diff --git a/docs/glossary.rst b/docs/glossary.rst
index b74d12e..1b27d73 100644
--- a/docs/glossary.rst
+++ b/docs/glossary.rst
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ Glossary
 
      See also the human-friendly :term:`app title`.
 
+   app provider
+     A :term:`provider` which pertains to the :term:`app handler`.
+     See :doc:`narr/providers/app`.
+
    app title
      Human-friendly name for the :term:`app` (e.g. "Wutta Poser").
 
@@ -104,6 +108,11 @@ Glossary
      modules etc. which is installed via ``pip``.  See also
      :doc:`narr/install/pkg`.
 
+   provider
+     Python object which "provides" extra functionality to some
+     portion of the :term:`app`.  Similar to a "plugin" concept; see
+     :doc:`narr/providers/index`.
+
    settings table
      Table in the :term:`app database` which is used to store
      :term:`config settings<config setting>`.  See also
diff --git a/docs/narr/index.rst b/docs/narr/index.rst
index 74a3de5..47624eb 100644
--- a/docs/narr/index.rst
+++ b/docs/narr/index.rst
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ Documentation
    config/index
    cli/index
    handlers/index
+   providers/index
    db/index
diff --git a/docs/narr/providers/app.rst b/docs/narr/providers/app.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41df3e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/narr/providers/app.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+
+App Providers
+=============
+
+An :term:`app provider` is a :term:`provider` which can "extend" the
+main :term:`app handler`.
+
+The provider generally does this by adding extra methods to the app
+handler.  Note that it does this regardless of which app handler is
+configured to be used.
+
+:class:`~wuttjamaican.app.AppProvider` is the base class.
+
+
+Adding a new Provider
+---------------------
+
+First define your provider class.  Note that the method names should
+include a "prefix" unique to your project (``poser_`` in this case).
+This is to avoid naming collisions with the app handler itself, as
+well as other app providers.  So e.g. in ``poser/app.py``::
+
+   from wuttjamaican.app import AppProvider
+
+   class PoserAppProvider(AppProvider):
+       """
+       App provider for Poser system
+       """
+
+       # nb. method name uses 'poser_' prefix
+       def poser_do_something(self, **kwargs):
+           """
+           Do something for Poser
+           """
+           print("did something")
+
+Register the :term:`entry point` in your ``setup.cfg``:
+
+.. code-block:: ini
+
+   [options.entry_points]
+
+   wutta.providers =
+       poser = poser.app:PoserAppProvider
+
+Assuming you have not customized the app handler proper, then you will
+be using the *default* app handler yet it will behave as though it has
+the "provided" methods::
+
+   from wuttjamaican.conf import make_config
+
+   # make normal app
+   config = make_config()
+   app = config.get_app()
+
+   # whatever this does..
+   app.poser_do_something()
diff --git a/docs/narr/providers/arch.rst b/docs/narr/providers/arch.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..459c135
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/narr/providers/arch.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+
+Architecture
+============
+
+:term:`Providers<provider>` are similar to a "plugin" concept in that
+multiple providers may be installed by different
+:term:`packages<package>`.  But whereas plugins are typically limited
+to a particular interface (method list/signatures etc.) a provider can
+also "bolt on" entirely new methods which may be used elsewhere in the
+:term:`app`.
+
+In that sense providers can perhaps be more accurately thought of as
+"extensions" rather than plugins.
+
+Providers may be related to :term:`handlers<handler>` in some cases,
+but not all.  But whereas there is only *one handler* configured for a
+given portion of the app, multiple providers of the same type would
+*all contribute* to the overall app.  In other words they are always
+enabled if installed.  (Some may require a :term:`config setting` to
+be "active" - but that is up to each provider.)
+
+There can be many "types" of providers; each pertains to a certain
+aspect of the overall app.  A given type of provider will apply to a
+certain "parent" class.
+
+
+What a Provider Does
+--------------------
+
+Each type of provider pertains to a certain parent class.  The app
+itself will define the need for a provider type.
+
+For instance there might be a "dashboard" class which can show various
+blocks of info (charts etc.).  Providers might be used to supplement the
+parent dashboard class, by adding extra blocks to the display.
+
+But in that example, providers look an awful lot like plugins.
+
+For a better (and real) example see :doc:`app`.
diff --git a/docs/narr/providers/index.rst b/docs/narr/providers/index.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..879b006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/narr/providers/index.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+Providers
+=========
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
+
+   overview
+   arch
+   app
diff --git a/docs/narr/providers/overview.rst b/docs/narr/providers/overview.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6696fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/narr/providers/overview.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+
+Overview
+========
+
+The :term:`provider` concept is a way to "supplement" the main app
+logic.  It is different from a :term:`handler` though:
+
+Providers are *more* analagous to "plugins" than are handlers.  For
+instance multiple :term:`app providers<app provider>` may be installed
+by various packages and *each of these* will supplement the (one and
+only) :term:`app handler`.  See also :doc:`arch`.
+
+So far there is only one provider type defined; see :doc:`app`.
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
index bb18f3a..2a72b26 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ WuttJamaican - app handler
 """
 
 import os
+import warnings
 
 from wuttjamaican.util import load_entry_points, load_object, parse_bool
 
@@ -46,6 +47,11 @@ class AppHandler:
 
     :param config: Config object for the app.  This should be an
        instance of :class:`~wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig`.
+
+    .. attribute:: providers
+
+       Dictionary of :class:`AppProvider` instances, as returned by
+       :meth:`get_all_providers()`.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, config):
@@ -66,6 +72,47 @@ class AppHandler:
         """
         return self.config.appname
 
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        """
+        Custom attribute getter, called when the app handler does not
+        already have an attribute named with ``name``.
+
+        This will delegate to the set of :term:`app providers<app
+        provider>`; the first provider with an appropriately-named
+        attribute wins, and that value is returned.
+
+        :returns: The first value found among the set of app
+           providers.
+        """
+
+        if name == 'providers':
+            self.providers = self.get_all_providers()
+            return self.providers
+
+        # if 'providers' not in self.__dict__:
+        #     self.__dict__['providers'] = self.get_all_providers()
+
+        for provider in self.providers.values():
+            if hasattr(provider, name):
+                return getattr(provider, name)
+
+        return super().__getattr__(name)
+
+    def get_all_providers(self):
+        """
+        Load and return all registered providers.
+
+        Note that you do not need to call this directly; instead just
+        use :attr:`providers`.
+
+        :returns: Dictionary keyed by entry point name; values are
+           :class:`AppProvider` *instances*.
+        """
+        providers = load_entry_points(f'{self.appname}.providers')
+        for key in list(providers):
+            providers[key] = providers[key](self.config)
+        return providers
+
     def make_appdir(self, path, subfolders=None, **kwargs):
         """
         Establish an :term:`app dir` at the given path.
@@ -201,3 +248,36 @@ class AppHandler:
         from .db import get_setting
 
         return get_setting(session, name)
+
+
+class AppProvider:
+    """
+    Base class for :term:`app providers<app provider>`.
+
+    These can add arbitrary extra functionality to the main :term:`app
+    handler`.  See also :doc:`/narr/providers/app`.
+
+    :param config: Config object for the app.  This should be an
+       instance of :class:`~wuttjamaican.conf.WuttaConfig`.
+
+    Instances have the following attributes:
+
+    .. attribute:: config
+
+       Reference to the config object.
+
+    .. attribute:: app
+
+       Reference to the parent app handler.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config):
+
+        if isinstance(config, AppHandler):
+            warnings.warn("passing app handler to app provider is deprecated; "
+                          "must pass config object instead",
+                          DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
+            config = config.config
+
+        self.config = config
+        self.app = config.get_app()
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index d35478d..285b5a4 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class TestAppHandler(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.config = WuttaConfig(appname='wuttatest')
         self.app = app.AppHandler(self.config)
+        self.config.app = self.app
 
     def test_init(self):
         self.assertIs(self.app.config, self.config)
@@ -109,3 +110,81 @@ class TestAppHandler(TestCase):
         session.execute(sa.text("insert into setting values ('foo', 'bar');"))
         value = self.app.get_setting(session, 'foo')
         self.assertEqual(value, 'bar')
+
+
+class TestAppProvider(TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.config = WuttaConfig(appname='wuttatest')
+        self.app = app.AppHandler(self.config)
+        self.config.app = self.app
+
+    def test_constructor(self):
+
+        # config object is expected
+        provider = app.AppProvider(self.config)
+        self.assertIs(provider.config, self.config)
+        self.assertIs(provider.app, self.app)
+
+        # but can pass app handler instead
+        provider = app.AppProvider(self.app)
+        self.assertIs(provider.config, self.config)
+        self.assertIs(provider.app, self.app)
+
+    def test_get_all_providers(self):
+
+        class FakeProvider(app.AppProvider):
+            pass
+
+        # nb. we specify *classes* here
+        fake_providers = {'fake': FakeProvider}
+
+        with patch('wuttjamaican.app.load_entry_points') as load_entry_points:
+            load_entry_points.return_value = fake_providers
+
+            # sanity check, we get *instances* back from this
+            providers = self.app.get_all_providers()
+            load_entry_points.assert_called_once_with('wuttatest.providers')
+            self.assertEqual(len(providers), 1)
+            self.assertIn('fake', providers)
+            self.assertIsInstance(providers['fake'], FakeProvider)
+
+    def test_hasattr(self):
+
+        class FakeProvider(app.AppProvider):
+            def fake_foo(self):
+                pass
+
+        self.app.providers = {'fake': FakeProvider(self.config)}
+
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(self.app, 'fake_foo'))
+        self.assertFalse(hasattr(self.app, 'fake_method_does_not_exist'))
+
+    def test_getattr(self):
+
+        class FakeProvider(app.AppProvider):
+            def fake_foo(self):
+                return 42
+
+        # nb. using instances here
+        fake_providers = {'fake': FakeProvider(self.config)}
+
+        with patch.object(self.app, 'get_all_providers') as get_all_providers:
+            get_all_providers.return_value = fake_providers
+
+            self.assertNotIn('providers', self.app.__dict__)
+            self.assertIs(self.app.providers, fake_providers)
+            get_all_providers.assert_called_once_with()
+
+    def test_getattr_providers(self):
+
+        # collection of providers is loaded on demand
+        self.assertNotIn('providers', self.app.__dict__)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(self.app.providers)
+
+        # custom attr does not exist yet
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, getattr, self.app, 'foo_value')
+
+        # but provider can supply the attr
+        self.app.providers['mytest'] = MagicMock(foo_value='bar')
+        self.assertEqual(self.app.foo_value, 'bar')