diff --git a/include/paths.hpp b/include/paths.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eb1e3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/paths.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace cellar {
+    namespace paths {
+        extern std::string translate(std::string in_path, bool lazy = false);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/paths.cpp b/src/core/paths.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..072e112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/paths.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#include <exception>
+#include <string>
+#include <regex>
+
+#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
+
+#include "output.hpp"
+#include "paths.hpp"
+
+using namespace cellar;
+
+std::string cellar::paths::translate(std::string in_path, bool lazy) {
+    bool posix_input;
+
+    static std::regex drive_letter(R"([a-zA-Z]:\\)");
+
+    posix_input = ! std::regex_match(in_path.substr(0, 3), drive_letter);
+
+    if (!lazy) {
+        output::warning("non-lazy path translation is not implemented yet");
+    }
+
+    if (posix_input) {
+        // lazy
+        if (boost::algorithm::to_lower_copy(in_path.substr(0,1)) != "z") {
+            throw std::invalid_argument("lazy path translation isn't possible for drive letters other than Z:");
+        }
+        std::string out_path = in_path.substr(2, in_path.size() - 2);
+        
+        size_t slashpos = out_path.find("\\");
+        while (slashpos != std::string::npos) {
+            out_path.replace(slashpos, 1, "/");
+            slashpos = out_path.find("\\");
+        }
+
+        return out_path;
+    } else {
+        // lazy
+        std::string out_path = "Z:";
+        out_path.append(in_path);
+
+        size_t slashpos = out_path.find("/");
+        while (slashpos != std::string::npos) {
+            out_path.replace(slashpos, 1, "\\");
+            slashpos = out_path.find("/");
+        }
+
+        return out_path;
+    }
+}