diff --git a/src/core/conf.cpp b/src/core/conf.cpp
index 8913b28..80a8093 100644
--- a/src/core/conf.cpp
+++ b/src/core/conf.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "context.h"
 #include "env.h"
 #include "ini.h"
+#include "paths.h"
 #include "../utility.h"
 #include "../tasks/task.h"
 #include "../tools/tools.h"
@@ -228,59 +229,6 @@ std::vector<std::string> format_options()
 	return lines;
 }
 
-
-fs::path find_in_path(std::string_view exe)
-{
-	const std::wstring wexe = utf8_to_utf16(exe);
-
-	const std::size_t size = MAX_PATH;
-	wchar_t buffer[size + 1] = {};
-
-	if (SearchPathW(nullptr, wexe.c_str(), nullptr, size, buffer, nullptr))
-		return buffer;
-	else
-		return {};
-}
-
-fs::path find_iscc()
-{
-	const auto tasks = find_tasks("installer");
-	MOB_ASSERT(tasks.size() == 1);
-
-	if (!tasks[0]->enabled())
-		return {};
-
-	auto iscc = conf().tool().get("iscc");
-	if (iscc.is_absolute())
-	{
-		if (!fs::exists(iscc))
-		{
-			gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
-				"{} doesn't exist (from ini, absolute path)", iscc);
-		}
-
-		return iscc;
-	}
-
-	fs::path p = find_in_path(path_to_utf8(iscc));
-	if (fs::exists(p))
-		return fs::canonical(fs::absolute(p));
-
-	for (int v : {5, 6, 7, 8})
-	{
-		const fs::path inno = fmt::format("inno setup {}", v);
-
-		for (fs::path pf : {conf().path().pf_x86(), conf().path().pf_x64()})
-		{
-			p = pf / inno / iscc;
-			if (fs::exists(p))
-				return fs::canonical(fs::absolute(p));
-		}
-	}
-
-	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't find {} anywhere", iscc);
-}
-
 void set_special_options()
 {
 	conf().global().set_output_log_level(
@@ -341,356 +289,6 @@ void make_canonical_path(
 	details::set_string("paths", key, path_to_utf8(p));
 }
 
-bool try_parts(fs::path& check, const std::vector<std::string>& parts)
-{
-	for (std::size_t i=0; i<parts.size(); ++i)
-	{
-		fs::path p = check;
-
-		for (std::size_t j=i; j<parts.size(); ++j)
-			p /= parts[j];
-
-		gcx().trace(context::conf, "trying parts {}", p);
-
-		if (fs::exists(p))
-		{
-			check = p;
-			return true;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return false;
-}
-
-fs::path mob_exe_path()
-{
-	// double the buffer size 10 times
-	const int max_tries = 10;
-
-	DWORD buffer_size = MAX_PATH;
-
-	for (int tries=0; tries<max_tries; ++tries)
-	{
-		auto buffer = std::make_unique<wchar_t[]>(buffer_size + 1);
-		DWORD n = GetModuleFileNameW(0, buffer.get(), buffer_size);
-
-		if (n == 0) {
-			const auto e = GetLastError();
-			gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
-				"can't get module filename, {}", error_message(e));
-		}
-		else if (n >= buffer_size) {
-			// buffer is too small, try again
-			buffer_size *= 2;
-		} else {
-			// if GetModuleFileName() works, `n` does not include the null
-			// terminator
-			const std::wstring s(buffer.get(), n);
-			return fs::canonical(s);
-		}
-	}
-
-	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't get module filename");
-}
-
-fs::path find_root(bool verbose)
-{
-	gcx().trace(context::conf, "looking for root directory");
-
-	fs::path mob_exe_dir = mob_exe_path().parent_path();
-
-	auto third_party = mob_exe_dir / "third-party";
-
-	if (!fs::exists(third_party))
-	{
-		if (verbose)
-			u8cout << "no third-party here\n";
-
-		auto p = mob_exe_dir;
-
-		if (p.filename().u8string() == u8"x64")
-		{
-			p = p.parent_path();
-			if (p.filename().u8string() == u8"Debug" ||
-				p.filename().u8string() == u8"Release")
-			{
-				if (verbose)
-					u8cout << "this is mob's build directory, looking up\n";
-
-				// mob_exe_dir is in the build directory
-				third_party = mob_exe_dir / ".." / ".." / ".." / "third-party";
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!fs::exists(third_party))
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "root directory not found");
-
-	const auto p = fs::canonical(third_party.parent_path());
-	gcx().trace(context::conf, "found root directory at {}", p);
-	return p;
-}
-
-fs::path find_in_root(const fs::path& file)
-{
-	static fs::path root = find_root();
-
-	fs::path p = root / file;
-	if (!fs::exists(p))
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "{} not found", p);
-
-	gcx().trace(context::conf, "found {}", p);
-	return p;
-}
-
-
-fs::path find_third_party_directory()
-{
-	static fs::path path = find_in_root("third-party");
-	return path;
-}
-
-bool find_qmake(fs::path& check)
-{
-	// try Qt/Qt5.14.2/msvc*/bin/qmake.exe
-	if (try_parts(check, {
-		"Qt",
-		"Qt" + qt::version(),
-		"msvc" + qt::vs_version() + "_64",
-		"bin",
-		"qmake.exe"}))
-	{
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	// try Qt/5.14.2/msvc*/bin/qmake.exe
-	if (try_parts(check, {
-		"Qt",
-		qt::version(),
-		"msvc" + qt::vs_version() + "_64",
-		"bin",
-		"qmake.exe"}))
-	{
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	return false;
-}
-
-bool try_qt_location(fs::path& check)
-{
-	if (!find_qmake(check))
-		return false;
-
-	check = fs::absolute(check.parent_path() / "..");
-	return true;
-}
-
-fs::path find_qt()
-{
-	fs::path p = conf().path().qt_install();
-
-	if (!p.empty())
-	{
-		p = fs::absolute(p);
-
-		if (!try_qt_location(p))
-			gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "no qt install in {}", p);
-
-		return p;
-	}
-
-
-	std::vector<fs::path> locations =
-	{
-		conf().path().pf_x64(),
-		"C:\\",
-		"D:\\"
-	};
-
-	// look for qmake, which is in %qt%/version/msvc.../bin
-	fs::path qmake = find_in_path("qmake.exe");
-	if (!qmake.empty())
-		locations.insert(locations.begin(), qmake.parent_path() / "../../");
-
-	// look for qtcreator.exe, which is in %qt%/Tools/QtCreator/bin
-	fs::path qtcreator = find_in_path("qtcreator.exe");
-	if (!qtcreator.empty())
-		locations.insert(locations.begin(), qtcreator.parent_path() / "../../../");
-
-	for (fs::path loc : locations)
-	{
-		loc = fs::absolute(loc);
-		if (try_qt_location(loc))
-			return loc;
-	}
-
-	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't find qt install");
-}
-
-void validate_qt()
-{
-	fs::path p = qt::installation_path();
-
-	if (!try_qt_location(p))
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "qt path {} doesn't exist", p);
-
-	details::set_string("paths", "qt_install", path_to_utf8(p));
-}
-
-fs::path get_known_folder(const GUID& id)
-{
-	wchar_t* buffer = nullptr;
-	const auto r = ::SHGetKnownFolderPath(id, 0, 0, &buffer);
-
-	if (r != S_OK)
-		return {};
-
-	fs::path p = buffer;
-	::CoTaskMemFree(buffer);
-
-	return p;
-}
-
-fs::path find_program_files_x86()
-{
-	fs::path p = get_known_folder(FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX86);
-
-	if (p.empty())
-	{
-		const auto e = GetLastError();
-
-		p = fs::path(R"(C:\Program Files (x86))");
-
-		gcx().warning(context::conf,
-			"failed to get x86 program files folder, defaulting to {}, {}",
-			p, error_message(e));
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		gcx().trace(context::conf, "x86 program files is {}", p);
-	}
-
-	return p;
-}
-
-fs::path find_program_files_x64()
-{
-	fs::path p = get_known_folder(FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX64);
-
-	if (p.empty())
-	{
-		const auto e = GetLastError();
-
-		p = fs::path(R"(C:\Program Files)");
-
-		gcx().warning(context::conf,
-			"failed to get x64 program files folder, defaulting to {}, {}",
-			p, error_message(e));
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		gcx().trace(context::conf, "x64 program files is {}", p);
-	}
-
-	return p;
-}
-
-fs::path find_temp_dir()
-{
-	const std::size_t buffer_size = MAX_PATH + 2;
-	wchar_t buffer[buffer_size] = {};
-
-	if (GetTempPathW(static_cast<DWORD>(buffer_size), buffer) == 0)
-	{
-		const auto e = GetLastError();
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't get temp path", error_message(e));
-	}
-
-	fs::path p(buffer);
-	gcx().trace(context::conf, "temp dir is {}", p);
-
-	return p;
-}
-
-fs::path find_vs()
-{
-	if (conf::dry())
-		return vs::vswhere();
-
-	const auto path = vswhere::find_vs();
-	if (path.empty())
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vswhere failed");
-
-	const auto lines = split(path_to_utf8(path), "\r\n");
-
-	if (lines.empty())
-	{
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vswhere didn't output anything");
-	}
-	else if (lines.size() > 1)
-	{
-		gcx().error(context::conf, "vswhere returned multiple installations:");
-
-		for (auto&& line : lines)
-			gcx().error(context::conf, " - {}", line);
-
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
-			"specify the `vs` path in the `[paths]` section of the INI, or "
-			"pass -s paths/vs=PATH` to pick an installation");
-	}
-
-	if (!fs::exists(path))
-	{
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
-			"the path given by vswhere doesn't exist: {}", path);
-	}
-
-	return path;
-}
-
-bool try_vcvars(fs::path& bat)
-{
-	if (!fs::exists(bat))
-		return false;
-
-	bat = fs::canonical(fs::absolute(bat));
-	return true;
-}
-
-void find_vcvars()
-{
-	fs::path bat = conf().tool().get("vcvars");
-
-	if (conf::dry())
-	{
-		if (bat.empty())
-			bat = "vcvars.bat";
-
-		return;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		if (bat.empty())
-		{
-			bat = vs::installation_path()
-				/ "VC" / "Auxiliary" / "Build" / "vcvarsall.bat";
-
-			if (!try_vcvars(bat))
-				gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vcvars not found at {}", bat);
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			if (!try_vcvars(bat))
-				gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vcvars not found at {}", bat);
-		}
-	}
-
-	details::set_string("tools", "vcvars", path_to_utf8(bat));
-	gcx().trace(context::conf, "using vcvars at {}", bat);
-}
-
-
 struct parsed_option
 {
 	std::string task, section, key, value;
@@ -929,23 +527,6 @@ void dump_available_options()
 }
 
 
-fs::path make_temp_file()
-{
-	static fs::path dir = conf().path().temp_dir();
-
-	wchar_t name[MAX_PATH + 1] = {};
-	if (GetTempFileNameW(dir.native().c_str(), L"mob", 0, name) == 0)
-	{
-		const auto e = GetLastError();
-
-		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
-			"can't create temp file in {}, {}", dir, error_message(e));
-	}
-
-	return dir / name;
-}
-
-
 conf_global conf::global()
 {
 	return {};
diff --git a/src/core/conf.h b/src/core/conf.h
index 91b8651..72fde68 100644
--- a/src/core/conf.h
+++ b/src/core/conf.h
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ bool verify_options();
 void log_options();
 void dump_available_options();
 
-fs::path find_root(bool verbose=false);
-fs::path find_in_root(const fs::path& file);
-fs::path make_temp_file();
-
 
 template <class DefaultType>
 class conf_section
diff --git a/src/core/ini.cpp b/src/core/ini.cpp
index 4a644ba..f8e9638 100644
--- a/src/core/ini.cpp
+++ b/src/core/ini.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "pch.h"
 #include "ini.h"
+#include "paths.h"
 #include "context.h"
 #include "env.h"
 #include "conf.h"
diff --git a/src/core/paths.cpp b/src/core/paths.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..729d86c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/paths.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,410 @@
+#include "pch.h"
+#include "paths.h"
+#include "../tasks/tasks.h"
+#include "../utility/string.h"
+
+namespace mob
+{
+
+fs::path find_in_path(std::string_view exe)
+{
+	const std::wstring wexe = utf8_to_utf16(exe);
+
+	const std::size_t size = MAX_PATH;
+	wchar_t buffer[size + 1] = {};
+
+	if (SearchPathW(nullptr, wexe.c_str(), nullptr, size, buffer, nullptr))
+		return buffer;
+	else
+		return {};
+}
+
+fs::path find_iscc()
+{
+	const auto tasks = find_tasks("installer");
+	MOB_ASSERT(tasks.size() == 1);
+
+	if (!tasks[0]->enabled())
+		return {};
+
+	auto iscc = conf().tool().get("iscc");
+	if (iscc.is_absolute())
+	{
+		if (!fs::exists(iscc))
+		{
+			gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
+				"{} doesn't exist (from ini, absolute path)", iscc);
+		}
+
+		return iscc;
+	}
+
+	fs::path p = find_in_path(path_to_utf8(iscc));
+	if (fs::exists(p))
+		return fs::canonical(fs::absolute(p));
+
+	for (int v : {5, 6, 7, 8})
+	{
+		const fs::path inno = fmt::format("inno setup {}", v);
+
+		for (fs::path pf : {conf().path().pf_x86(), conf().path().pf_x64()})
+		{
+			p = pf / inno / iscc;
+			if (fs::exists(p))
+				return fs::canonical(fs::absolute(p));
+		}
+	}
+
+	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't find {} anywhere", iscc);
+}
+
+bool try_parts(fs::path& check, const std::vector<std::string>& parts)
+{
+	for (std::size_t i=0; i<parts.size(); ++i)
+	{
+		fs::path p = check;
+
+		for (std::size_t j=i; j<parts.size(); ++j)
+			p /= parts[j];
+
+		gcx().trace(context::conf, "trying parts {}", p);
+
+		if (fs::exists(p))
+		{
+			check = p;
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+fs::path mob_exe_path()
+{
+	// double the buffer size 10 times
+	const int max_tries = 10;
+
+	DWORD buffer_size = MAX_PATH;
+
+	for (int tries=0; tries<max_tries; ++tries)
+	{
+		auto buffer = std::make_unique<wchar_t[]>(buffer_size + 1);
+		DWORD n = GetModuleFileNameW(0, buffer.get(), buffer_size);
+
+		if (n == 0) {
+			const auto e = GetLastError();
+			gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
+				"can't get module filename, {}", error_message(e));
+		}
+		else if (n >= buffer_size) {
+			// buffer is too small, try again
+			buffer_size *= 2;
+		} else {
+			// if GetModuleFileName() works, `n` does not include the null
+			// terminator
+			const std::wstring s(buffer.get(), n);
+			return fs::canonical(s);
+		}
+	}
+
+	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't get module filename");
+}
+
+fs::path find_root(bool verbose)
+{
+	gcx().trace(context::conf, "looking for root directory");
+
+	fs::path mob_exe_dir = mob_exe_path().parent_path();
+
+	auto third_party = mob_exe_dir / "third-party";
+
+	if (!fs::exists(third_party))
+	{
+		if (verbose)
+			u8cout << "no third-party here\n";
+
+		auto p = mob_exe_dir;
+
+		if (p.filename().u8string() == u8"x64")
+		{
+			p = p.parent_path();
+			if (p.filename().u8string() == u8"Debug" ||
+				p.filename().u8string() == u8"Release")
+			{
+				if (verbose)
+					u8cout << "this is mob's build directory, looking up\n";
+
+				// mob_exe_dir is in the build directory
+				third_party = mob_exe_dir / ".." / ".." / ".." / "third-party";
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!fs::exists(third_party))
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "root directory not found");
+
+	const auto p = fs::canonical(third_party.parent_path());
+	gcx().trace(context::conf, "found root directory at {}", p);
+	return p;
+}
+
+fs::path find_in_root(const fs::path& file)
+{
+	static fs::path root = find_root();
+
+	fs::path p = root / file;
+	if (!fs::exists(p))
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "{} not found", p);
+
+	gcx().trace(context::conf, "found {}", p);
+	return p;
+}
+
+
+fs::path find_third_party_directory()
+{
+	static fs::path path = find_in_root("third-party");
+	return path;
+}
+
+bool find_qmake(fs::path& check)
+{
+	// try Qt/Qt5.14.2/msvc*/bin/qmake.exe
+	if (try_parts(check, {
+		"Qt",
+		"Qt" + qt::version(),
+		"msvc" + qt::vs_version() + "_64",
+		"bin",
+		"qmake.exe"}))
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	// try Qt/5.14.2/msvc*/bin/qmake.exe
+	if (try_parts(check, {
+		"Qt",
+		qt::version(),
+		"msvc" + qt::vs_version() + "_64",
+		"bin",
+		"qmake.exe"}))
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool try_qt_location(fs::path& check)
+{
+	if (!find_qmake(check))
+		return false;
+
+	check = fs::absolute(check.parent_path() / "..");
+	return true;
+}
+
+fs::path find_qt()
+{
+	fs::path p = conf().path().qt_install();
+
+	if (!p.empty())
+	{
+		p = fs::absolute(p);
+
+		if (!try_qt_location(p))
+			gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "no qt install in {}", p);
+
+		return p;
+	}
+
+
+	std::vector<fs::path> locations =
+	{
+		conf().path().pf_x64(),
+		"C:\\",
+		"D:\\"
+	};
+
+	// look for qmake, which is in %qt%/version/msvc.../bin
+	fs::path qmake = find_in_path("qmake.exe");
+	if (!qmake.empty())
+		locations.insert(locations.begin(), qmake.parent_path() / "../../");
+
+	// look for qtcreator.exe, which is in %qt%/Tools/QtCreator/bin
+	fs::path qtcreator = find_in_path("qtcreator.exe");
+	if (!qtcreator.empty())
+		locations.insert(locations.begin(), qtcreator.parent_path() / "../../../");
+
+	for (fs::path loc : locations)
+	{
+		loc = fs::absolute(loc);
+		if (try_qt_location(loc))
+			return loc;
+	}
+
+	gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't find qt install");
+}
+
+void validate_qt()
+{
+	fs::path p = qt::installation_path();
+
+	if (!try_qt_location(p))
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "qt path {} doesn't exist", p);
+
+	details::set_string("paths", "qt_install", path_to_utf8(p));
+}
+
+fs::path get_known_folder(const GUID& id)
+{
+	wchar_t* buffer = nullptr;
+	const auto r = ::SHGetKnownFolderPath(id, 0, 0, &buffer);
+
+	if (r != S_OK)
+		return {};
+
+	fs::path p = buffer;
+	::CoTaskMemFree(buffer);
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+fs::path find_program_files_x86()
+{
+	fs::path p = get_known_folder(FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX86);
+
+	if (p.empty())
+	{
+		const auto e = GetLastError();
+
+		p = fs::path(R"(C:\Program Files (x86))");
+
+		gcx().warning(context::conf,
+			"failed to get x86 program files folder, defaulting to {}, {}",
+			p, error_message(e));
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		gcx().trace(context::conf, "x86 program files is {}", p);
+	}
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+fs::path find_program_files_x64()
+{
+	fs::path p = get_known_folder(FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX64);
+
+	if (p.empty())
+	{
+		const auto e = GetLastError();
+
+		p = fs::path(R"(C:\Program Files)");
+
+		gcx().warning(context::conf,
+			"failed to get x64 program files folder, defaulting to {}, {}",
+			p, error_message(e));
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		gcx().trace(context::conf, "x64 program files is {}", p);
+	}
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+fs::path find_temp_dir()
+{
+	const std::size_t buffer_size = MAX_PATH + 2;
+	wchar_t buffer[buffer_size] = {};
+
+	if (GetTempPathW(static_cast<DWORD>(buffer_size), buffer) == 0)
+	{
+		const auto e = GetLastError();
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "can't get temp path", error_message(e));
+	}
+
+	fs::path p(buffer);
+	gcx().trace(context::conf, "temp dir is {}", p);
+
+	return p;
+}
+
+fs::path find_vs()
+{
+	if (conf::dry())
+		return vs::vswhere();
+
+	const auto path = vswhere::find_vs();
+	if (path.empty())
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vswhere failed");
+
+	const auto lines = split(path_to_utf8(path), "\r\n");
+
+	if (lines.empty())
+	{
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vswhere didn't output anything");
+	}
+	else if (lines.size() > 1)
+	{
+		gcx().error(context::conf, "vswhere returned multiple installations:");
+
+		for (auto&& line : lines)
+			gcx().error(context::conf, " - {}", line);
+
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
+			"specify the `vs` path in the `[paths]` section of the INI, or "
+			"pass -s paths/vs=PATH` to pick an installation");
+	}
+
+	if (!fs::exists(path))
+	{
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
+			"the path given by vswhere doesn't exist: {}", path);
+	}
+
+	return path;
+}
+
+bool try_vcvars(fs::path& bat)
+{
+	if (!fs::exists(bat))
+		return false;
+
+	bat = fs::canonical(fs::absolute(bat));
+	return true;
+}
+
+void find_vcvars()
+{
+	fs::path bat = conf().tool().get("vcvars");
+
+	if (conf::dry())
+	{
+		if (bat.empty())
+			bat = "vcvars.bat";
+
+		return;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (bat.empty())
+		{
+			bat = vs::installation_path()
+				/ "VC" / "Auxiliary" / "Build" / "vcvarsall.bat";
+
+			if (!try_vcvars(bat))
+				gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vcvars not found at {}", bat);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			if (!try_vcvars(bat))
+				gcx().bail_out(context::conf, "vcvars not found at {}", bat);
+		}
+	}
+
+	details::set_string("tools", "vcvars", path_to_utf8(bat));
+	gcx().trace(context::conf, "using vcvars at {}", bat);
+}
+
+}	// namespace
diff --git a/src/core/paths.h b/src/core/paths.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b63fd3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/paths.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#pragma once
+
+namespace mob
+{
+
+fs::path find_root(bool verbose=false);
+fs::path find_in_root(const fs::path& file);
+
+fs::path find_third_party_directory();
+fs::path find_program_files_x86();
+fs::path find_program_files_x64();
+fs::path find_vs();
+fs::path find_qt();
+fs::path find_iscc();
+fs::path find_temp_dir();
+
+void find_vcvars();
+void validate_qt();
+
+fs::path mob_exe_path();
+
+}	// namespace
diff --git a/src/utility/fs.cpp b/src/utility/fs.cpp
index f37056e..2c090dd 100644
--- a/src/utility/fs.cpp
+++ b/src/utility/fs.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,23 @@
 namespace mob
 {
 
+fs::path make_temp_file()
+{
+	static fs::path dir = conf().path().temp_dir();
+
+	wchar_t name[MAX_PATH + 1] = {};
+	if (GetTempFileNameW(dir.native().c_str(), L"mob", 0, name) == 0)
+	{
+		const auto e = GetLastError();
+
+		gcx().bail_out(context::conf,
+			"can't create temp file in {}, {}", dir, error_message(e));
+	}
+
+	return dir / name;
+}
+
+
 file_deleter::file_deleter(const context& cx, fs::path p)
 	: cx_(cx), p_(std::move(p)), delete_(true)
 {
diff --git a/src/utility/fs.h b/src/utility/fs.h
index 17f058f..a220117 100644
--- a/src/utility/fs.h
+++ b/src/utility/fs.h
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ namespace mob
 class context;
 
 
+// returns a unique filename in the temp directory; requires inis to be loaded
+//
+fs::path make_temp_file();
+
+
 struct handle_closer
 {
 	using pointer = HANDLE;
diff --git a/vs/mob.vcxproj b/vs/mob.vcxproj
index b4a2e93..028d579 100644
--- a/vs/mob.vcxproj
+++ b/vs/mob.vcxproj
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\env.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\ini.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\op.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\paths.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\pipe.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\process.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\main.cpp" />
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\env.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\ini.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\op.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\paths.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\pipe.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\process.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\net.h" />
diff --git a/vs/mob.vcxproj.filters b/vs/mob.vcxproj.filters
index 421ec1c..d8b1db4 100644
--- a/vs/mob.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/vs/mob.vcxproj.filters
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\ini.cpp">
       <Filter>src\core</Filter>
     </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="..\src\core\paths.cpp">
+      <Filter>src\core</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\pch.h">
@@ -263,5 +266,8 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\ini.h">
       <Filter>src\core</Filter>
     </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="..\src\core\paths.h">
+      <Filter>src\core</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
\ No newline at end of file