thinking of?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Claudiu BARSAN-PIPUDecember 18, 2012 at 7:13 AM

    I'm interested too. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  10. Klaus EdelmannDecember 18, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    Hello Paul! Sounds great. I'm interested, too.
    Thanks in advance!!
    Klaus

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sébastien ParadisDecember 18, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    Interested too!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aivars IrmejsDecember 18, 2012 at 7:57 AM

    I just joined but already I'm seeing something that could be useful, if you release it that is :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Job EspejelDecember 18, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    I'm Interested too!!  TIA

    ReplyDelete
  14. Alex EgorovDecember 18, 2012 at 8:28 AM

    Yep, give us your great tool

    ReplyDelete
  15. Paul ThorntonDecember 18, 2012 at 8:43 AM

    See this post for download details: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110198603826897169317/posts/3mxq63a1uEJ

    ReplyDelete
  16. Colin JohnsunDecember 19, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Wow! Definitely a very handy tool for some of the old projects I have to maintain. More out of curiosity than anything, but is there a reason you can't open-source it? Or just a preference? Anyway great application, I'll definitely give it a go! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Paul ThorntonDecember 19, 2012 at 11:49 AM

    Colin Johnsun - Thanks :) The reason it can't be open sourced is that it uses several libraries that we use in our commercial products.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Colin JohnsunDecember 19, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    Paul Thornton That's understandable. In any case, thanks for making your tool publicly available.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment