diff --git a/.changeset/rare-comics-tan.md b/.changeset/rare-comics-tan.md
index a067ab2eb4..12d615d3f3 100644
--- a/.changeset/rare-comics-tan.md
+++ b/.changeset/rare-comics-tan.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 '@backstage/backend-common': patch
 ---
 
-Added a Context class for the backend, that handles aborting, timeouts, api resolution etc
+Added a `Context` type for the backend, that can propagate an abort signal, a deadline, and contextual values through the call stack. The main entrypoint is the `Contexts` utility class that provides a root context creator and commonly used decorators.
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/api-report.md b/packages/backend-common/api-report.md
index 8b925c441c..e77beef556 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-common/api-report.md
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import { AzureIntegration } from '@backstage/integration';
 import { BitbucketIntegration } from '@backstage/integration';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import cors from 'cors';
-import { DateTime } from 'luxon';
 import Docker from 'dockerode';
 import { Duration } from 'luxon';
 import { ErrorRequestHandler } from 'express';
@@ -149,25 +148,27 @@ export interface ContainerRunner {
 
 // @public
 export interface Context {
-  readonly abortPromise: Promise<void>;
   readonly abortSignal: AbortSignal;
-  readonly deadline: DateTime | undefined;
+  readonly deadline: Date | undefined;
+  use(...decorators: ContextDecorator[]): Context;
   value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined;
-  with(...decorators: ContextDecorator[]): Context;
-  withAbort(): {
-    ctx: Context;
-    abort: () => void;
-  };
-  withTimeout(timeout: Duration): Context;
-  withValue<T = unknown>(
-    key: string | symbol,
-    value: T | ((previous: T | undefined) => T),
-  ): Context;
 }
 
 // @public
 export type ContextDecorator = (ctx: Context) => Context;
 
+// @public
+export class Contexts {
+  static root(): Context;
+  static setAbort(signal: AbortSignal_2): ContextDecorator;
+  static setTimeoutDuration(timeout: Duration): ContextDecorator;
+  static setTimeoutMillis(timeout: number): ContextDecorator;
+  static setValue(
+    key: string | symbol,
+    value: unknown | ((previous: unknown | undefined) => unknown),
+  ): ContextDecorator;
+}
+
 // @public @deprecated
 export const createDatabase: typeof createDatabaseClient;
 
@@ -479,25 +480,6 @@ export function resolvePackagePath(name: string, ...paths: string[]): string;
 // @public
 export function resolveSafeChildPath(base: string, path: string): string;
 
-// @public
-export class RootContext implements Context {
-  get abortPromise(): Promise<void>;
-  get abortSignal(): AbortSignal_2;
-  static create(): Context;
-  get deadline(): DateTime | undefined;
-  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined;
-  with(...items: ContextDecorator[]): Context;
-  withAbort(): {
-    ctx: Context;
-    abort: () => void;
-  };
-  withTimeout(timeout: Duration): Context;
-  withValue<T = unknown>(
-    key: string | symbol,
-    value: T | ((previous: T | undefined) => T),
-  ): Context;
-}
-
 // @public
 export type RunContainerOptions = {
   imageName: string;
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fc7b366c23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { AbortController } from 'node-abort-controller';
+import { AbortContext } from './AbortContext';
+import { Contexts } from './Contexts';
+import { RootContext } from './RootContext';
+
+describe('AbortContext', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  describe('forTimeoutMillis', () => {
+    it('can abort on a timeout', async () => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+      const timeout = 200;
+      const deadline = Date.now() + timeout;
+
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const child = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(root, timeout);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(Math.abs(+child.deadline! - deadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(timeout + 1);
+
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('results in minimum deadline when parent triggers sooner', async () => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+      const parentTimeout = 200;
+      const childTimeout = 300;
+      const parentDeadline = Date.now() + parentTimeout;
+      const childDeadline = parentDeadline; // clamped
+
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parent = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(root, parentTimeout);
+      const parentListener = jest.fn();
+      parent.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', parentListener);
+
+      const child = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(parent, childTimeout);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(Math.abs(+parent.deadline! - parentDeadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+      expect(Math.abs(+child.deadline! - childDeadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(parentTimeout + 1);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('results in minimum deadline when child triggers sooner', async () => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+      const parentTimeout = 300;
+      const childTimeout = 200;
+      const parentDeadline = Date.now() + parentTimeout;
+      const childDeadline = Date.now() + childTimeout;
+
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parent = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(root, parentTimeout);
+      const parentListener = jest.fn();
+      parent.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', parentListener);
+
+      const child = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(parent, childTimeout);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(Math.abs(+parent.deadline! - parentDeadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+      expect(Math.abs(+child.deadline! - childDeadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(childTimeout + 1);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(parentTimeout - childTimeout + 1);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('child carries over parent signal state if parent was already aborted and had no deadline', async () => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+      const childTimeout = 200;
+      const childDeadline = Date.now() + childTimeout;
+
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parentController = new AbortController();
+      const parent = AbortContext.forSignal(root, parentController.signal);
+
+      parentController.abort();
+
+      const child = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(parent, childTimeout);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(Math.abs(+child.deadline! - childDeadline)).toBeLessThan(50);
+
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(childTimeout + 1);
+
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0); // still
+    });
+
+    it('child carries over parent signal state if parent was already aborted and had a deadline', async () => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+      const first = new RootContext();
+
+      const secondController = new AbortController();
+      const second = AbortContext.forSignal(first, secondController.signal);
+      secondController.abort();
+
+      const third = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(second, 200);
+      const fourth = AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(third, 300);
+
+      expect(third.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(fourth.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(Math.abs(+fourth.deadline! - Date.now() - 200)).toBeLessThan(50);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('forSignal', () => {
+    it('signals child when parent is aborted', async () => {
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parentController = new AbortController();
+      const parent = AbortContext.forSignal(root, parentController.signal);
+      const parentListener = jest.fn();
+      parent.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', parentListener);
+
+      const childController = new AbortController();
+      const child = AbortContext.forSignal(parent, childController.signal);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      parentController.abort();
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('does not signal parent when child is aborted', async () => {
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parentController = new AbortController();
+      const parent = AbortContext.forSignal(root, parentController.signal);
+      const parentListener = jest.fn();
+      parent.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', parentListener);
+
+      const childController = new AbortController();
+      const child = AbortContext.forSignal(parent, childController.signal);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      childController.abort();
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(false);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(parentListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('child carries over parent signal state if parent was already aborted', async () => {
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const parentController = new AbortController();
+      const parent = AbortContext.forSignal(root, parentController.signal);
+
+      parentController.abort();
+
+      const childController = new AbortController();
+      const child = AbortContext.forSignal(parent, childController.signal);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+
+      childController.abort();
+
+      expect(parent.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+    });
+
+    it('child carries over given signal state if it was already aborted', async () => {
+      const root = new RootContext();
+
+      const childController = new AbortController();
+      childController.abort();
+
+      const child = AbortContext.forSignal(root, childController.signal);
+      const childListener = jest.fn();
+      child.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', childListener);
+
+      expect(child.abortSignal.aborted).toBe(true);
+      expect(childListener).toBeCalledTimes(0);
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can decorate', () => {
+    const root = new RootContext();
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const parent = AbortContext.forSignal(root, controller.signal);
+    const child = parent.use(
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 2),
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 3),
+    );
+    expect(child.value('a')).toBe(3);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a328241de2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/AbortContext.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { AbortSignal } from 'node-abort-controller';
+import { Context, ContextDecorator } from './types';
+
+/**
+ * A context that implements various abort related functionality.
+ */
+export class AbortContext implements Context {
+  /**
+   * Abort either when the parent aborts, or after the given timeout has
+   * expired.
+   */
+  static forTimeoutMillis(ctx: Context, timeout: number): Context {
+    const desiredDeadline = new Date(Date.now() + timeout);
+    const actualDeadline =
+      ctx.deadline && ctx.deadline < desiredDeadline
+        ? ctx.deadline
+        : desiredDeadline;
+
+    if (ctx.abortSignal.aborted) {
+      if (ctx.deadline && desiredDeadline === actualDeadline) {
+        return ctx;
+      }
+      return new AbortContext(ctx, ctx.abortSignal, actualDeadline);
+    }
+
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+
+    const timeoutHandle = setTimeout(() => {
+      controller.abort();
+    }, timeout);
+
+    const abort = () => {
+      ctx.abortSignal.removeEventListener('abort', abort);
+      clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
+      controller.abort();
+    };
+
+    ctx.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', abort);
+
+    return new AbortContext(ctx, controller.signal, actualDeadline);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Abort either when the parent aborts, or when the given signal is triggered.
+   */
+  static forSignal(ctx: Context, signal: AbortSignal): Context {
+    // If the parent context was already aborted, it is fine to reuse as-is
+    if (ctx.abortSignal.aborted) {
+      return ctx;
+    }
+
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const abort = controller.abort.bind(controller);
+
+    // If the incoming signal was already aborted, let's trigger the new one as
+    // well
+    if (signal.aborted) {
+      abort();
+    } else {
+      ctx.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', abort);
+      signal.addEventListener('abort', abort);
+    }
+
+    return new AbortContext(ctx, controller.signal, ctx.deadline);
+  }
+
+  private constructor(
+    private readonly parent: Context,
+    readonly abortSignal: AbortSignal,
+    readonly deadline: Date | undefined,
+  ) {}
+
+  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined {
+    return this.parent.value(key);
+  }
+
+  use(...items: ContextDecorator[]): Context {
+    return items.reduce((prev, curr) => curr(prev), this as Context);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/Contexts.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/Contexts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..775f6f730d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/Contexts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Duration } from 'luxon';
+import { AbortSignal } from 'node-abort-controller';
+import { AbortContext } from './AbortContext';
+import { RootContext } from './RootContext';
+import { Context, ContextDecorator } from './types';
+import { ValueContext } from './ValueContext';
+
+/**
+ * Common context decorators.
+ *
+ * @public
+ */
+export class Contexts {
+  /**
+   * Creates a root context.
+   *
+   * @remarks
+   *
+   * This should normally only be called near the root of an application. The
+   * created context is meant to be passed down into deeper levels, which may or
+   * may not make derived contexts out of it.
+   */
+  static root(): Context {
+    return new RootContext();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a derived context, which signals to abort operations either when
+   * any parent context signals, or when the given controller is aborted.
+   *
+   * @remarks
+   *
+   * If the parent context was already aborted, then it is returned as-is.
+   *
+   * If the given signal was already aborted, then a new already-aborted context
+   * is returned.
+   *
+   * @param signal - An abort signal that you intend to perhaps trigger at some
+   *                 later point in time.
+   * @returns A decorator that can be passed to {@link Context.use}
+   */
+  static setAbort(signal: AbortSignal): ContextDecorator {
+    return ctx => AbortContext.forSignal(ctx, signal);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a derived context, which signals to abort operations either when
+   * any parent context signals, or when the given amount of time has passed.
+   * This may affect the deadline.
+   *
+   * @param timeout - The duration of time, after which the derived context will
+   *                  signal to abort.
+   * @returns A decorator that can be passed to {@link Context.use}
+   */
+  static setTimeoutDuration(timeout: Duration): ContextDecorator {
+    return ctx =>
+      AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(ctx, timeout.as('milliseconds'));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a derived context, which signals to abort operations either when
+   * any parent context signals, or when the given amount of time has passed.
+   * This may affect the deadline.
+   *
+   * @param timeout - The number of milliseconds, after which the derived
+   *                  context will signal to abort.
+   * @returns A decorator that can be passed to {@link Context.use}
+   */
+  static setTimeoutMillis(timeout: number): ContextDecorator {
+    return ctx => AbortContext.forTimeoutMillis(ctx, timeout);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a derived context, which has a specific key-value pair set as well
+   * as all key-value pairs that were set in the original context.
+   *
+   * @param key - The key of the value to set
+   * @param value - The value, or a function that accepts the previous value (or
+   *                undefined if not set yet) and computes the new value
+   * @returns A decorator that can be passed to {@link Context.use}
+   */
+  static setValue(
+    key: string | symbol,
+    value: unknown | ((previous: unknown | undefined) => unknown),
+  ): ContextDecorator {
+    return ctx => {
+      const v = typeof value === 'function' ? value(ctx.value(key)) : value;
+      return ValueContext.forConstantValue(ctx, key, v);
+    };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.test.ts
index d83485a78b..28a3af0a52 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.test.ts
@@ -14,47 +14,23 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { Duration } from 'luxon';
+import { Contexts } from './Contexts';
 import { RootContext } from './RootContext';
 
 describe('RootContext', () => {
-  it('can perform a manual abort', async () => {
-    const { ctx, abort } = RootContext.create().withAbort();
-
-    const cb = jest.fn();
-    ctx.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', cb);
-    ctx.abortPromise.then(cb);
-
-    abort();
-
-    await ctx.abortPromise;
-    expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
+  it('returns empty values', async () => {
+    const ctx = new RootContext();
+    expect(ctx.abortSignal).toBeDefined();
+    expect(ctx.deadline).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(ctx.value('a')).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it('can abort on a timeout', async () => {
-    const ctx = RootContext.create().withTimeout(Duration.fromMillis(200));
-    const start = Date.now();
-
-    const cb = jest.fn();
-    ctx.abortSignal.addEventListener('abort', cb);
-    ctx.abortPromise.then(cb);
-
-    await ctx.abortPromise;
-    const delta = Date.now() - start;
-
-    expect(delta).toBeGreaterThan(100);
-    expect(delta).toBeLessThan(300);
-    expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-  });
-
-  it('can apply behaviors', () => {
-    const ctx = RootContext.create().with(
-      c => c.withValue('a', 1),
-      c => c.withValue<number>('a', p => p! + 1),
-      c => c.withValue('b', 3),
+  it('can decorate', () => {
+    const parent = new RootContext();
+    const child = parent.use(
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 2),
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 3),
     );
-
-    expect(ctx.value('a')).toBe(2);
-    expect(ctx.value('b')).toBe(3);
+    expect(child.value('a')).toBe(3);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.ts
index 889f9d3f5a..ae7c18a905 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/RootContext.ts
@@ -14,110 +14,23 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { DateTime, Duration } from 'luxon';
-import { AbortSignal } from 'node-abort-controller';
-import {
-  abortManually,
-  abortOnTimeout,
-  ContextAbortState,
-} from './features/abort';
-import {
-  ContextValues,
-  findInContextValues,
-  unshiftContextValues,
-} from './features/values';
+import { AbortController } from 'node-abort-controller';
 import { Context, ContextDecorator } from './types';
 
-// The context value key used for holding abort related state
-const abortKey = Symbol('Context.abort');
+const neverAborts = new AbortController().signal;
 
 /**
- * A context that is meant to be passed as a ctx variable down the call chain,
- * to pass along scoped information and abort signals.
- *
- * @public
+ * An empty root context.
  */
 export class RootContext implements Context {
-  /**
-   * Creates a root context.
-   *
-   * @remarks
-   *
-   * This should normally only be called near the root of an application. The
-   * created context is meant to be passed down into deeper levels, which may
-   * or may not make derived contexts out of it.
-   */
-  static create() {
-    return new RootContext(undefined).withValue<ContextAbortState>(
-      abortKey,
-      abortManually(),
-    );
+  readonly abortSignal = neverAborts;
+  readonly deadline = undefined;
+
+  value<T = unknown>(_key: string | symbol): T | undefined {
+    return undefined;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.abortSignal}
-   */
-  public get abortSignal(): AbortSignal {
-    return this.value<ContextAbortState>(abortKey)!.signal;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.abortPromise}
-   */
-  public get abortPromise(): Promise<void> {
-    return this.value<ContextAbortState>(abortKey)!.promise;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.deadline}
-   */
-  public get deadline(): DateTime | undefined {
-    return this.value<ContextAbortState>(abortKey)!.deadline;
-  }
-
-  private constructor(private readonly values: ContextValues) {}
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.withAbort}
-   */
-  withAbort(): { ctx: Context; abort: () => void } {
-    const state = abortManually(this.value<ContextAbortState>(abortKey));
-    return {
-      ctx: this.withValue(abortKey, state),
-      abort: state.abort,
-    };
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.withTimeout}
-   */
-  withTimeout(timeout: Duration): Context {
-    return this.withValue<ContextAbortState>(abortKey, previous =>
-      abortOnTimeout(timeout, previous),
-    );
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.with}
-   */
-  with(...items: ContextDecorator[]): Context {
-    return items.reduce<Context>((prev, curr) => curr(prev), this);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.withValue}
-   */
-  withValue<T = unknown>(
-    key: string | symbol,
-    value: T | ((previous: T | undefined) => T),
-  ): Context {
-    return new RootContext(unshiftContextValues(this.values, key, value));
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * {@inheritdoc Context.value}
-   */
-  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined {
-    return findInContextValues<T>(this.values, key);
+  use(...items: ContextDecorator[]): Context {
+    return items.reduce((prev, curr) => curr(prev), this as Context);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..99d6b2b60a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Contexts } from './Contexts';
+import { RootContext } from './RootContext';
+import { ValueContext } from './ValueContext';
+
+const s = Symbol();
+
+describe('ValueContext', () => {
+  it('returns its own values, or delegates to the parent', async () => {
+    const root = new RootContext();
+    const a = ValueContext.forConstantValue(root, 'a', 1);
+    const b = ValueContext.forConstantValue(a, s, 2);
+    const c = ValueContext.forConstantValue(b, 'a', 3);
+    const d = ValueContext.forConstantValue(c, 'b', 4);
+
+    expect(a.value('a')).toBe(1);
+    expect(a.value('b')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(a.value(s)).toBeUndefined();
+
+    expect(b.value('a')).toBe(1);
+    expect(b.value('b')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(b.value(s)).toBe(2);
+
+    expect(c.value('a')).toBe(3);
+    expect(c.value('b')).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(c.value(s)).toBe(2);
+
+    expect(d.value('a')).toBe(3);
+    expect(d.value('b')).toBe(4);
+    expect(d.value(s)).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it('can decorate', () => {
+    const root = new RootContext();
+    const parent = ValueContext.forConstantValue(root, 'a', 1);
+    const child = parent.use(
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 2),
+      Contexts.setValue('a', 3),
+    );
+    expect(child.value('a')).toBe(3);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ed5e2dba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/ValueContext.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Context, ContextDecorator } from './types';
+
+/**
+ * A context that just holds a single value, and delegates the rest to its
+ * parent.
+ */
+export class ValueContext implements Context {
+  static forConstantValue(
+    ctx: Context,
+    key: string | symbol,
+    value: unknown,
+  ): Context {
+    return new ValueContext(ctx, key, value);
+  }
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly _parent: Context,
+    private readonly _key: string | symbol,
+    private readonly _value: unknown,
+  ) {}
+
+  get abortSignal(): AbortSignal {
+    return this._parent.abortSignal;
+  }
+
+  get deadline(): Date | undefined {
+    return this._parent.deadline;
+  }
+
+  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined {
+    return key === this._key ? (this._value as T) : this._parent.value(key);
+  }
+
+  use(...items: ContextDecorator[]): Context {
+    return items.reduce((prev, curr) => curr(prev), this as Context);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 74cd8cbfe2..0000000000
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,134 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import { Duration } from 'luxon';
-import { abortManually, abortOnTimeout } from './abort';
-
-describe('ContextAbortState', () => {
-  describe('abortManually', () => {
-    it('can perform a manual abort', async () => {
-      const state = abortManually();
-
-      const cb = jest.fn();
-      state.signal.addEventListener('abort', cb);
-      state.promise.then(cb);
-
-      state.abort();
-
-      await state.promise;
-      expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-    });
-
-    it('triggers child when parent is aborted', async () => {
-      const parent = abortManually();
-      const child = abortManually(parent);
-
-      const parentCb = jest.fn();
-      parent.signal.addEventListener('abort', parentCb);
-      parent.promise.then(parentCb);
-
-      const childCb = jest.fn();
-      child.signal.addEventListener('abort', childCb);
-      child.promise.then(childCb);
-
-      parent.abort();
-
-      await child.promise;
-      expect(parentCb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-      expect(childCb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-    });
-
-    it('does not trigger parent when child is aborted', async () => {
-      const parent = abortManually();
-      const child = abortManually(parent);
-
-      const parentCb = jest.fn();
-      parent.signal.addEventListener('abort', parentCb);
-      parent.promise.then(parentCb);
-
-      const childCb = jest.fn();
-      child.signal.addEventListener('abort', childCb);
-      child.promise.then(childCb);
-
-      child.abort();
-
-      await child.promise;
-      expect(parentCb).toBeCalledTimes(0);
-      expect(childCb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-    });
-
-    it('only triggers once', async () => {
-      const state = abortManually();
-
-      const cb = jest.fn();
-      state.signal.addEventListener('abort', cb);
-      state.promise.then(cb);
-
-      state.abort();
-
-      await state.promise;
-      expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-
-      state.abort();
-
-      await state.promise;
-      expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('abortOnTimeout', () => {
-    it('can abort on a timeout', async () => {
-      const state = abortOnTimeout(Duration.fromMillis(200));
-      const start = Date.now();
-
-      const cb = jest.fn();
-      state.signal.addEventListener('abort', cb);
-      state.promise.then(cb);
-
-      await state.promise;
-      const delta = Date.now() - start;
-
-      expect(delta).toBeGreaterThan(100);
-      expect(delta).toBeLessThan(300);
-      expect(cb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-    });
-
-    it('aborts early if parent triggers first', async () => {
-      const parent = abortManually();
-      const child = abortOnTimeout(Duration.fromMillis(200), parent);
-
-      const parentCb = jest.fn();
-      parent.signal.addEventListener('abort', parentCb);
-      parent.promise.then(parentCb);
-
-      const childCb = jest.fn();
-      child.signal.addEventListener('abort', childCb);
-      child.promise.then(childCb);
-
-      expect(parentCb).toBeCalledTimes(0);
-      expect(childCb).toBeCalledTimes(0);
-
-      const start = Date.now();
-
-      parent.abort();
-
-      await child.promise;
-      expect(parentCb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-      expect(childCb).toBeCalledTimes(2);
-      expect(Date.now() - start).toBeLessThan(100);
-    });
-  });
-});
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a37de960b..0000000000
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/abort.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import { DateTime, Duration } from 'luxon';
-import { AbortController, AbortSignal } from 'node-abort-controller';
-
-export type ContextAbortState = {
-  signal: AbortSignal;
-  promise: Promise<void>;
-  deadline: DateTime | undefined;
-  abort: () => void;
-};
-
-export function abortManually(
-  previous?: ContextAbortState | undefined,
-): ContextAbortState {
-  const controller = new AbortController();
-  const abort = controller.abort.bind(controller);
-  previous?.signal.addEventListener('abort', abort);
-
-  return {
-    signal: controller.signal,
-    promise: new Promise<void>(resolve => {
-      controller.signal.addEventListener('abort', resolve);
-    }),
-    deadline: previous?.deadline,
-    abort,
-  };
-}
-
-export function abortOnTimeout(
-  timeout: Duration,
-  previous?: ContextAbortState | undefined,
-): ContextAbortState {
-  const deadline = DateTime.now().plus(timeout);
-  if (previous?.deadline && deadline > previous.deadline) {
-    return previous;
-  }
-
-  const controller = new AbortController();
-
-  const timeoutHandle = setTimeout(() => {
-    controller.abort();
-  }, timeout.as('milliseconds'));
-
-  const abort = () => {
-    previous?.signal.removeEventListener('abort', abort);
-    clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
-    controller.abort();
-  };
-
-  previous?.signal.addEventListener('abort', abort);
-
-  return {
-    signal: controller.signal,
-    promise: new Promise<void>(resolve => {
-      controller.signal.addEventListener('abort', resolve);
-    }),
-    deadline,
-    abort,
-  };
-}
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 63d2da80de..0000000000
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import {
-  ContextValues,
-  findInContextValues,
-  unshiftContextValues,
-} from './values';
-
-describe('ContextValues', () => {
-  it('can start from the empty list', () => {
-    let list: ContextValues = undefined;
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'a')).toBeUndefined();
-    list = unshiftContextValues(list, 'a', 'b');
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'a')).toBe('b');
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'x')).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-
-  it('always fetches the most recent value', () => {
-    let list: ContextValues = undefined;
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'a')).toBeUndefined();
-    list = unshiftContextValues(list, 'a', 1);
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'a')).toBe(1);
-    list = unshiftContextValues(list, 'a', 2);
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'a')).toBe(2);
-  });
-
-  it('handles all key types', () => {
-    let list: ContextValues = undefined;
-    const symbol1 = Symbol('str');
-    const symbol2 = Symbol('str');
-    list = unshiftContextValues(list, 'str', 'str');
-    list = unshiftContextValues(list, symbol1, 'sym');
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'str')).toBe('str');
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, symbol1)).toBe('sym');
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, 'blah')).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(findInContextValues(list, symbol2)).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-});
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index b7ab062e32..0000000000
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/features/values.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-/**
- * An immutable key-value list. The only operations possible are to add a new
- * node at the start forming a new list, and to find by key from the start and
- * backwards through the list.
- */
-export type ContextValues = ContextValueNode | undefined;
-
-type ContextValueNode = {
-  key: string | symbol;
-  value: unknown;
-  next: ContextValueNode | undefined;
-};
-
-/**
- * Creates a new list with the given key-value pair as its first element.
- *
- * @param list - The original list
- * @param key - The key of the pair
- * @param value - The value of the pair, or a function that accepts the
- *                previously stored value (or undefined if not found) and
- *                computes the new value
- * @returns A new list with this pair as its first element
- */
-export function unshiftContextValues(
-  list: ContextValues,
-  key: string | symbol,
-  value: unknown | ((previous: unknown | undefined) => unknown),
-): ContextValues {
-  return {
-    key,
-    value:
-      typeof value === 'function'
-        ? value(findInContextValues(list, key))
-        : value,
-    next: list,
-  };
-}
-
-/**
- * Attempts to find the value associated with a given key, starting from the
- * most recently added element.
- *
- * @param list - The list
- * @param key - The key to search for
- * @returns The first such value, or undefined if no match was found
- */
-export function findInContextValues<T = unknown>(
-  list: ContextValues,
-  key: string | symbol,
-): T | undefined {
-  for (let current = list; current; current = current.next) {
-    if (key === current.key) {
-      return current.value as T;
-    }
-  }
-  return undefined;
-}
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/index.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/index.ts
index a09c32bac5..64fe635de9 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/index.ts
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-export { RootContext } from './RootContext';
+export { Contexts } from './Contexts';
 export type { Context, ContextDecorator } from './types';
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/context/types.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/context/types.ts
index e3c880b4a8..569a133c87 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/context/types.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/context/types.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { DateTime, Duration } from 'luxon';
-
 /**
  * A function that accepts a context and produces a new, derived context from,
  * decorated with some specific behavior.
@@ -37,37 +35,19 @@ export interface Context {
    */
   readonly abortSignal: AbortSignal;
 
-  /**
-   * Returns a promise that resolves when the current context or any of its
-   * parents signal to abort.
-   */
-  readonly abortPromise: Promise<void>;
-
   /**
    * The point in time when the current context shall time out and abort, if
    * applicable.
    */
-  readonly deadline: DateTime | undefined;
+  readonly deadline: Date | undefined;
 
   /**
-   * Creates a derived context, which signals to abort operations either when
-   * any parent context signals, or when the current layer calls the returned
-   * abort function.
+   * Attempts to get a stored value by key from the context.
    *
-   * @returns A derived context, and the function that triggers it to abort.
+   * @param key - The key of the value to get
+   * @returns The associated value, or undefined if not set
    */
-  withAbort(): { ctx: Context; abort: () => void };
-
-  /**
-   * Creates a derived context, which signals to abort operations either when
-   * any parent context signals, or when the given amount of time has passed.
-   * This may affect the deadline.
-   *
-   * @param timeout - The duration of time, after which the derived context
-   *                  will signal to abort.
-   * @returns A derived context with an updated deadline
-   */
-  withTimeout(timeout: Duration): Context;
+  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined;
 
   /**
    * Decorates this context with one or more behaviors.
@@ -79,26 +59,5 @@ export interface Context {
    * @param decorators - The decorators to apply
    * @returns A derived context with the relevant behaviors
    */
-  with(...decorators: ContextDecorator[]): Context;
-
-  /**
-   * Creates a derived context, which has a specific key-value pair set as well
-   * as all key-value pairs set in the original context.
-   *
-   * @param key - The key of the value to set
-   * @param value - The value, or a function that accepts the previous value (or
-   *                undefined if not set yet) and computes the new value
-   */
-  withValue<T = unknown>(
-    key: string | symbol,
-    value: T | ((previous: T | undefined) => T),
-  ): Context;
-
-  /**
-   * Attempts to get a stored value by key from the context.
-   *
-   * @param key - The key of the value to get
-   * @returns The associated value, or undefined if not set
-   */
-  value<T = unknown>(key: string | symbol): T | undefined;
+  use(...decorators: ContextDecorator[]): Context;
 }