How do I run Abandoned Strings on my Xcode project?

Open Terminal, navigate to the directory containing the AbandonedStrings executable, and run './AbandonedStrings /path/to/your/source/code'. It scans .h, .m, .swift, and .jsbundle files for unused string identifiers in .strings files.

Does Abandoned Strings work with SwiftUI?

Yes, it scans .swift files, so it can detect string references in SwiftUI code. However, its basic heuristic may not handle newer SwiftUI patterns or dynamic string usage accurately, so results should be verified manually.

Abandoned Strings vs manual code review for unused strings

Abandoned Strings automates the process and is faster for large codebases, but manual review is more accurate for edge cases like dynamic references or commented code. Use it as a first pass, then cross-check flagged strings.

Can Abandoned Strings detect strings in comments?

No, it does not take commented-out code into account, as stated in the README. Strings referenced only in comments will be flagged as abandoned, so you need to review those manually to avoid false positives.

How accurate is Abandoned Strings for large projects?

Accuracy decreases with code complexity, such as dynamic string usage or extensive comments. For large projects, expect some false positives and negatives, and supplement it with manual verification for reliable cleanup.

Is Abandoned Strings still maintained? Last update was 2016.

The project was last updated in 2016 for Swift 3, and there's no evidence of recent activity. While it may work for basic cases, consider testing it with current Swift versions or exploring alternatives for better support.

How to handle false positives with Abandoned Strings?

Carefully review the output, especially for strings in comments or referenced via constants. Since the tool uses a simple heuristic, double-check flagged strings before removing them from .strings files to avoid deleting needed resources.

Open-Awesome

abandoned-strings

MITSwift

Command line tool that detects unused resource strings in iOS or macOS applications.

GitHub

376 stars64 forks0 contributors

What is abandoned-strings?

Abandoned Strings is a command line tool that detects unused resource strings in iOS or macOS applications by scanning source code files. It helps developers identify and remove localization strings that are no longer referenced, reducing app bloat and maintenance overhead.

Target Audience

iOS and macOS developers working on localized applications who need to clean up unused strings in their `.strings` files.

Value Proposition

It provides a simple, automated way to find abandoned strings without manual code review, though it uses a basic heuristic that may not catch all edge cases.

Overview

Command line program that detects unused resource strings in an iOS or OS X application.

Use Cases

Best For

Cleaning up unused localization strings in iOS apps
Reducing app size by removing unnecessary resource strings
Auditing `.strings` files for abandoned identifiers
Maintaining localization files in Swift or Objective-C projects
Identifying unreferenced string keys in macOS applications
Automating string resource management in Xcode projects

Not Ideal For

Projects where string identifiers are dynamically constructed or referenced via constants
Codebases with extensive commented-out code that should be ignored
Cross-platform applications targeting Android or web, as it only supports iOS/macOS file types
Teams needing high-precision, context-aware analysis for complex localization setups

Pros & Cons

Pros

Simple CLI Interface

Easy to run with a single terminal command pointing to the source directory, as shown in the README's usage example.

Multi-Language Support

Scans Objective-C (.h, .m), Swift (.swift), and JavaScript bundle (.jsbundle) files, covering key iOS/macOS development languages.

Fast Heuristic Detection

Uses a straightforward search algorithm that prioritizes speed and simplicity, making it quick for initial scans of unused strings.

Focused Localization Cleanup

Specifically targets .strings files to help reduce app size and maintenance overhead by identifying abandoned resource strings.

Cons

Inaccurate with Comments

Does not account for commented-out code, so it may incorrectly flag strings referenced in comments as abandoned, leading to false positives.

No Contextual Understanding

Cannot differentiate between string identifiers used for localization and coincidental text matches, as admitted in the README's 'More details' section.

Limited to Static References

Ineffective when strings are referenced via constants or dynamically constructed, which the README explicitly states reduces reliability.

Potentially Outdated

Last updated in 2016 for Swift 3, with no indication of recent maintenance, so it may not support newer Swift versions or modern code patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

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