Dir 4.8 if struct is only visible through a function declaration

[misra-c]

The following discussion assumes that the prototype for usetype is

Code:

extern void usetype(struct SomeType* p);

The translation unit for no-use.c never accesses the members of "struct SomeType" and therefore the example is not compliant with directive 4.8. To be compliant with this rule another header file should be created.

Code:

/* opaque_def.h */
typedef struct SomeType *pSomeType;

/* other.h */
extern void usetype(pSomeType p);

/* no-use.c */
#include opaque_def.h
#include other.h
/* Do something. But no use of SomeType at all. */

opaque_def.h would be used in those translation units which did not dereference the pointer "struct SomeType *" whereas def.h would be used in those translation units which did dereference the pointer.
Whether a particular translation unit violates directive 4.8 does not depend on how "struct SomeType" is used in other translation units.