Add gradleutils.asProvider utility method

Author: Jonathing

gradleutils-shared/src/main/java/net/minecraftforge/gradleutils/shared/SharedUtil.java

@@ -502,6 +502,25 @@ public static <T> T unpack(Object value) {
             return (T) value;
         }
     }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public static <T> Provider<T> asProvider(ProviderFactory providers, Object value) {
+        if (value instanceof ProviderConvertible<?> deferred) {
+            return (Provider<T>) deferred.asProvider();
+        } else if (value instanceof Provider<?> deferred) {
+            return (Provider<T>) deferred;
+        } else if (value instanceof Closure<?> deferred) {
+            return providers.provider(() -> Closures.invoke(deferred));
+        } else if (value instanceof Callable<?> deferred) {
+            return providers.provider((Callable<T>) deferred);
+        } else if (value instanceof Function0<?> deferred) {
+            return providers.provider(() -> (T) deferred.invoke());
+        } else if (value instanceof Supplier<?> deferred) {
+            return providers.provider(() -> (T) deferred.get());
+        } else {
+            return providers.provider(() -> (T) value);
+        }
+    }
     //endregion
 
     //region Properties

src/main/groovy/net/minecraftforge/gradleutils/GradleUtilsExtension.java

@@ -300,13 +300,25 @@ default Action<MavenArtifactRepository> getPublishingForgeMaven(Provider<?> defa
     /// Unpacks a deferred value.
     ///
     /// Since buildscripts are dynamically compiled, this allows buildscript authors to use this method with version
-    /// catalog entries, other provider-like objects. This prevents the need to arbitrarily call
-    /// [Provider#get()] (or similar) on values which may or may not be deferred based on circumstance.
+    /// catalog entries, other provider-like objects. This prevents the need to arbitrarily call [Provider#get()] (or
+    /// similar) on values which may or may not be deferred based on circumstance.
     ///
     /// @param value The value to unpack
     /// @param <T>   The type of value held by the provider
     /// @return The unpacked value
     default <T> T unpack(Object value) {
         return Util.unpack(value);
     }
+
+    /// Packs a (deferred) value as a provider.
+    ///
+    /// Since buildscripts are dynamically compiled, this allows buildscript authors to use this method with version
+    /// catalog entries, other provider-like objects. This prevents the need to call [ProviderConvertible#asProvider()]
+    /// or otherwise create arbitrary providers using [org.gradle.api.provider.ProviderFactory#provider(Callable)] on
+    /// values which may or may not be deferred based on circumstance.
+    ///
+    /// @param value The value to pack
+    /// @param <T>   The type of value held by the provider
+    /// @return The packed value
+    <T> Provider<T> asProvider(Object value);
 }

src/main/groovy/net/minecraftforge/gradleutils/GradleUtilsExtensionImpl.groovy

@@ -145,6 +145,11 @@ import static net.minecraftforge.gradleutils.GradleUtilsPlugin.LOGGER
         }
     }
 
+    @Override
+    <T> Provider<T> asProvider(Object value) {
+        Util.asProvider(this.providers, value)
+    }
+
     @CompileStatic
     @PackageScope static abstract class ForProjectImpl extends GradleUtilsExtensionImpl implements GradleUtilsExtensionInternal.ForProject {
         private final GradleUtilsProblems problems = this.objects.newInstance(GradleUtilsProblems)