[eclipse-dev] Plug-in Development and the Uses directive

[Wassim Melhem <wassimm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

   A few days ago, PDE added support to calculate the OSGi uses directive
   for exported packages and will be available in 3.3 M5.              
                                                                       
                                                                       
   The uses directive is important because it models inter-package     
   dependencies to ensure that consistent class spaces are calculated for
   each bundle.  This helps prevent ClassCastExceptions when multiple
   versions of a package or bundle are installed in the Framework.     
                                                                       
                                                                       
   This function is available as an option in the Organize Manifests   
   wizard (PDE Tools > Organize Manifests... from the context menu of  
   plug-in projects) and via a button in the Exported Packages section on
   the Runtime page of the plug-in manifest editor.                    
                                                                       
                                                                       
   Note however that a decision has not been made yet on whether or when
   the SDK plug-ins would adopt the usage of this directive for 3.3.   
                                                                       
                                                                       
   So please do NOT turn on that option in the Organize Manifests wizard
   yet.  The function is off by default.                               
                                                                       
                                                                       
   We will give you an update in the M6 cycle on what the story will be
   for the 3.3 release.                                                
                                                                       
                                                                       
   If we were to adopt the uses directive, you would not need to be    
   concerned with the details.  All you would need to do is turn on that
   new option in the Organize Manifests wizard and everything will be  
   generated for you.                                                  
                                                                       
                                                                       
   Thank you for choosing PDE.