diff --git a/common/include/software_manager.hpp b/common/include/software_manager.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cc2e6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/include/software_manager.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "device.hpp"
+
+#include <boost/asio/steady_timer.hpp>
+#include <phosphor-logging/lg2.hpp>
+#include <sdbusplus/asio/connection.hpp>
+#include <sdbusplus/asio/object_server.hpp>
+#include <sdbusplus/async/context.hpp>
+#include <sdbusplus/timer.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+
+using namespace phosphor::software::config;
+using namespace phosphor::software::device;
+
+namespace phosphor::software::manager
+{
+
+// This is the base class for the code updater
+// Every code updater can inherit from this
+class SoftwareManager
+{
+  public:
+    SoftwareManager(sdbusplus::async::context& ctx,
+                    const std::string& serviceNameSuffix);
+
+    // Fetches initial configuration from dbus and initializes devices.
+    // This should be called once by a code updater at startup.
+    // @param configurationInterfaces    the dbus interfaces from which to fetch
+    // configuration
+    sdbusplus::async::task<> initDevices(
+        const std::vector<std::string>& configurationInterfaces);
+
+    // Map of EM config object path to device.
+    std::map<sdbusplus::message::object_path, std::unique_ptr<Device>> devices;
+
+  protected:
+    // This function receives a dbus name and object path for a single device,
+    // which was configured.
+    // The component code updater overrides this function and may create a
+    // device instance internally, or reject the configuration as invalid.
+    // @param service       The dbus name where our configuration is
+    // @param config        The common configuration properties which are shared
+    // by all devices.
+    //                      Also includes the object path to fetch other
+    //                      configuration properties.
+    // @returns true        if the configuration was accepted
+    virtual sdbusplus::async::task<bool> initDevice(const std::string& service,
+                                                    const std::string& path,
+                                                    SoftwareConfig& config) = 0;
+
+    sdbusplus::async::context& ctx;
+
+  private:
+    // request the bus name on dbus after all configuration has been parsed
+    // and the devices have been initialized
+    // @returns        the name on dbus
+    std::string setupBusName();
+
+    // this is appended to the common prefix to construct the dbus name
+    std::string serviceNameSuffix;
+
+    sdbusplus::server::manager_t manager;
+
+    friend Software;
+    friend Device;
+};
+
+}; // namespace phosphor::software::manager