Howto handle typedefs without include headers in headers

Question

As for working on a larger project, I want to throw in some own types (e.g. myType). The "rushing in"-approach would be, to put those typedefs into an header (lets say myType.h), together with a bunch of functions working on those types.

If I use the new type somewhere, I include myType.h to my source-file. Fine.

But if I want to use the new type somewhere as an argument in a function-signature, I need to include the myType.h to the header of the module containing the function. With one or another typedef, this seems to be okay for me, but the more types I have, the more includes in headers I need, possible including further header, while using type including other own types. This is resulting in what I call "dependency hell".

Is there a clever, stylish, best practice, what-so-ever way to solve this dilemma?

I'm aware of the possibility to pass those types as void-pointer, casting them back inside the function, but then I loose important type-checking from the compiler.

Furher, extern is considered worst-practice around here..

EDIT:

In detail:

myType.h:

#include "otherType.h"

typedef struct {
  char Name[32];
  int Size;
  otherType someType;
} myType;

processSomeHow(myType _myType, int NewSize);

otherType.h

#define SOME_CONST 32

typedef struct { [...] } otherType;

someModule.h:

#include "myType.h"

int specialProcessSomeHow(myType _myType);

someModule.c:

int specialProcessSomeHow(myType _myType)
{
  int Size = 64;
  return(processSomeHow(_myType, Size));
}

Now I include otherType.h indirectly to someModule.h, even worse, I include it to every module, that includes someModule.h. Now I have a SOME_CONST everywhere and it's hard to figure out, from where it comes. I have to maintain two include trees.

Answer 1

like in the gtk library you can use one headfile and split it on your needs.

type.h
- myType.h
-- someType.h
- otherType.h
- List item

and on your CONST-Problem: If you just need it for one c.file. Don't use them in HeaderFile. And you could name them like "MY_TYPE_SOME_CONST" or "OTHER_TYPE_SOME_CONST";

//EDIT:

to make it clear: just add 'this.h' file and name it.

#ifndef TYPE_H_
#define TYPE_H_

#include myType.h
#include someType.h
#include otherType.h

#endif /* TYPE_H_ */

now you can use "#include this.h" for each file you need your types. (this.h is not real, name it to something unique)