diff --git a/src/build.rs b/src/build.rs
index 05df70f0..187af797 100644
--- a/src/build.rs
+++ b/src/build.rs
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ impl<'a> Resolver<'a> {
 
             // TODO: (consistency): this should be handled *after* modules
             // which match the exact name
-            if let Some(provides) = &self.build.build_context.provides {
-                if let Some(providing_modules) = provides.get(dep_name) {
+            if let Some(provided) = &self.build.build_context.provided {
+                if let Some(providing_modules) = provided.get(dep_name) {
                     if self.resolve_module_list(providing_modules, dep_name) > 0 {
                         optional = true;
                         if self.disabled_modules.contains(dep_name) {
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ impl<'a: 'b, 'b> Build<'b> {
         let mut build_context = Context::new_build_context(builder.name.clone(), builder);
 
         if let Some(parent) = build_context.get_parent(contexts) {
-            build_context.provides.clone_from(&parent.provides);
+            build_context.provided.clone_from(&parent.provided);
         }
 
         // TODO: opt: see if Cow improves performance
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ impl<'a: 'b, 'b> Build<'b> {
             .flat_map(|x| x.iter())
             .cloned()
             .chain(binary.selects.drain(..))
-            .chain(build_context.collect_selected_modules(contexts).drain(..))
+            .chain(std::iter::once(Dependency::Hard(builder.module_name())))
             .collect();
 
         let mut build = Build {
diff --git a/src/data.rs b/src/data.rs
index f98d3067..1ac463c2 100644
--- a/src/data.rs
+++ b/src/data.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ where
     Deserialize::deserialize(deserializer).map(Some)
 }
 
+fn default_none<T>() -> Option<T> {
+    None
+}
+
 fn deserialize_version_checked<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Option<Version>, D::Error>
 where
     //    T: Deserialize<'de>,
@@ -95,6 +99,24 @@ struct YamlFile {
     _meta: Option<Value>,
 }
 
+fn check_module_name<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Option<String>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let v = Option::<String>::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+
+    if let Some(v) = v.as_ref() {
+        if v.starts_with("context::") {
+            return Err(serde::de::Error::invalid_value(
+                serde::de::Unexpected::Str(v),
+                &"a string not starting with \"context::\"",
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(v)
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 struct YamlContext {
@@ -123,6 +145,7 @@ enum StringOrVecString {
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 struct YamlModule {
+    #[serde(default = "default_none", deserialize_with = "check_module_name")]
     name: Option<String>,
     context: Option<StringOrVecString>,
     help: Option<String>,
@@ -353,12 +376,15 @@ pub fn load(filename: &Utf8Path, build_dir: &Utf8Path) -> Result<(ContextBag, Fi
         is_builder: bool,
         filename: &Utf8PathBuf,
         import_root: &Option<ImportRoot>,
-    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    ) -> Result<Module, Error> {
         let context_name = &context.name;
         let context_parent = match &context.parent {
             Some(x) => x.clone(),
             None => "default".to_string(),
         };
+
+        let is_default = context_name.as_str() == "default";
+
         // println!(
         //     "{} {} parent {}",
         //     match is_builder {
@@ -372,9 +398,10 @@ pub fn load(filename: &Utf8Path, build_dir: &Utf8Path) -> Result<(ContextBag, Fi
             .add_context_or_builder(
                 Context::new(
                     context_name.clone(),
-                    match context_name.as_str() {
-                        "default" => None,
-                        _ => Some(context_parent),
+                    if is_default {
+                        None
+                    } else {
+                        Some(context_parent.clone())
                     },
                 ),
                 is_builder,
@@ -440,19 +467,47 @@ pub fn load(filename: &Utf8Path, build_dir: &Utf8Path) -> Result<(ContextBag, Fi
 
         context_.defined_in = Some(filename.clone());
 
+        // TODO(context-early-disables)
         context_.disable.clone_from(&context.disables);
 
+        // Each Context has an associated module.
+        // This holds:
+        // - selects
+        // - disables
+        // TODO:
+        // - env (in global env)
+        // - rules
+        // - tasks
+        let module_name = Some(context_.module_name());
+        let mut module = init_module(
+            &module_name,
+            Some(context_name),
+            false,
+            filename,
+            import_root,
+            None,
+        );
+
         // collect context level "select:"
-        if let Some(select) = &context.selects {
-            context_.select = Some(
-                select
-                    .iter()
-                    .map(dependency_from_string)
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
-            );
+        if let Some(selects) = &context.selects {
+            for dep_name in selects {
+                // println!("- {}", dep_name);
+                module.selects.push(dependency_from_string(dep_name));
+            }
+        }
+
+        if let Some(disables) = context.disables.as_ref() {
+            module.conflicts = Some(disables.clone());
         }
 
-        Ok(())
+        // make context module depend on its parent's context module
+        if !is_default {
+            module
+                .selects
+                .push(Dependency::Hard(Context::module_name_for(&context_parent)));
+        }
+
+        Ok(module)
     }
 
     fn init_module(
@@ -729,17 +784,19 @@ pub fn load(filename: &Utf8Path, build_dir: &Utf8Path) -> Result<(ContextBag, Fi
     // collect and convert contexts
     // this needs to be done before collecting modules, as that requires
     // contexts to be finalized.
+    let mut context_modules = Vec::new();
     for data in &yaml_datas {
         for (list, is_builder) in [(&data.contexts, false), (&data.builders, true)].iter() {
             if let Some(context_list) = list {
                 for context in context_list {
-                    convert_context(
+                    let module = convert_context(
                         context,
                         &mut contexts,
                         *is_builder | context.is_builder,
                         data.filename.as_ref().unwrap(),
                         &data.import_root,
                     )?;
+                    context_modules.push(module);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -749,6 +806,11 @@ pub fn load(filename: &Utf8Path, build_dir: &Utf8Path) -> Result<(ContextBag, Fi
     // modules can now be processed.
     contexts.finalize()?;
 
+    // add the associated modules to their respective contexts
+    for module in context_modules.drain(..) {
+        contexts.add_module(module)?;
+    }
+
     // for context in &contexts.contexts {
     //     if let Some(env) = &context.env {
     //         println!("context {} env:", context.name);
diff --git a/src/generate.rs b/src/generate.rs
index f2cca34a..bd398d91 100644
--- a/src/generate.rs
+++ b/src/generate.rs
@@ -439,14 +439,25 @@ fn configure_build(
         EnvKey::List(
             resolved
                 .modules
-                .keys()
-                .cloned()
-                .cloned()
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|(_, m)| !m.is_context_module())
+                .map(|(n, _)| (*n).clone())
                 .sorted()
                 .collect::<_>(),
         ),
     );
 
+    // insert list of actually used contexts
+    global_env.insert(
+        "contexts".into(),
+        EnvKey::List(
+            builder
+                .context_iter(contexts)
+                .map(|c| c.name.clone())
+                .collect::<_>(),
+        ),
+    );
+
     // if provided, merge CLI env overrides
     if let Some(cli_env) = cli_env {
         global_env.merge(cli_env);
@@ -561,6 +572,16 @@ fn configure_build(
             };
             module_info.insert(module.name.clone(), info);
         }
+
+        // "srcdir" is either the folder of laze.yml that defined this module,
+        // *or* if it was downloaded, the download folder.
+        // *or*, it was overridden using "srcdir:"
+        // *or*, None if this is a "Context module"
+        let srcdir = match module.srcdir.as_ref() {
+            Some(srcdir) => srcdir,
+            None => continue, // this is a Context module, so we're done here
+        };
+
         // finalize this module's environment
         let flattened_env = module_env
             .flatten_with_opts_option(merge_opts.as_ref())
@@ -573,12 +594,6 @@ fn configure_build(
             ninja_entries.extend(download_rules.drain(..));
         }
 
-        // "srcdir" is either the folder of laze.yml that defined this module,
-        // *or* if it was downloaded, the download folder.
-        // *or*, it was overridden using "srcdir:"
-        // This is populated in data.rs, so unwrap() always succeeds.
-        let srcdir = module.srcdir.as_ref().unwrap();
-
         let mut src_tagfile = None;
 
         if let Some(download) = module.download.as_ref() {
diff --git a/src/model/context.rs b/src/model/context.rs
index bb153e02..43d1f1c3 100644
--- a/src/model/context.rs
+++ b/src/model/context.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 
 use crate::Env;
 use crate::MergeOption;
-use crate::{ContextBag, Dependency, Module, Rule, Task};
+use crate::{ContextBag, Module, Rule, Task};
 
 #[derive(Eq)]
 pub struct Context {
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ pub struct Context {
     pub modules: IndexMap<String, Module>,
     pub rules: Option<IndexMap<String, Rule>>,
     pub env: Option<Env>,
-    pub select: Option<Vec<Dependency<String>>>,
+    // TODO(context-early-disables)
     pub disable: Option<Vec<String>>,
-    pub provides: Option<im::HashMap<String, IndexSet<String>>>,
+
+    // map of providables that are provided in this context or its parents
+    pub provided: Option<im::HashMap<String, IndexSet<String>>>,
 
     pub var_options: Option<im::HashMap<String, MergeOption>>,
 
@@ -42,9 +44,8 @@ impl Context {
             index: None,
             parent_index: None,
             modules: IndexMap::new(),
-            select: None,
             disable: None,
-            provides: None,
+            provided: None,
             env: None,
             env_early: Env::new(),
             rules: None,
@@ -75,6 +76,15 @@ impl Context {
         result.push(self);
     }
 
+    /// Creates an iterator over a context and its parents, starting
+    /// with the context.
+    pub(crate) fn context_iter<'a>(&'a self, bag: &'a ContextBag) -> ParentIterator {
+        ParentIterator {
+            bag,
+            next_context: Some(self),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn resolve_module<'a: 'b, 'b>(
         &'a self,
         module_name: &String,
@@ -176,26 +186,32 @@ impl Context {
         result
     }
 
-    pub fn collect_selected_modules(&self, contexts: &ContextBag) -> Vec<Dependency<String>> {
-        let mut result = Vec::new();
-        let mut parents = Vec::new();
-        self.get_parents(contexts, &mut parents);
-        for parent in parents {
-            if let Some(select) = &parent.select {
-                for entry in select {
-                    result.push(entry.clone());
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        result
-    }
-
     pub fn apply_early_env(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
         if let Some(env) = &mut self.env {
             env.expand(&self.env_early)?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    pub fn module_name(&self) -> String {
+        Self::module_name_for(&self.name)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn module_name_for(context_name: &str) -> String {
+        format!("context::{}", context_name)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn new_default() -> Context {
+        let mut default = Context::new("default".to_string(), None);
+        let default_module =
+            Module::new("context::default".to_string(), Some("default".to_string()));
+
+        default
+            .modules
+            .insert("context::default".to_string(), default_module);
+
+        default
+    }
 }
 
 impl Hash for Context {
@@ -209,3 +225,17 @@ impl PartialEq for Context {
         self.name == other.name
     }
 }
+
+pub struct ParentIterator<'a> {
+    bag: &'a ContextBag,
+    next_context: Option<&'a Context>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for ParentIterator<'a> {
+    type Item = &'a Context;
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<&'a Context> {
+        let res = self.next_context;
+        self.next_context = self.next_context.and_then(|c| c.get_parent(self.bag));
+        res
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/model/context_bag.rs b/src/model/context_bag.rs
index a2668c41..05f04724 100644
--- a/src/model/context_bag.rs
+++ b/src/model/context_bag.rs
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ impl ContextBag {
     pub fn finalize(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
         // ensure there's a "default" context
         if self.get_by_name(&"default".to_string()).is_none() {
-            self.add_context(Context::new("default".to_string(), None))
-                .unwrap();
+            self.add_context(Context::new_default()).unwrap();
         }
 
         // set the "parent" index of each context that sets a "parent_name"
@@ -179,7 +178,7 @@ impl ContextBag {
             }
             indexmap::map::Entry::Vacant(entry) => {
                 if let Some(provides) = &module.provides {
-                    let context_provides = context.provides.get_or_insert_with(im::HashMap::new);
+                    let context_provides = context.provided.get_or_insert_with(im::HashMap::new);
                     for provided in provides {
                         context_provides
                             .entry(provided.clone())
@@ -304,8 +303,8 @@ impl ContextBag {
                 continue;
             }
             let context = &self.contexts[n];
-            let provides = &context.provides;
-            let parent_provides = &self.contexts[context.parent_index.unwrap()].provides;
+            let provides = &context.provided;
+            let parent_provides = &self.contexts[context.parent_index.unwrap()].provided;
             let combined_provides = {
                 if let Some(provides) = provides {
                     if let Some(parent_provides) = parent_provides {
@@ -352,7 +351,7 @@ impl ContextBag {
             });
 
             let context = &mut self.contexts[n];
-            context.provides = combined_provides;
+            context.provided = combined_provides;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/model/module.rs b/src/model/module.rs
index 2b214404..fa518db3 100644
--- a/src/model/module.rs
+++ b/src/model/module.rs
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ impl Module {
         if self.notify_all {
             let all_modules = modules
                 .iter()
+                .filter(|(_, dep)| !dep.is_context_module())
                 .map(|(_, dep)| dep.create_module_define())
                 .collect::<im::Vector<_>>();
             module_env.insert("notify".into(), nested_env::EnvKey::List(all_modules));
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ impl Module {
                 '/' => '_',
                 '.' => '_',
                 '-' => '_',
+                ':' => '_',
                 _ => x,
             })
             .collect()
@@ -247,6 +249,10 @@ impl Module {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn is_context_module(&self) -> bool {
+        self.name.starts_with("context::")
+    }
+
     // returns all fixed and optional sources with srcdir prepended
     // pub fn get_all_sources(&self, srcdir: Utf8PathBuf) -> Vec<Utf8PathBuf> {
     //     let mut res = self
diff --git a/src/tests/41_insights/build_expected/insights.json b/src/tests/41_insights/build_expected/insights.json
index 733f9fdb..bb3e50ba 100644
--- a/src/tests/41_insights/build_expected/insights.json
+++ b/src/tests/41_insights/build_expected/insights.json
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@
             "deps": [
               "first_module",
               "second_module",
-              "third_module"
+              "third_module",
+              "context::default"
             ]
           },
           "first_module": {},
-          "second_module": {}
+          "second_module": {},
+          "context::default": {}
         }
       }
     }