+bool autoOpenFile(std::string const & filename, auto_open_mode const mode,
+ std::string const & path = empty_string());
+
+/** Resolves a path such that it does not contain '.', '..', or symbolic links.
+ * \p path and the return value are encoded in utf8.
+ */
+std::string real_path(std::string const & path);
+
+/** Checks whether \param path starts with \param pre, accounting for case
+ * insensitive file systems.
+ */
+bool path_prefix_is(std::string const & path, std::string const & pre);
+
+/** Checks whether \param path starts with \param pre, accounting for case
+ * insensitive file systems. If true, the file system is case insensitive,
+ * and \param how == CASE_ADJUSTED, the case of the matching prefix in
+ * @c path is made equal to that of @c pre.
+ */
+bool path_prefix_is(std::string & path, std::string const & pre, path_case how = CASE_UNCHANGED);