use_package() adds a CRAN package dependency to DESCRIPTION and offers a
little advice about how to best use it. use_dev_package() adds a dependency
on an in-development package, adding the dev repo to Remotes so it will be
automatically installed from the correct location. There is no helper to
remove a dependency: to do that, simply remove that package from your
DESCRIPTION file.
use_package() exists to support a couple of common maneuvers:
Add a dependency to Imports or Suggests or LinkingTo.
Add a minimum version to a dependency.
Specify the minimum supported version for R.
use_package() probably works for slightly more exotic modifications, but at
some point, you should edit DESCRIPTION yourself by hand. There is no
intention to account for all possible edge cases.