When to use Import-Package and Require-Bundle in Eclipse Plugin?

The OSGi way is to use Import-Package, as it specifically decouples the package from the bundle that provides it.

Require-Bundle:

• Bundles can be re-exported
• Gives you access to all exports of the bundle, regardless of what they are, and regardless of whether you need them.
• Specifies the explicit bundle (and version) to use. If a required bundle needs to be refactored and a package moved elsewhere, then dependents will need changes to their MANIFEST.MF file.

Import-Package:

• Loose coupling, only the package (and version) is specified and the run-time finds the required bundle.
• Actual implementations can be swapped out
• Dependent packages can be moved to different bundles by the package owner
• But requires more metadata to be maintained (i.e: each package name) at lower levels of granularity

In my view we should below approach in using Import Package or Require-Bundle

  Interface                  <=>      Import-Package  
  Implementation class       <=>      Import-Bundle/Require-Bundle