[p2-dev] Generation of feature metadata

[Jens Reimann <jens.reimann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I just compared the output of P2 metadata for a feature.xml and a have
question, since I am not sure how things are, as they are ;-)

feature.xml
---------------
   <includes
         id="test.feature2"
         version="0.0.0"/>

   <requires>
      <import plugin="org.apache.commons.io"/>
      <import feature="test.feature3" version="1.0.0.qualifier"/>
   </requires>
---------------

Creates the following metadata:

content.xml
---------------
        <required namespace='org.eclipse.equinox.p2.iu'
name='test.feature2.feature.group'
range='[1.0.0.201411280937,1.0.0.201411280937]'/>
        <required namespace='org.eclipse.equinox.p2.iu'
name='org.apache.commons.io' range='0.0.0'/>
        <required namespace='org.eclipse.equinox.p2.iu'
name='test.feature3.feature.group' range='0.0.0'/>
---------------

What I don't understand is the fact, that when a specific version is
present (import feature) it creates "range=0.0.0" where when I specify
"0.0.0" it creates a build specific ID as range.

Hopefully somebody can explain it to me, or direct to some wiki page
which explains it ;-)

Thanks in advance!

Jens