Hi all,

As I am working on https://issues.jboss.org/browse/JBIDE-8838 (add source features to build), I noticed this bug in the mechanics we want to use: https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=374663 (tycho-source-feature-plugin does not resolve remote source features). But I also noticed that some of you (namely AS, BPEL, jBPM & JSF) do use included features in your features.
Included features are a kind of anti-pattern for us. The "inclusion" is a very strict relationship that is resolved at build-time and that locks version for features. Included features have static versions when it comes to installing and this can be a source of p2 screed. I think you can always replace this "inclusion" relationship by a "dependency" relationship in your feature.xml. Dependencies are resolved at install-time, and it allow people to perform updates without pain.

I'm totally in favor of replacing inclusions by dependencies. I will do it for the components listed above. However, I may miss a point that could justify the inclusion over the dependency. If yes, please tell me quickly why you did made that choice and why it wouldn't work with dependencies.
I'm looking for concrete and current issues you have met with dependencies that are solved by inclusion.

Cheers
--
Mickael Istria
Eclipse developer at JBoss, by Red Hat
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