diff --git a/util/pom.xml b/util/pom.xml
index 110d5cb4..82687fe7 100644
--- a/util/pom.xml
+++ b/util/pom.xml
@@ -16,5 +16,10 @@
             <artifactId>commons-cli</artifactId>
             <version>1.2</version>
         </dependency>
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>junit</groupId>
+            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
+            <version>4.6</version>
+        </dependency>
     </dependencies>
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/util/src/main/java/org/jf/util/PathUtil.java b/util/src/main/java/org/jf/util/PathUtil.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..91eb7584
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/src/main/java/org/jf/util/PathUtil.java
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/*
+ * [The "BSD licence"]
+ * Copyright (c) 2010 Ben Gruver
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * 3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
+ *    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+ * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+ * NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+ * THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package org.jf.util;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+
+public class PathUtil {
+    private PathUtil() {
+    }
+
+    public static File getRelativeFile(File baseFile, File fileToRelativize) throws IOException {
+        if (baseFile.isFile()) {
+            baseFile = baseFile.getParentFile();
+        }
+
+        return new File(getRelativeFileInternal(baseFile.getCanonicalFile(), fileToRelativize.getCanonicalFile()));
+    }
+
+    public static String getRelativePath(String basePath, String pathToRelativize) throws IOException {
+        File baseFile = new File(basePath);
+        if (baseFile.isFile()) {
+            baseFile = baseFile.getParentFile();
+        }
+
+        return getRelativeFileInternal(baseFile.getCanonicalFile(),
+                new File(pathToRelativize).getCanonicalFile());
+    }
+
+    static String getRelativeFileInternal(File canonicalBaseFile, File canonicalFileToRelativize) {
+        ArrayList<String> basePath = getPathComponents(canonicalBaseFile);
+        ArrayList<String> pathToRelativize = getPathComponents(canonicalFileToRelativize);
+
+        //if the roots aren't the same (i.e. different drives on a windows machine), we can't construct a relative
+        //path from one to the other, so just return the canonical file
+        if (!basePath.get(0).equals(pathToRelativize.get(0))) {
+            return canonicalFileToRelativize.getPath();
+        }
+
+        int commonDirs;
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+
+        for (commonDirs=1; commonDirs<basePath.size() && commonDirs<pathToRelativize.size(); commonDirs++) {
+            if (!basePath.get(commonDirs).equals(pathToRelativize.get(commonDirs))) {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        boolean first = true;
+        for (int i=commonDirs; i<basePath.size(); i++) {
+            if (!first) {
+                sb.append(File.separatorChar);
+            } else {
+                first = false;
+            }
+
+            sb.append("..");
+        }
+
+        first = true;
+        for (int i=commonDirs; i<pathToRelativize.size(); i++) {
+            if (first) {
+                if (sb.length() != 0) {
+                    sb.append(File.separatorChar);
+                }
+                first = false;
+            } else {
+                sb.append(File.separatorChar);
+            }
+            
+            sb.append(pathToRelativize.get(i));
+        }
+
+        if (sb.length() == 0) {
+            return ".";
+        }
+
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
+    private static ArrayList<String> getPathComponents(File file) {
+        ArrayList<String> path = new ArrayList<String>();
+
+        while (file != null) {
+            File parentFile = file.getParentFile();
+
+            if (parentFile == null) {
+                path.add(0, file.getPath());
+            } else {
+                path.add(0, file.getName());
+            }
+
+            file = parentFile;
+        }
+
+        return path;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/util/src/test/java/org/jf/util/PathUtilTest.java b/util/src/test/java/org/jf/util/PathUtilTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cafc41f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/src/test/java/org/jf/util/PathUtilTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+/*
+ * [The "BSD licence"]
+ * Copyright (c) 2010 Ben Gruver
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * 3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
+ *    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+ * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+ * NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+ * THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package org.jf.util;
+
+import org.junit.*;
+
+import java.io.File;
+
+public class PathUtilTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest1() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        if (roots.length > 1) {
+            File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "test.txt");
+            File relativePath = new File(roots[1] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "test.txt");
+
+            String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+            Assert.assertEquals(path, relativePath.getPath());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest2() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "test.txt");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "test.txt");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        /*the "internal" version of the method in PathUtil doesn't handle the case when the "leaf" of the base path
+        is a file, this is handled by the two public wrappers. Since we're not calling them, the correct return is
+        a single dot"*/
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest3() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest4() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest5() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest6() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest7() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest8() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest9() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest10() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest11() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest12() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest13() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2" + File.separatorChar);
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest14() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar);
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest15() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir3");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".." + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest16() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some2" + File.separatorChar + "dir3");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".." + File.separatorChar + ".." + File.separatorChar + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest17() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0].getPath());
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest18() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, "..");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void pathUtilTest19() {
+        File[] roots = File.listRoots();
+
+        File basePath = new File(roots[0] + "some" + File.separatorChar + "dir" + File.separatorChar + "dir2");
+        File relativePath = new File(roots[0] + "some");
+
+        String path = PathUtil.getRelativeFileInternal(basePath, relativePath);
+
+        Assert.assertEquals(path, ".." + File.separatorChar + "..");
+    }
+}