diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/gencode-remote
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..51c0a7f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/gencode-remote
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2013 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# Setup alternative - no standard way to create, always set
+#
+
+path="$(cat "$__object/parameter/path")"
+name="$__object_id"
+echo "update-alternatives --set '$name' '$path'"
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/man.text b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/man.text
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2bcc1874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/man.text
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+cdist-type__update_alternatives(7)
+==================================
+Nico Schottelius <nico-cdist--@--schottelius.org>
+
+
+NAME
+----
+cdist-type__update_alternatives - Configure alternatives
+
+
+DESCRIPTION
+-----------
+On Debian and alike systems update-alternatives(1) can be used
+to setup alternatives for various programs.
+One of the most common used targets is the "editor".
+
+
+REQUIRED PARAMETERS
+-------------------
+path::
+   Use this path for the given alternative
+
+
+EXAMPLES
+--------
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Setup vim as the default editor
+__update_alternatives editor --path /usr/bin/vim.basic
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+SEE ALSO
+--------
+- cdist-type(7)
+- cdist-type__debconf_set_selections(7)
+- update-alternatives(8)
+
+
+COPYING
+-------
+Copyright \(C) 2013 Nico Schottelius. Free use of this software is
+granted under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3).
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/parameter/required b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/parameter/required
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7a8fd4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__update_alternatives/parameter/required
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+path