linking dependencies (C++)

I guess one of the standard auto-dependency generators that are normally used with gcc would do the trick, but I'm not sure it will tell you what headers are actually *used*. My current strategy is to first strip out any unnecessary includes in the header files. If the definition of class A only uses pointers or references to class B, including B.hpp is not necessary. Avoid master include headers until they really provide fundamental definitions, like configuration preprocessor macros. Only when a cpp complains about a missing definition, you should add it in.