puppet 3.5.0.rc1-x86-mingw32

data/lib/puppet/property/boolean.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+require 'puppet/coercion'
+
+class Puppet::Property::Boolean < Puppet::Property
+  def unsafe_munge(value)
+    Puppet::Coercion.boolean(value)
+  end
+end

data/lib/puppet/property/ensure.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+require 'puppet/property'
+
+# This property is automatically added to any {Puppet::Type} that responds
+# to the methods 'exists?', 'create', and 'destroy'.
+#
+# Ensure defaults to having the wanted _(should)_ value `:present`.
+#
+# @api public
+#
+class Puppet::Property::Ensure < Puppet::Property
+  @name = :ensure
+
+  def self.defaultvalues
+    newvalue(:present) do
+      if @resource.provider and @resource.provider.respond_to?(:create)
+        @resource.provider.create
+      else
+        @resource.create
+      end
+      nil # return nil so the event is autogenerated
+    end
+
+    newvalue(:absent) do
+      if @resource.provider and @resource.provider.respond_to?(:destroy)
+        @resource.provider.destroy
+      else
+        @resource.destroy
+      end
+      nil # return nil so the event is autogenerated
+    end
+
+    defaultto do
+      if @resource.managed?
+        :present
+      else
+        nil
+      end
+    end
+
+    # This doc will probably get overridden
+    @doc ||= "The basic property that the resource should be in."
+  end
+
+  def self.inherited(sub)
+    # Add in the two properties that everyone will have.
+    sub.class_eval do
+    end
+  end
+
+  def change_to_s(currentvalue, newvalue)
+    begin
+      if currentvalue == :absent or currentvalue.nil?
+        return "created"
+      elsif newvalue == :absent
+        return "removed"
+      else
+        return "#{self.name} changed '#{self.is_to_s(currentvalue)}' to '#{self.should_to_s(newvalue)}'"
+      end
+    rescue Puppet::Error, Puppet::DevError
+      raise
+    rescue => detail
+      raise Puppet::DevError, "Could not convert change #{self.name} to string: #{detail}", detail.backtrace
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Retrieves the _is_ value for the ensure property.
+  # The existence of the resource is checked by first consulting the provider (if it responds to
+  # `:exists`), and secondly the resource. A a value of `:present` or `:absent` is returned
+  # depending on if the managed entity exists or not.
+  #
+  # @return [Symbol] a value of `:present` or `:absent` depending on if it exists or not
+  # @raise [Puppet::DevError] if neither the provider nor the resource responds to `:exists`
+  #
+  def retrieve
+    # XXX This is a problem -- whether the object exists or not often
+    # depends on the results of other properties, yet we're the first property
+    # to get checked, which means that those other properties do not have
+    # @is values set.  This seems to be the source of quite a few bugs,
+    # although they're mostly logging bugs, not functional ones.
+    if prov = @resource.provider and prov.respond_to?(:exists?)
+      result = prov.exists?
+    elsif @resource.respond_to?(:exists?)
+      result = @resource.exists?
+    else
+      raise Puppet::DevError, "No ability to determine if #{@resource.class.name} exists"
+    end
+    if result
+      return :present
+    else
+      return :absent
+    end
+  end
+
+  # If they're talking about the thing at all, they generally want to
+  # say it should exist.
+  #defaultto :present
+  defaultto do
+    if @resource.managed?
+      :present
+    else
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+end
+

data/lib/puppet/property/keyvalue.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+require 'puppet/property'
+
+module Puppet
+  class Property
+    # This subclass of {Puppet::Property} manages string key value pairs.
+    # In order to use this property:
+    #
+    # * the _should_ value must be an array of key-value pairs separated by the 'separator'
+    # * the retrieve method should return a hash with the keys as symbols
+    # @note **IMPORTANT**: In order for this property to work there must also be a 'membership' parameter
+    #   The class that inherits from property should override that method with the symbol for the membership
+    # @todo The node with an important message is not very clear.
+    #
+    class KeyValue < Property
+
+      def hash_to_key_value_s(hash)
+        hash.select { |k,v| true }.map { |pair| pair.join(separator) }.join(delimiter)
+      end
+
+      def should_to_s(should_value)
+        hash_to_key_value_s(should_value)
+      end
+
+      def is_to_s(current_value)
+        hash_to_key_value_s(current_value)
+      end
+
+      def membership
+        :key_value_membership
+      end
+
+      def inclusive?
+        @resource[membership] == :inclusive
+      end
+
+      def hashify(key_value_array)
+        #turns string array into a hash
+        key_value_array.inject({}) do |hash, key_value|
+          tmp = key_value.split(separator)
+          hash[tmp[0].intern] = tmp[1]
+          hash
+        end
+      end
+
+      def process_current_hash(current)
+        return {} if current == :absent
+
+        #inclusive means we are managing everything so if it isn't in should, its gone
+        current.each_key { |key| current[key] = nil } if inclusive?
+        current
+      end
+
+      def should
+        return nil unless @should
+
+        members = hashify(@should)
+        current = process_current_hash(retrieve)
+
+        #shared keys will get overwritten by members
+        current.merge(members)
+      end
+
+      # @return [String] Returns a default separator of "="
+      def separator
+        "="
+      end
+
+      # @return [String] Returns a default delimiter of ";"
+      def delimiter
+        ";"
+      end
+
+      # Retrieves the key-hash from the provider by invoking its method named the same as this property.
+      # @return [Hash] the hash from the provider, or `:absent`
+      #
+      def retrieve
+        #ok, some 'convention' if the keyvalue property is named properties, provider should implement a properties method
+        if key_hash = provider.send(name) and key_hash != :absent
+          return key_hash
+        else
+          return :absent
+        end
+      end
+
+      # Returns true if there is no _is_ value, else returns if _is_ is equal to _should_ using == as comparison.
+      # @return [Boolean] whether the property is in sync or not.
+      #
+      def insync?(is)
+        return true unless is
+
+        (is == self.should)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end

data/lib/puppet/property/list.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+require 'puppet/property'
+
+module Puppet
+  class Property
+    # This subclass of {Puppet::Property} manages an unordered list of values.
+    # For an ordered list see {Puppet::Property::OrderedList}.
+    #
+    class List < Property
+
+      def should_to_s(should_value)
+        #just return the should value
+        should_value
+      end
+
+      def is_to_s(currentvalue)
+        if currentvalue == :absent
+          return "absent"
+        else
+          return currentvalue.join(delimiter)
+        end
+      end
+
+      def membership
+        :membership
+      end
+
+      def add_should_with_current(should, current)
+        should += current if current.is_a?(Array)
+        should.uniq
+      end
+
+      def inclusive?
+        @resource[membership] == :inclusive
+      end
+
+      #dearrayify was motivated because to simplify the implementation of the OrderedList property
+      def dearrayify(array)
+        array.sort.join(delimiter)
+      end
+
+      def should
+        return nil unless @should
+
+        members = @should
+        #inclusive means we are managing everything so if it isn't in should, its gone
+        members = add_should_with_current(members, retrieve) if ! inclusive?
+
+        dearrayify(members)
+      end
+
+      def delimiter
+        ","
+      end
+
+      def retrieve
+        #ok, some 'convention' if the list property is named groups, provider should implement a groups method
+        if tmp = provider.send(name) and tmp != :absent
+          return tmp.split(delimiter)
+        else
+          return :absent
+        end
+      end
+
+      def prepare_is_for_comparison(is)
+        if is == :absent
+          is = []
+        end
+        dearrayify(is)
+      end
+
+      def insync?(is)
+        return true unless is
+
+        (prepare_is_for_comparison(is) == self.should)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end

data/lib/puppet/property/ordered_list.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+require 'puppet/property/list'
+
+module Puppet
+  class Property
+    # This subclass of {Puppet::Property} manages an ordered list of values.
+    # The maintained order is the order defined by the 'current' set of values (i.e. the
+    # original order is not disrupted). Any additions are added after the current values
+    # in their given order).
+    #
+    # For an unordered list see {Puppet::Property::List}.
+    #
+    class OrderedList < List
+
+      def add_should_with_current(should, current)
+        if current.is_a?(Array)
+          #tricky trick
+          #Preserve all the current items in the list
+          #but move them to the back of the line
+          should = should + (current - should)
+        end
+        should
+      end
+
+      def dearrayify(array)
+        array.join(delimiter)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end

data/lib/puppet/provider.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,651 @@
+# A Provider is an implementation of the actions that manage resources (of some type) on a system.
+# This class is the base class for all implementation of a Puppet Provider.
+#
+# Concepts:
+#--
+# * **Confinement** - confinement restricts providers to only be applicable under certain conditions.
+#    It is possible to confine a provider several different ways:
+#    * the included {#confine} method which provides filtering on fact, feature, existence of files, or a free form
+#      predicate.
+#    * the {commands} method that filters on the availability of given system commands.
+# * **Property hash** - the important instance variable `@property_hash` contains all current state values
+#   for properties (it is lazily built). It is important that these values are managed appropriately in the
+#   methods {instances}, {prefetch}, and in methods that alters the current state (those that change the
+#   lifecycle (creates, destroys), or alters some value reflected backed by a property).
+# * **Flush** - is a hook that is called once per resource when everything has been applied. The intent is
+#   that an implementation may defer modification of the current state typically done in property setters
+#   and instead record information that allows flush to perform the changes more efficiently.
+# * **Execution Methods** -  The execution methods provides access to execution of arbitrary commands.
+#   As a convenience execution methods are available on both the instance and the class of a provider since a
+#   lot of provider logic switch between these contexts fairly freely.
+# * **System Entity/Resource** - this documentation uses the term "system entity" for system resources to make
+#   it clear if talking about a resource on the system being managed (e.g. a file in the file system)
+#   or about a description of such a resource (e.g. a Puppet Resource).
+# * **Resource Type** - this is an instance of Type that describes a classification of instances of Resource (e.g.
+#   the `File` resource type describes all instances of `file` resources).
+#   (The term is used to contrast with "type" in general, and specifically to contrast with the implementation
+#   class of Resource or a specific Type).
+#
+# @note An instance of a Provider is associated with one resource.
+#
+# @note Class level methods are only called once to configure the provider (when the type is created), and not
+#   for each resource the provider is operating on.
+#   The instance methods are however called for each resource.
+#
+# @api public
+#
+class Puppet::Provider
+  include Puppet::Util
+  include Puppet::Util::Errors
+  include Puppet::Util::Warnings
+  extend Puppet::Util::Warnings
+
+  require 'puppet/confiner'
+  require 'puppet/provider/command'
+
+  extend Puppet::Confiner
+
+  Puppet::Util.logmethods(self, true)
+
+  class << self
+    # Include the util module so we have access to things like 'which'
+    include Puppet::Util, Puppet::Util::Docs
+    include Puppet::Util::Logging
+
+    # @return [String] The name of the provider
+    attr_accessor :name
+
+    #
+    # @todo Original = _"The source parameter exists so that providers using the same
+    #   source can specify this, so reading doesn't attempt to read the
+    #   same package multiple times."_ This seems to be a package type specific attribute. Is this really
+    #   used?
+    #
+    # @return [???] The source is WHAT?
+    attr_writer :source
+
+    # @todo Original = _"LAK 2007-05-09: Keep the model stuff around for backward compatibility"_
+    #   Is this really needed? The comment about backwards compatibility was made in 2007.
+    #
+    # @return [???] A model kept for backwards compatibility.
+    # @api private
+    # @deprecated This attribute is available for backwards compatibility reasons.
+    attr_reader :model
+
+    # @todo What is this type? A reference to a Puppet::Type ?
+    # @return [Puppet::Type] the resource type (that this provider is ... WHAT?)
+    #
+    attr_accessor :resource_type
+
+    # @!attribute [r] doc
+    #   The (full) documentation for this provider class. The documentation for the provider class itself
+    #   should be set with the DSL method {desc=}. Setting the documentation with with {doc=} has the same effect
+    #   as setting it with {desc=} (only the class documentation part is set). In essence this means that
+    #   there is no getter for the class documentation part (since the getter returns the full
+    #   documentation when there are additional contributors).
+    #
+    #   @return [String] Returns the full documentation for the provider.
+    # @see Puppet::Utils::Docs
+    # @comment This is puzzling ... a write only doc attribute??? The generated setter never seems to be
+    #   used, instead the instance variable @doc is set in the `desc` method. This seems wrong. It is instead
+    #   documented as a read only attribute (to get the full documentation). Also see doc below for
+    #   desc.
+    # @!attribute [w] desc
+    #   Sets the documentation of this provider class. (The full documentation is read via the
+    #   {doc} attribute).
+    #
+    #   @dsl type
+    #
+    attr_writer :doc
+  end
+
+  # @todo original = _"LAK 2007-05-09: Keep the model stuff around for backward compatibility"_, why is it
+  #   both here (instance) and at class level? Is this a different model?
+  # @return [???] model is WHAT?
+  attr_reader :model
+
+  # @return [???] This resource is what? Is an instance of a provider attached to one particular Puppet::Resource?
+  #
+  attr_accessor :resource
+
+  # Convenience methods - see class method with the same name.
+  # @see execute
+  # @return (see execute)
+  def execute(*args)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execute(*args)
+  end
+
+  # (see Puppet::Util::Execution.execute)
+  def self.execute(*args)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execute(*args)
+  end
+
+  # Convenience methods - see class method with the same name.
+  # @see execpipe
+  # @return (see execpipe)
+  def execpipe(*args, &block)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execpipe(*args, &block)
+  end
+
+  # (see Puppet::Util::Execution.execpipe)
+  def self.execpipe(*args, &block)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execpipe(*args, &block)
+  end
+
+  # Convenience methods - see class method with the same name.
+  # @see execfail
+  # @return (see execfail)
+  def execfail(*args)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execfail(*args)
+  end
+
+  # (see Puppet::Util::Execution.execfail)
+  def self.execfail(*args)
+    Puppet::Util::Execution.execfail(*args)
+  end
+
+  # Returns the absolute path to the executable for the command referenced by the given name.
+  # @raise [Puppet::DevError] if the name does not reference an existing command.
+  # @return [String] the absolute path to the found executable for the command
+  # @see which
+  # @api public
+  def self.command(name)
+    name = name.intern
+
+    if defined?(@commands) and command = @commands[name]
+      # nothing
+    elsif superclass.respond_to? :command and command = superclass.command(name)
+      # nothing
+    else
+      raise Puppet::DevError, "No command #{name} defined for provider #{self.name}"
+    end
+
+    which(command)
+  end
+
+  # Confines this provider to be suitable only on hosts where the given commands are present.
+  # Also see {Puppet::Confiner#confine} for other types of confinement of a provider by use of other types of
+  # predicates.
+  #
+  # @note It is preferred if the commands are not entered with absolute paths as this allows puppet
+  #   to search for them using the PATH variable.
+  #
+  # @param command_specs [Hash{String => String}] Map of name to command that the provider will
+  #   be executing on the system. Each command is specified with a name and the path of the executable.
+  # @return [void]
+  # @see optional_commands
+  # @api public
+  #
+  def self.commands(command_specs)
+    command_specs.each do |name, path|
+      has_command(name, path)
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Defines optional commands.
+  # Since Puppet 2.7.8 this is typically not needed as evaluation of provider suitability
+  # is lazy (when a resource is evaluated) and the absence of commands
+  # that will be present after other resources have been applied no longer needs to be specified as
+  # optional.
+  # @param [Hash{String => String}] hash Named commands that the provider will
+  #   be executing on the system. Each command is specified with a name and the path of the executable.
+  # (@see #has_command)
+  # @see commands
+  # @api public
+  def self.optional_commands(hash)
+    hash.each do |name, target|
+      has_command(name, target) do
+        is_optional
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Creates a convenience method for invocation of a command.
+  #
+  # This generates a Provider method that allows easy execution of the command. The generated
+  # method may take arguments that will be passed through to the executable as the command line arguments
+  # when it is invoked.
+  #
+  # @example Use it like this:
+  #   has_command(:echo, "/bin/echo")
+  #   def some_method
+  #     echo("arg 1", "arg 2")
+  #   end
+  # @comment the . . .  below is intentional to avoid the three dots to become an illegible ellipsis char.
+  # @example . . . or like this
+  #   has_command(:echo, "/bin/echo") do
+  #     is_optional
+  #     environment :HOME => "/var/tmp", :PWD => "/tmp"
+  #   end
+  #
+  # @param name [Symbol] The name of the command (will become the name of the generated method that executes the command)
+  # @param path [String] The path to the executable for the command
+  # @yield [ ] A block that configures the command (see {Puppet::Provider::Command})
+  # @comment a yield [ ] produces {|| ...} in the signature, do not remove the space.
+  # @note the name ´has_command´ looks odd in an API context, but makes more sense when seen in the internal
+  #   DSL context where a Provider is declaratively defined.
+  # @api public
+  #
+  def self.has_command(name, path, &block)
+    name = name.intern
+    command = CommandDefiner.define(name, path, self, &block)
+
+    @commands[name] = command.executable
+
+    # Now define the class and instance methods.
+    create_class_and_instance_method(name) do |*args|
+      return command.execute(*args)
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Internal helper class when creating commands - undocumented.
+  # @api private
+  class CommandDefiner
+    private_class_method :new
+
+    def self.define(name, path, confiner, &block)
+      definer = new(name, path, confiner)
+      definer.instance_eval(&block) if block
+      definer.command
+    end
+
+    def initialize(name, path, confiner)
+      @name = name
+      @path = path
+      @optional = false
+      @confiner = confiner
+      @custom_environment = {}
+    end
+
+    def is_optional
+      @optional = true
+    end
+
+    def environment(env)
+      @custom_environment = @custom_environment.merge(env)
+    end
+
+    def command
+      if not @optional
+        @confiner.confine :exists => @path, :for_binary => true
+      end
+
+      Puppet::Provider::Command.new(@name, @path, Puppet::Util, Puppet::Util::Execution, { :failonfail => true, :combine => true, :custom_environment => @custom_environment })
+    end
+  end
+
+  # @return [Boolean] Return whether the given feature has been declared or not.
+  def self.declared_feature?(name)
+    defined?(@declared_features) and @declared_features.include?(name)
+  end
+
+  # @return [Boolean] Returns whether this implementation satisfies all of the default requirements or not.
+  #   Returns false if there is no matching defaultfor
+  # @see Provider.defaultfor
+  #
+  def self.default?
+    default_match ? true : false
+  end
+
+  # Look through the array of defaultfor hashes and return the first match.
+  # @return [Hash<{String => Object}>] the matching hash specified by a defaultfor
+  # @see Provider.defaultfor
+  # @api private
+  def self.default_match
+    @defaults.find do |default|
+      default.all? do |key, values|
+        case key
+          when :feature
+            feature_match(values)
+          else
+            fact_match(key, values)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.fact_match(fact, values)
+    values = [values] unless values.is_a? Array
+    values.map! { |v| v.to_s.downcase.intern }
+
+    if fval = Facter.value(fact).to_s and fval != ""
+      fval = fval.to_s.downcase.intern
+
+      values.include?(fval)
+    else
+      false
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.feature_match(value)
+    Puppet.features.send(value.to_s + "?")
+  end
+
+  # Sets a facts filter that determine which of several suitable providers should be picked by default.
+  # This selection only kicks in if there is more than one suitable provider.
+  # To filter on multiple facts the given hash may contain more than one fact name/value entry.
+  # The filter picks the provider if all the fact/value entries match the current set of facts. (In case
+  # there are still more than one provider after this filtering, the first found is picked).
+  # @param hash [Hash<{String => Object}>] hash of fact name to fact value.
+  # @return [void]
+  #
+  def self.defaultfor(hash)
+    @defaults << hash
+  end
+
+  # @return [Integer] Returns a numeric specificity for this provider based on how many requirements it has
+  #  and number of _ancestors_. The higher the number the more specific the provider.
+  # The number of requirements is based on the hash size of the matching {Provider.defaultfor}.
+  #
+  # The _ancestors_ is the Ruby Module::ancestors method and the number of classes returned is used
+  # to boost the score. The intent is that if two providers are equal, but one is more "derived" than the other
+  # (i.e. includes more classes), it should win because it is more specific).
+  # @note Because of how this value is
+  #   calculated there could be surprising side effects if a provider included an excessive amount of classes.
+  #
+  def self.specificity
+    # This strange piece of logic attempts to figure out how many parent providers there
+    # are to increase the score. What is will actually do is count all classes that Ruby Module::ancestors
+    # returns (which can be other classes than those the parent chain) - in a way, an odd measure of the
+    # complexity of a provider).
+    match = default_match
+    length = match ? match.length : 0
+    (length * 100) + ancestors.select { |a| a.is_a? Class }.length
+  end
+
+  # Initializes defaults and commands (i.e. clears them).
+  # @return [void]
+  def self.initvars
+    @defaults = []
+    @commands = {}
+  end
+
+  # Returns a list of system resources (entities) this provider may/can manage.
+  # This is a query mechanism that lists entities that the provider may manage on a given system. It is
+  # is directly used in query services, but is also the foundation for other services; prefetching, and
+  # purging.
+  #
+  # As an example, a package provider lists all installed packages. (In contrast, the File provider does
+  # not list all files on the file-system as that would make execution incredibly slow). An implementation
+  # of this method should be made if it is possible to quickly (with a single system call) provide all
+  # instances.
+  #
+  # An implementation of this method should only cache the values of properties
+  # if they are discovered as part of the process for finding existing resources.
+  # Resource properties that require additional commands (than those used to determine existence/identity)
+  # should be implemented in their respective getter method. (This is important from a performance perspective;
+  # it may be expensive to compute, as well as wasteful as all discovered resources may perhaps not be managed).
+  #
+  # An implementation may return an empty list (naturally with the effect that it is not possible to query
+  # for manageable entities).
+  #
+  # By implementing this method, it is possible to use the `resources´ resource type to specify purging
+  # of all non managed entities.
+  #
+  # @note The returned instances are instance of some subclass of Provider, not resources.
+  # @return [Array<Puppet::Provider>] a list of providers referencing the system entities
+  # @abstract this method must be implemented by a subclass and this super method should never be called as it raises an exception.
+  # @raise [Puppet::DevError] Error indicating that the method should have been implemented by subclass.
+  # @see prefetch
+  def self.instances
+    raise Puppet::DevError, "Provider #{self.name} has not defined the 'instances' class method"
+  end
+
+  # Creates the methods for a given command.
+  # @api private
+  # @deprecated Use {commands}, {optional_commands}, or {has_command} instead. This was not meant to be part of a public API
+  def self.make_command_methods(name)
+    Puppet.deprecation_warning "Provider.make_command_methods is deprecated; use Provider.commands or Provider.optional_commands instead for creating command methods"
+
+    # Now define a method for that command
+    unless singleton_class.method_defined?(name)
+      meta_def(name) do |*args|
+        # This might throw an ExecutionFailure, but the system above
+        # will catch it, if so.
+        command = Puppet::Provider::Command.new(name, command(name), Puppet::Util, Puppet::Util::Execution)
+        return command.execute(*args)
+      end
+
+      # And then define an instance method that just calls the class method.
+      # We need both, so both instances and classes can easily run the commands.
+      unless method_defined?(name)
+        define_method(name) do |*args|
+          self.class.send(name, *args)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Creates getter- and setter- methods for each property supported by the resource type.
+  # Call this method to generate simple accessors for all properties supported by the
+  # resource type. These simple accessors lookup and sets values in the property hash.
+  # The generated methods may be overridden by more advanced implementations if something
+  # else than a straight forward getter/setter pair of methods is required.
+  # (i.e. define such overriding methods after this method has been called)
+  #
+  # An implementor of a provider that makes use of `prefetch` and `flush` can use this method since it uses
+  # the internal `@property_hash` variable to store values. An implementation would then update the system
+  # state on a call to `flush` based on the current values in the `@property_hash`.
+  #
+  # @return [void]
+  #
+  def self.mk_resource_methods
+    [resource_type.validproperties, resource_type.parameters].flatten.each do |attr|
+      attr = attr.intern
+      next if attr == :name
+      define_method(attr) do
+        if @property_hash[attr].nil?
+          :absent
+        else
+          @property_hash[attr]
+        end
+      end
+
+      define_method(attr.to_s + "=") do |val|
+        @property_hash[attr] = val
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  self.initvars
+
+  # This method is used to generate a method for a command.
+  # @return [void]
+  # @api private
+  #
+  def self.create_class_and_instance_method(name, &block)
+    unless singleton_class.method_defined?(name)
+      meta_def(name, &block)
+    end
+
+    unless method_defined?(name)
+      define_method(name) do |*args|
+        self.class.send(name, *args)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  private_class_method :create_class_and_instance_method
+
+  # @return [String] Returns the data source, which is the provider name if no other source has been set.
+  # @todo Unclear what "the source" is used for?
+  def self.source
+    @source ||= self.name
+  end
+
+  # Returns true if the given attribute/parameter is supported by the provider.
+  # The check is made that the parameter is a valid parameter for the resource type, and then
+  # if all its required features (if any) are supported by the provider.
+  #
+  # @param param [Class, Puppet::Parameter] the parameter class, or a parameter instance
+  # @return [Boolean] Returns whether this provider supports the given parameter or not.
+  # @raise [Puppet::DevError] if the given parameter is not valid for the resource type
+  #
+  def self.supports_parameter?(param)
+    if param.is_a?(Class)
+      klass = param
+    else
+      unless klass = resource_type.attrclass(param)
+        raise Puppet::DevError, "'#{param}' is not a valid parameter for #{resource_type.name}"
+      end
+    end
+    return true unless features = klass.required_features
+
+    !!satisfies?(*features)
+  end
+
+#    def self.to_s
+#        unless defined?(@str)
+#            if self.resource_type
+#                @str = "#{resource_type.name} provider #{self.name}"
+#            else
+#                @str = "unattached provider #{self.name}"
+#            end
+#        end
+#        @str
+#    end
+
+  dochook(:defaults) do
+    if @defaults.length > 0
+      return @defaults.collect do |d|
+        "Default for " + d.collect do |f, v|
+          "`#{f}` == `#{[v].flatten.join(', ')}`"
+        end.sort.join(" and ") + "."
+      end.join(" ")
+    end
+  end
+
+  dochook(:commands) do
+    if @commands.length > 0
+      return "Required binaries: " + @commands.collect do |n, c|
+        "`#{c}`"
+      end.sort.join(", ") + "."
+    end
+  end
+
+  dochook(:features) do
+    if features.length > 0
+      return "Supported features: " + features.collect do |f|
+        "`#{f}`"
+      end.sort.join(", ") + "."
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Clears this provider instance to allow GC to clean up.
+  def clear
+    @resource = nil
+    @model = nil
+  end
+
+  # (see command)
+  def command(name)
+    self.class.command(name)
+  end
+
+  # Returns the value of a parameter value, or `:absent` if it is not defined.
+  # @param param [Puppet::Parameter] the parameter to obtain the value of
+  # @return [Object] the value of the parameter or `:absent` if not defined.
+  #
+  def get(param)
+    @property_hash[param.intern] || :absent
+  end
+
+  # Creates a new provider that is optionally initialized from a resource or a hash of properties.
+  # If no argument is specified, a new non specific provider is initialized. If a resource is given
+  # it is remembered for further operations. If a hash is used it becomes the internal `@property_hash`
+  # structure of the provider - this hash holds the current state property values of system entities
+  # as they are being discovered by querying or other operations (typically getters).
+  #
+  # @todo The use of a hash as a parameter needs a better exaplanation; why is this done? What is the intent?
+  # @param resource [Puppet::Resource, Hash] optional resource or hash
+  #
+  def initialize(resource = nil)
+    if resource.is_a?(Hash)
+      # We don't use a duplicate here, because some providers (ParsedFile, at least)
+      # use the hash here for later events.
+      @property_hash = resource
+    elsif resource
+      @resource = resource
+      # LAK 2007-05-09: Keep the model stuff around for backward compatibility
+      @model = resource
+      @property_hash = {}
+    else
+      @property_hash = {}
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Returns the name of the resource this provider is operating on.
+  # @return [String] the name of the resource instance (e.g. the file path of a File).
+  # @raise [Puppet::DevError] if no resource is set, or no name defined.
+  #
+  def name
+    if n = @property_hash[:name]
+      return n
+    elsif self.resource
+      resource.name
+    else
+      raise Puppet::DevError, "No resource and no name in property hash in #{self.class.name} instance"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Sets the given parameters values as the current values for those parameters.
+  # Other parameters are unchanged.
+  # @param [Array<Puppet::Parameter>] params the parameters with values that should be set
+  # @return [void]
+  #
+  def set(params)
+    params.each do |param, value|
+      @property_hash[param.intern] = value
+    end
+  end
+
+  # @return [String] Returns a human readable string with information about the resource and the provider.
+  def to_s
+    "#{@resource}(provider=#{self.class.name})"
+  end
+
+  # Makes providers comparable.
+  include Comparable
+  # Compares this provider against another provider.
+  # Comparison is only possible with another provider (no other class).
+  # The ordering is based on the class name of the two providers.
+  #
+  # @return [-1,0,+1, nil] A comparison result -1, 0, +1 if this is before other, equal or after other. Returns
+  #   nil oif not comparable to other.
+  # @see Comparable
+  def <=>(other)
+    # We can only have ordering against other providers.
+    return nil unless other.is_a? Puppet::Provider
+    # Otherwise, order by the providers class name.
+    return self.class.name <=> other.class.name
+  end
+
+  # @comment Document prefetch here as it does not exist anywhere else (called from transaction if implemented)
+  # @!method self.prefetch(resource_hash)
+  # @abstract A subclass may implement this - it is not implemented in the Provider class
+  # This method may be implemented by a provider in order to pre-fetch resource properties.
+  # If implemented it should set the provider instance of the managed resources to a provider with the
+  # fetched state (i.e. what is returned from the {instances} method).
+  # @param resources_hash [Hash<{String => Puppet::Resource}>] map from name to resource of resources to prefetch
+  # @return [void]
+  # @api public
+
+  # @comment Document post_resource_eval here as it does not exist anywhere else (called from transaction if implemented)
+  # @!method self.post_resource_eval()
+  # @since 3.4.0
+  # @api public
+  # @abstract A subclass may implement this - it is not implemented in the Provider class
+  # This method may be implemented by a provider in order to perform any
+  # cleanup actions needed.  It will be called at the end of the transaction if
+  # any resources in the catalog make use of the provider, regardless of
+  # whether the resources are changed or not and even if resource failures occur.
+  # @return [void]
+
+  # @comment Document flush here as it does not exist anywhere (called from transaction if implemented)
+  # @!method flush()
+  # @abstract A subclass may implement this - it is not implemented in the Provider class
+  # This method may be implemented by a provider in order to flush properties that has not been individually
+  # applied to the managed entity's current state.
+  # @return [void]
+  # @api public
+end
+