diff --git a/cdist/conf/library/manifest b/cdist/conf/library/manifest
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2592beec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/library/manifest
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# vi: set filetype=sh:
+# $__library/manifest
+#
+# 2020 Matthias Stecher (matthiasstecher at gmx.de)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# This library contains:
+#   common helper functions helping writing the manifest
+
+
+# check if type is a singleton
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: name of the type, e.g. `__some_type`
+is_singleton() {
+    if [ -f "$__global/conf/type/$1/singleton" ]; then
+        return 0
+    else
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+# print object id
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: type name, e.g. `__some_type`
+#  2: object id; will be ignored if type is a singleton
+get_object_id() {
+    if is_singleton "$1"; then
+        printf "%s" "$1"
+    else
+        printf "%s/%s" "$1" "$2"
+    fi
+}
+
+
+# Helper function to get the correct chain name. It will shorten any
+# invalid character.
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: the dependency chain name
+_rec_normalize_chain_name() {
+    # spaces will be underscores
+    # anything other than a-zA-Z0-9 will be removed
+    printf "$1" | sed 's/\([[:space:]]\|-\)/_/g; s/[^a-zA-Z0-9_]//g'
+}
+
+
+# Recording dependencies
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: the dependency chain - only chars, numbers and underscores allowed
+#  2..n: the type command; no more nesting possible
+rec_requires() {
+    # make it ready to be passed to eval
+    _rec_chain="$(_rec_normalize_chain_name "$1")"
+    eval "_rec_ch_${_rec_chain}=\"\${_rec_ch_${_rec_chain}:-} $(get_object_id "$2" "$3")\""
+
+    # execute type
+    shift
+    "$@"
+}
+
+
+# Clearing dependency chains
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: the dependency chain name
+rec_clear() {
+    _rec_chain="$(printf "$1" | sed 's/\([[:space:]]\|-\)/_/g; s/[^a-zA-Z0-9_]//g')"
+    eval "unset -v _rec_ch_${_rec_chain}"
+}
+
+
+# Export dependencies to current command by appending to the current environment
+#
+# Arguments:
+#  1: the dependency chain
+#  2..n: the type command; no more nesting possible
+depend() {
+    # assemble dependency
+    _rec_chain="$(_rec_normalize_chain_name "$1")"
+    _rec_deps="$(eval "printf \"%s\" \"\${_rec_ch_${_rec_chain}:-}\"")"
+
+    # execute type
+    shift
+    require="$require $_rec_deps" "$@"
+}
diff --git a/cdist/core/cdist_type.py b/cdist/core/cdist_type.py
index b68448bc..7807d24b 100644
--- a/cdist/core/cdist_type.py
+++ b/cdist/core/cdist_type.py
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ class CdistType:
         self.absolute_path = os.path.join(self.base_path, self.path)
         if not os.path.isdir(self.absolute_path):
             raise InvalidTypeError(self.name, self.path, self.absolute_path)
+
         self.manifest_path = os.path.join(self.name, "manifest")
         self.explorer_path = os.path.join(self.name, "explorer")
+        self.library_path = os.path.join(self.name, "library")
         self.gencode_local_path = os.path.join(self.name, "gencode-local")
         self.gencode_remote_path = os.path.join(self.name, "gencode-remote")
         self.manifest_path = os.path.join(self.name, "manifest")
@@ -71,6 +73,8 @@ class CdistType:
         self.__parameter_defaults = None
         self.__deprecated_parameters = None
 
+        self._transferred_type_library = False
+
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.name)
 
@@ -296,3 +300,25 @@ class CdistType:
             finally:
                 self.__deprecated_parameters = deprecated
         return self.__deprecated_parameters
+
+    # transfer of the library required by type explorers and code-remote
+    def transfer_type_library(self, target):
+        """Transfer the type library for the given type to the remote side.
+
+            target: Code | Explorer | Manifest
+              (must contain .local and .remote properties)
+        """
+        if not self._transferred_type_library:
+            source = os.path.join(target.local.type_path,
+                                  self.library_path)
+            destination = os.path.join(target.remote.type_path,
+                                       self.library_path)
+
+            if os.path.isdir(source) and os.listdir(source):
+                target.remote.transfer(source, destination)
+                target.remote.run(["chmod", "0700", "%s/*" % (destination)])
+            else:
+                # at least, the directory should exist
+                target.remote.mkdir(destination)
+
+            self._transferred_type_library = True
diff --git a/cdist/core/code.py b/cdist/core/code.py
index 12888ba4..e86b5050 100644
--- a/cdist/core/code.py
+++ b/cdist/core/code.py
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ common:
         __cdist_type_base_path: full qualified path to the directory where
                                 types are defined for use in type emulator
                                 == local.type_path
+        __library: full qualified path to the library folder containing
+                                common code == local.global_library_path
 
 gencode-local
     script: full qualified path to a types gencode-local
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ class Code:
             '__target_fqdn': self.target_host[2],
             '__global': self.local.base_path,
             '__files': self.local.files_path,
+            '__library': self.local.global_library_path,
             '__target_host_tags': self.local.target_host_tags,
             '__cdist_log_level': util.log_level_env_var_val(local.log),
             '__cdist_log_level_name': util.log_level_name_env_var_val(
@@ -157,7 +160,12 @@ class Code:
 
     def transfer_code_remote(self, cdist_object):
         """Transfer the code_remote script for the given object to the
-           remote side."""
+           remote side. Will transfer the type library too if not already
+           copied to the remote side cause of type explorers."""
+        # $__type/library (if not already done)
+        cdist_object.cdist_type.transfer_type_library(self)
+
+        # $__object/code-remote
         source = os.path.join(self.local.object_path,
                               cdist_object.code_remote_path)
         destination = os.path.join(self.remote.object_path,
@@ -188,6 +196,7 @@ class Code:
         env = os.environ.copy()
         env.update(self.env)
         env.update({
+            '__type': cdist_object.cdist_type.absolute_path,
             '__object': cdist_object.absolute_path,
             '__object_id': cdist_object.object_id,
         })
@@ -196,11 +205,17 @@ class Code:
     def run_code_remote(self, cdist_object):
         """Run the code-remote script for the given cdist object on the
            remote side."""
-        # Put some env vars, to allow read only access to the parameters
-        # over $__object which is already on the remote side
         env = {
+            # Put some env vars, to allow read only access to the parameters
+            # over $__object which is already on the remote side
             '__object': os.path.join(self.remote.object_path,
                                      cdist_object.path),
             '__object_id': cdist_object.object_id,
+
+            # The libraries should be over there, too
+            '__library': self.remote.global_library_path,
+            '__type_library': os.path.join(
+                self.remote.type_path,
+                cdist_object.cdist_type.library_path),
         }
         return self._run_code(cdist_object, 'remote', env=env)
diff --git a/cdist/core/explorer.py b/cdist/core/explorer.py
index 48414ade..aa6bae46 100644
--- a/cdist/core/explorer.py
+++ b/cdist/core/explorer.py
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ common:
         __explorer: full qualified path to other global explorers on
                     remote side
             -> remote.global_explorer_path
+        __library: full qualified path to global library files on the
+                    remote side
+            -> remote.global_library_path
 
 a global explorer is:
     - a script
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ type explorer is:
         __object_fq: full qualified object id, iow: $type.name + / + object_id
         __type_explorer: full qualified path to the other type explorers on
                          remote side
+        __type_library: full qualified path to the type library files on remote
 
     creates: nothing, returns output
 
@@ -79,6 +83,7 @@ class Explorer:
             '__target_hostname': self.target_host[1],
             '__target_fqdn': self.target_host[2],
             '__explorer': self.remote.global_explorer_path,
+            '__library': self.remote.global_library_path,
             '__target_host_tags': self.local.target_host_tags,
             '__cdist_log_level': util.log_level_env_var_val(self.log),
             '__cdist_log_level_name': util.log_level_name_env_var_val(
@@ -106,6 +111,7 @@ class Explorer:
 
         """
         self.log.verbose("Running global explorers")
+        self.transfer_global_library()
         self.transfer_global_explorers()
         if self.jobs is None:
             self._run_global_explorers_seq(out_path)
@@ -163,6 +169,14 @@ class Explorer:
         self.remote.run(["chmod", "0700", "{}/*".format(
             self.remote.global_explorer_path)])
 
+    def transfer_global_library(self):
+        """Transfer the global library files to the remote side."""
+        self.remote.transfer(self.local.global_library_path,
+                             self.remote.global_library_path,
+                             self.jobs)
+        self.remote.run(["chmod", "0700",
+                         "%s/*" % (self.remote.global_library_path)])
+
     def run_global_explorer(self, explorer):
         """Run the given global explorer and return it's output."""
         script = os.path.join(self.remote.global_explorer_path, explorer)
@@ -223,7 +237,9 @@ class Explorer:
             '__object_name': cdist_object.name,
             '__object_fq': cdist_object.path,
             '__type_explorer': os.path.join(self.remote.type_path,
-                                            cdist_type.explorer_path)
+                                            cdist_type.explorer_path),
+            '__type_library': os.path.join(self.remote.type_path,
+                                           cdist_type.library_path),
         })
         script = os.path.join(self.remote.type_path, cdist_type.explorer_path,
                               explorer)
@@ -237,6 +253,10 @@ class Explorer:
                 self.log.trace("Skipping retransfer of type explorers for: %s",
                                cdist_type)
             else:
+                # transfer library by common code
+                cdist_type.transfer_type_library(self)
+
+                # transfer type explorers
                 source = os.path.join(self.local.type_path,
                                       cdist_type.explorer_path)
                 destination = os.path.join(self.remote.type_path,
diff --git a/cdist/core/manifest.py b/cdist/core/manifest.py
index 09e74dac..7352ea2b 100644
--- a/cdist/core/manifest.py
+++ b/cdist/core/manifest.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ common:
                                 types are defined for use in type emulator
             == local.type_path
         __files: full qualified path to the files dir
+        __library: full qualitfied path to the library dir
         __target_host_tags: comma spearated list of host tags
 
 initial manifest is:
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ class Manifest:
             '__target_hostname': self.target_host[1],
             '__target_fqdn': self.target_host[2],
             '__files': self.local.files_path,
+            '__library': self.local.global_library_path,
             '__target_host_tags': self.local.target_host_tags,
             '__cdist_log_level': util.log_level_env_var_val(self.log),
             '__cdist_log_level_name': util.log_level_name_env_var_val(
diff --git a/cdist/exec/local.py b/cdist/exec/local.py
index 370336ad..5b16fab6 100644
--- a/cdist/exec/local.py
+++ b/cdist/exec/local.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import cdist.message
 from cdist import core
 import cdist.exec.util as util
 
-CONF_SUBDIRS_LINKED = ["explorer", "files", "manifest", "type", ]
+CONF_SUBDIRS_LINKED = ["explorer", "files", "manifest", "type", "library", ]
 
 
 class Local:
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ class Local:
         # Depending on conf_path
         self.files_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "files")
         self.global_explorer_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "explorer")
+        self.global_library_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "library")
         self.manifest_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "manifest")
         self.initial_manifest = (self.custom_initial_manifest or
                                  os.path.join(self.manifest_path, "init"))
diff --git a/cdist/exec/remote.py b/cdist/exec/remote.py
index af9e70cb..597780d0 100644
--- a/cdist/exec/remote.py
+++ b/cdist/exec/remote.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ class Remote:
 
         self.type_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "type")
         self.global_explorer_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "explorer")
+        self.global_library_path = os.path.join(self.conf_path, "library")
 
         self._open_logger()
 
diff --git a/docs/src/cdist-library.rst b/docs/src/cdist-library.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea1c95c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/src/cdist-library.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+Library
+=======
+
+Description
+-----------
+The library features the sharing of common code. There is a global and
+a type library to match the specific use case.
+
+The library feature is simply making the path to the library folder
+available to all scripts. With it, they can load files out of the library
+from different locations. Through it, code must only written once, which
+makes code easier and less redundant. Also, better code can be provided
+by shared libraries.
+
+Synopsis
+--------
+
+From `manifest`, `gencode-*` and `code-local`:
+
+.. code-block::
+
+   $__library (global library directory path)
+   $__type/library (type library folder)
+
+From the remote side (`explorer` and `code-remote`):
+
+.. code-block::
+
+   $__library (remote copied library directory path)
+   $__type_library (remote copied type library folder)
+
+*Type libraries are only available if the code is available in an object-
+realated content. As example, there are not available in global explorer
+or the initial manifest.*
+
+How to use
+----------
+Because the library features only distribute files, it's not bond to
+`posix shell scripts` or any programming or scripting language. To use
+the library, you only need to load the library from the given path.
+
+In shell scripts, it works as follow (here as a `type manifest`):
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    # loading a global library
+    . "$__library/manifest"
+
+    # loading type library
+    . "$__type/library/foo-bar"
+
+
+    # now, sourced shell functions can be used
+    # ...
+
+Remote handling
+---------------
+The libraries may also required on the remote side. For this, the
+library is completly copied to the remote. Therefor, it's completly
+available on the remote side and can be used in the explorers and
+generated remote code.
diff --git a/docs/src/cdist-reference.rst.sh b/docs/src/cdist-reference.rst.sh
index c0ac2c3e..1c001893 100755
--- a/docs/src/cdist-reference.rst.sh
+++ b/docs/src/cdist-reference.rst.sh
@@ -253,6 +253,11 @@ __global
     Directory that contains generic output like explorer.
 
     Available for: initial manifest, type manifest, type gencode, shell.
+__library
+    Directory that contains common code.
+
+    Available for: initial manifest, type manifest, type gencode, code scripts,
+      global explorer, type explorer.
 __messages_in
     File to read messages from.
 
@@ -301,11 +306,15 @@ __target_host_tags
 __type
     Path to the current type.
 
-    Available for: type manifest, type gencode.
+    Available for: type manifest, type gencode, local code.
 __type_explorer
     Directory that contains the type explorers.
 
     Available for: type explorer.
+__type_library
+    Directory that contains type-specific common code.
+
+    Available for: type explorer, code-remote.
 
 Environment variables (for writing)
 -----------------------------------
diff --git a/docs/src/cdist-type.rst b/docs/src/cdist-type.rst
index 582c0938..a0fedd4b 100644
--- a/docs/src/cdist-type.rst
+++ b/docs/src/cdist-type.rst
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ A type consists of
 - explorer     (optional)
 - gencode      (optional)
 - nonparallel  (optional)
+- library      (optional)
 
 Types are stored below cdist/conf/type/. Their name should always be prefixed with
 two underscores (__) to prevent collisions with other executables in $PATH.
diff --git a/docs/src/index.rst b/docs/src/index.rst
index 369d5309..d1883988 100644
--- a/docs/src/index.rst
+++ b/docs/src/index.rst
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ It natively supports IPv6 since the first release.
    cdist-type
    cdist-types
    cdist-explorer
+   cdist-library
    cdist-messaging
    cdist-parallelization
    cdist-inventory