Vim search in C/C++ code lines

Question

Is there any way to search a string in a C/C++ source file while skipping commented lines?

Answer 1

Here is how I would proceed:

1. Delete all C/C++ comments (using the replace command %s)
2. Proceed to the search using regular search command /
3. Set a mark at the position using m a (to set the mark "a")
4. Undo the deletion of the comments using u
5. Jump to the mark "a" using ``a`
6. Eventually deleting the mark using delm a (it would be overwritten in the case you don't delete it, so no big deal)

Of course you can do that in one big operation/function. I do not master Vim scripting good enough to give an example of that though.

I admit my solution is a bit "lazy" (and you can probably do it way better) but that's all I came to.

Hope it helps.