PHP Include/Require Parentheses Rewriter

A small Python script that rewrites PHP include() / include_once() / require() / require_once() calls into the parentheses-free form.

Example:

include('config.php');
require_once("init.php");

becomes:

include 'config.php';
require_once "init.php";

Safety rules (what it will and won’t change)

To avoid breaking code, the script only rewrites a line when:

• The line contains exactly one include(...) / require(...) statement, and
• Everything else on that line is only whitespace and/or PHP comments (//, #, /* ... */)

If the same line contains any other code (besides comments/whitespace), it is left unchanged.

Notes:

• The script detects comments outside of string literals.
• Multi-line block comments /* ... */ are handled correctly across lines.

Requirements

• Python 3.8+ (works with Python 3.14 as well)

Usage

Run from the repository root:

python3 replace-php-includes.py

The script will recursively process all *.php files in the current directory and subdirectories.

Dry run (no files changed)

python3 replace-php-includes.py --dry-run

Backups

By default, the script creates a backup next to each modified file:

• file.php → file.php.bak

Backups are created only for files that actually changed, and only if the .bak file does not already exist.

Disable backups:

python3 replace-php-includes.py --no-backup

Typical workflow

1. Run a dry run:

   python3 replace-php-includes.py --dry-run

2. Run the rewrite:

   python3 replace-php-includes.py

3. Review changes using your VCS (recommended):

   git diff

Copyright

(c) 2026, vibecoded by utilmind

License

MIT