I added that to the mc FAQ (https://www.jboss.org/community/docs/DOC-10669) so the question now is the difference between depend and demand. Looking at AbstractDemandMetaData and AbstractDependencyMetaData, a depend is a dependencyItem on the referenced bean reaching its Start state before the dependee will be allowed to reach its Start state. Demand is a dependencyItem on the referenced bean reaching its Installed state before the dependee will be allowed to reach its whenRequired(state attribute of demand) state. Correct? Is there a full generalization super-depend element, whenRequired=X, dependentState=Y? The AbstractDependencyItem class supports this information. View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4182195#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...