diff --git a/patchwork/git.py b/patchwork/git.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90ec545
--- /dev/null
+++ b/patchwork/git.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from fabric.api import cd, run
+from fabric.contrib.files import exists
+
+
+def clone(repo, path, pull_cmd="git pull"):
+    if not exists(path):
+        run("git clone %s %s" % (repo, path))
+    else:
+        with cd(path):
+            run(pull_cmd)
diff --git a/patchwork/info.py b/patchwork/info.py
index 5394f74..d4dd122 100644
--- a/patchwork/info.py
+++ b/patchwork/info.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
+from fabric.api import run, settings, hide
 from fabric.contrib.files import exists
 
 
-def distro_name():
+def distro_name(runner=run):
     """
     Return simple Linux distribution name identifier, e.g. ``"fedora"``.
 
@@ -23,6 +24,12 @@ def distro_name():
         for sentinel in sentinels:
             if exists('/etc/%s' % sentinel):
                 return name
+    
+    with settings(hide('everything'), warn_only=True):
+        distro = runner('lsb_release --short --id')
+        if distro.succeeded:
+            return distro.lower()
+    
     return "other"
 
 
diff --git a/patchwork/packages/__init__.py b/patchwork/packages/__init__.py
index 13dce4e..9cbba89 100644
--- a/patchwork/packages/__init__.py
+++ b/patchwork/packages/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from functools import wraps
+
 from fabric.api import sudo
 from patchwork.info import distro_family
 
@@ -14,8 +16,8 @@ def package(*packages):
     # Run from cache vs updating package lists every time; assume 'yes'.
     yum = "yum install -y %s"
     manager = apt if distro_family() == "debian" else yum
-    for package in packages:
-        sudo(manager % package)
+    
+    sudo(manager % " ".join(packages))
 
 
 def rubygem(gem):
@@ -23,3 +25,21 @@ def rubygem(gem):
     Install a Rubygem
     """
     return sudo("gem install -b --no-rdoc --no-ri %s" % gem)
+
+
+class requires_packages(object):
+    """
+    A decorator that ensures the listed packages are installed. Example:
+
+    @task
+    @requires_packages('python-dev', 'redis-server', 'nginx')
+    def my_task(): ...
+    """
+    def __init__(self, *args):
+        self.packages = args
+
+    def __call__(self, fn, *args, **kwargs):
+        def wrapper():
+            package(*self.packages)
+            fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        return wraps(fn)(wrapper)
diff --git a/patchwork/supervisor.py b/patchwork/supervisor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..509c17b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/patchwork/supervisor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import time
+
+from fabric.api import sudo
+from fabric.contrib.files import upload_template
+
+
+def supervise(conf, destination='/etc/supervisor/conf.d', **kwargs):
+    """
+    Installs a service into supervisor. ``kwargs`` are passed onto the upload_template call.
+    """
+    if 'use_sudo' not in kwargs:
+        kwargs['use_sudo'] = True
+    
+    upload_template(conf, destination, **kwargs)
+
+    sudo("service supervisor stop")
+    time.sleep(2)
+    sudo("service supervisor start")
+    sudo("supervisorctl status")