2 files changed, 26 insertions, 20 deletions
diff --git a/src/util.cc b/src/util.cc
index ed7562a29d73..c1d0fedea8aa 100644
--- a/src/util.cc
+++ b/src/util.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ SysError::SysError(const format & f)
 }
 
 
-string absPath(string path, string dir)
+Path absPath(Path path, Path dir)
 {
     if (path[0] != '/') {
         if (dir == "") {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ string absPath(string path, string dir)
 }
 
 
-string canonPath(const string & path)
+Path canonPath(const Path & path)
 {
     string s;
 
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@ string canonPath(const string & path)
 }
 
 
-string dirOf(string path)
+Path dirOf(const Path & path)
 {
     unsigned int pos = path.rfind('/');
     if (pos == string::npos)
         throw Error(format("invalid file name: %1%") % path);
-    return string(path, 0, pos);
+    return Path(path, 0, pos);
 }
 
 
-string baseNameOf(string path)
+string baseNameOf(const Path & path)
 {
     unsigned int pos = path.rfind('/');
     if (pos == string::npos)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ string baseNameOf(string path)
 }
 
 
-bool pathExists(const string & path)
+bool pathExists(const Path & path)
 {
     int res;
     struct stat st;
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ bool pathExists(const string & path)
 }
 
 
-void deletePath(const string & path)
+void deletePath(const Path & path)
 {
     msg(lvlVomit, format("deleting path `%1%'") % path);
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ void deletePath(const string & path)
 }
 
 
-void makePathReadOnly(const string & path)
+void makePathReadOnly(const Path & path)
 {
     struct stat st;
     if (lstat(path.c_str(), &st))
@@ -171,19 +171,19 @@ void makePathReadOnly(const string & path)
 }
 
 
-static string tempName()
+static Path tempName()
 {
     static int counter = 0;
     char * s = getenv("TMPDIR");
-    string tmpRoot = s ? canonPath(string(s)) : "/tmp";
+    Path tmpRoot = s ? canonPath(Path(s)) : "/tmp";
     return (format("%1%/nix-%2%-%3%") % tmpRoot % getpid() % counter++).str();
 }
 
 
-string createTempDir()
+Path createTempDir()
 {
     while (1) {
-	string tmpDir = tempName();
+	Path tmpDir = tempName();
 	if (mkdir(tmpDir.c_str(), 0777) == 0) return tmpDir;
 	if (errno != EEXIST)
 	    throw SysError(format("creating directory `%1%'") % tmpDir);
diff --git a/src/util.hh b/src/util.hh
index 31dba7fafedd..016289176be8 100644
--- a/src/util.hh
+++ b/src/util.hh
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ typedef list<string> Strings;
 typedef set<string> StringSet;
 
 
+/* Paths are just strings. */
+typedef string Path;
+typedef list<Path> Paths;
+typedef set<Path> PathSet;
+
+
 /* The canonical system name, as returned by config.guess. */ 
 extern string thisSystem;
 
@@ -49,31 +55,31 @@ extern string thisSystem;
 /* Return an absolutized path, resolving paths relative to the
    specified directory, or the current directory otherwise.  The path
    is also canonicalised. */
-string absPath(string path, string dir = "");
+Path absPath(Path path, Path dir = "");
 
 /* Canonicalise a path (as in realpath(3)). */
-string canonPath(const string & path);
+Path canonPath(const Path & path);
 
 /* Return the directory part of the given path, i.e., everything
    before the final `/'. */
-string dirOf(string path);
+Path dirOf(const Path & path);
 
 /* Return the base name of the given path, i.e., everything following
    the final `/'. */
-string baseNameOf(string path);
+string baseNameOf(const Path & path);
 
 /* Return true iff the given path exists. */
-bool pathExists(const string & path);
+bool pathExists(const Path & path);
 
 /* Delete a path; i.e., in the case of a directory, it is deleted
    recursively.  Don't use this at home, kids. */
-void deletePath(const string & path);
+void deletePath(const Path & path);
 
 /* Make a path read-only recursively. */
-void makePathReadOnly(const string & path);
+void makePathReadOnly(const Path & path);
 
 /* Create a temporary directory. */
-string createTempDir();
+Path createTempDir();
 
 
 /* Messages. */