1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a specification at an electronic device having forwarding functionality, the specification including: a rule, an identifier for a specified function associated with a networking primitive or a collection of networking primitives to be performed by the electronic device, and an implementation of the specified function; comparing the identifier for the specified function to a set of identifiers for known functions, the known functions having predetermined implementations that are prescribed by the electronic device; locating the identifier for the specified function in the set of identifiers for the known functions; disregarding the implementation of the specified function included in the specification; and implementing the specified function on the electronic device using the predetermined implementation prescribed by the electronic device.