diff --git a/pylorax/__init__.py b/pylorax/__init__.py
index 58b6a084..7d925c17 100644
--- a/pylorax/__init__.py
+++ b/pylorax/__init__.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ version = (0, 1)
 
 __all__ = ['discinfo', 'treeinfo']
 
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+
 import discinfo
 import treeinfo
 
@@ -39,3 +43,120 @@ def show_version(prog):
         prog = 'pylorax'
 
     print "%s version %d.%d" % (prog, version[0], version[1],)
+
+def collectRepos(args):
+    """collectRepos(args)
+
+    Get the main repo (the first one) and then build a list of all remaining
+    repos in the list.  Sanitize each repo URL for proper yum syntax.
+
+    """
+
+    if args is None or args == []:
+        return '', []
+
+    repolist = []
+    for repospec in args:
+        if repospec.startswith('/'):
+            repolist.append("file://%s" % (repospec,))
+        elif repospec.startswith('http://') or repospec.startswith('ftp://'):
+            repolist.append(repospec)
+
+    repo = repolist[0]
+    extrarepos = []
+
+    if len(repolist) > 1:
+        for extra in repolist[1:]:
+            extrarepos.append(extra)
+
+    return repo, extrarepos
+
+def initializeDirs(output):
+    """initializeDirs(output)
+
+    Create directories used for image generation.  The only required
+    parameter is the main output directory specified by the user.
+
+    """
+
+    if not os.path.isdir(output):
+        os.makedirs(output, mode=0755)
+
+    tmpdir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+    buildinstdir = tempfile.mkdtemp('XXXXXX', 'buildinstall.tree.', tmpdir)
+    treedir = tempfile.mkdtemp('XXXXXX', 'treedir.', tmpdir)
+    cachedir = tempfile.mkdtemp('XXXXXX', 'yumcache.' tmpdir)
+
+    return buildinstdir, treedir, cachedir
+
+def writeYumConf(cachedir=None, repo=None, extrarepos=[], mirrorlist=[]):
+    """writeYumConf(cachedir=None, repo=None, [extrarepos=[], mirrorlist=[]])
+
+    Generate a temporary yum.conf file for image generation.  The required
+    parameters are the cachedir that yum should use and the main repo to use.
+
+    Optional parameters are a list of extra repositories to add to the
+    yum.conf file.  The mirrorlist parameter is a list of yum mirrorlists
+    that should be added to the yum.conf file.
+
+    Returns the path to the temporary yum.conf file on success, None of failure.
+    """
+
+    if cachedir is None or repo is None:
+        return None
+
+    tmpdir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+    (f, yumconf) = tempfile.mkstemp('XXXXXX', 'yum.conf', tmpdir)
+
+    f.write("[main]\n")
+    f.write("cachedir=%s\n" % (cachedir,))
+    f.write("keepcache=0\n")
+    f.write("gpgcheck=0\n")
+    f.write("plugins=0\n")
+    f.write("reposdir=\n")
+    f.write("tsflags=nodocs\n\n")
+    f.write("[anacondarepo]\n")
+    f.write("name=anaconda repo\n")
+    f.write("baseurl=%s\n" % (repo,))
+    f.write("enabled=1\n\n")
+
+    if extrarepos != []:
+        n = 1
+        for extra in extrarepos:
+            f.write("[anaconda-extrarepo-%d]\n" % (n,)
+            f.write("name=anaconda extra repo %d\n" % (n,)
+            f.write("baseurl=%s\n" % (extra,))
+            f.write("enabled=1\n")
+            n += 1
+
+    if mirrorlist != []:
+        n = 1
+        for mirror in mirrorlist:
+            f.write("[anaconda-mirrorlistrepo-%d]\n" % (n,)
+            f.write("name=anaconda mirrorlist repo %d\n" % (n,)
+            f.write("mirrorlist=%s\n" % (extra,))
+            f.write("enabled=1\n") 
+            n += 1
+
+    f.close()
+    return yumconf
+
+def cleanup(trash=[])
+    """cleanup(trash)
+
+    Given a list of things to remove, cleanup() will remove them if it can.
+    Never fails, just tries to remove things and returns regardless of
+    failures removing things.
+
+    """
+
+    if trash is []:
+        return
+
+    for item in trash:
+        if os.path.isdir(item):
+           shutil.rmtree(item, ignore_errors=True)
+        else:
+           os.unlink(item)
+
+    return