Safest way to change variable names in a project

Question

So I've been working on a relatively large project by myself, and I've come to realise that some of the variable names earlier on were.. less than ideal.

But how does one change variable names in a project easily? Is there such a tool that can go through a project directory, parse all the files, and then replace the variable names to the desired one? It has to be smart enough to understand the language I imagine.

I was thinking of using regexp (sed/awk on linux?) tools to just replace the variable name, but there were many times where my particular variable is also included as a part of strings.

There's also the issue about changing stuff on a c++ namespace, because there is actually two classes in my project that share the same name, but are in different namespaces.

I remember visual studio being able to do this, but what's the safest and most elegant way to do this on linux?

Answer 1

It's called refactoring, but I don't remember if there's a great way to do it in C++ -- I think maybe Eclipse C++ had it; might be worth taking a look.

Answer 2

Safest (non automated way) way:

1. Make sure all your unit tests work.
2. Save everything into source control.
3. Globally replace var with XXXvarXXX (seriously)
   a. Or maybe just the files you think need editing.
4. Try and compile. Everything that does not compile is easy to undo just remove the XXX.
5. When it compiles run the unit tests.
6. When the unit tests work. Do a global replace of XXXvarXXX to the new name.
7. Make sure the unit tests still work
8. Save everything in source control.

Tongue only half in cheek. :-)

Answer 3

I remember visual stuio being able to do this, but what's the safest and most elegant way to do this on linux?

You can do pretty much what you used to do in visual studio in Eclipse using the re-factoring tools, which is available for Linux.

Answer 4

$400 a f'n copy, but here you go: http://www.xref.sk/xrefactory/download.html

I've of course never used it.