C++ Code Doctor

Detect unused variables, unused includes and hidden bugs in C++ directly in Visual Studio Code.

C++ Code Doctor helps you reduce compile times, and keep your C++ code clean, efficient, and maintainable.

Supports both fast RegEx-based analysis (Free) and accurate AST-based analysis (Pro).

What This Extension Does

C++ Code Doctor is a C++ static analysis extension for VS Code focused on identifying:

• Unused variables in C++ files
• Unused includes in C++ projects
• Unevaluated return types in C++ files
• Dead code patterns (planned)
• Inefficient or unnecessary dependencies

By detecting unused variables and unused includes early, you can:

• Reduce compilation time
• Improve code readability
• Avoid hidden bugs
• Keep your codebase clean and maintainable

Visual Demo

Unused Variable Detection (C++)

Detects unused variables in C++ files directly inside VS Code.

Unused Include Detection (C++)

Detects unused includes and unnecessary dependencies in C++ files.

Free vs Pro

• planned in upcoming release

Free Version (RegEx-Based C++ Analysis)

The Free version provides fast, lightweight detection of unused variables and unused includes in C++.

Included

• Detect unused variables in C++ (file-level)
• Detect unused includes in C++ (file-level)
• Fast execution inside VS Code
• No external dependencies

Limitations

• May produce false positives in complex C++ code
• Limited handling of templates, macros, and namespaces
• Less accurate for large or complex projects
• Header files with multiple dots (e.g. my.header.hpp) may be misdetected
• System headers are ignored

Pro Version (AST-Based C++ Analysis)

The Pro version uses AST (Abstract Syntax Tree) analysis for accurate C++ static analysis.

This enables reliable detection of unused variables and unused includes in complex C++ codebases.

Included

• AST-based unused variable detection (scope-aware)
• AST-based unused include detection (scope-aware)
• Analysis for unevaluated return values
• Accurate C++ parsing using Tree-sitter
• Project-wide analysis across multiple files
• Dedicated findings panel
• Mark findings as false positives and persist them

Ideal for larger C++ projects and professional development workflows.

👉 Upgrade here: https://www.rscd.net/pricing/

Why Use C++ Code Doctor?

Unlike general-purpose tools, C++ Code Doctor focuses specifically on:

• Providing instant feedback directly in VS Code
• Working without requiring a build step
• Detecting unnecessary code and hidden bugs

This makes it faster and easier to maintain clean C++ code during development.

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code
• A C++ project

No additional setup required.

Activating Pro

Set your license key in:

• cppCodeDoctor.proLicenseKey

Known Limitations

Free Version

• Less accurate in complex C++ syntax
• Possible false positives or false negatives
• Limited macro and template handling

Pro Version

• Some using / typedef cases may not always resolve perfectly
• Complex include chains can cause edge cases
• Extremely macro-heavy code may still produce rare inaccuracies

Get Started

Install C++ Code Doctor and immediately start detecting unused variables and unused includes in your C++ code.

Upgrade to Pro for full AST-based analysis and higher accuracy:

https://www.rscd.net/pricing/

Third-Party Components

This extension uses:

• Tree-sitter (MIT)
• Tree-sitter C/C++ grammars (MIT)
• vscode-languageclient (MIT)
• TypeScript (Apache 2.0)
• ESLint (MIT)

See the NOTICE file for full details.

License

This project is proprietary software.

See LICENSE for details.

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for all updates and improvements.