enable multiple providers for the same type

[DavidS]

Use Case

When implementing providers for multiple different backend implementations with similar resources (types), having to implement multiple copies of the type is tedious and error prone.

Examples:

• various flavours of mysql (mysql, mariadb, percona)
• implementations of netdev_stdlib types
• several core types (package, user, exec, ...)

Describe the Solution You Would Like

???

Describe Alternatives You've Considered

• using composite namevars to expose the different implementations
• hiding the implementation details completely within a provider
• implement distinct types and provide unified usage through a defined type in puppet

Additional Context

• https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet-specifications/blob/master/language/resource-api/README.md#multiple-providers-for-the-same-type
• https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/puppet-users/194dfe1f-ff97-4388-92f7-be755de24d7b%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer
• Originally raised in https://tickets.puppetlabs.com/browse/PDK-530.
• a lesser for of this, transport-specific providers, has been implemented in PDK-1185 and (PDK-1185) Implement allowances for device-specific providers #126