new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/liboctave/lo-sysdep.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 1996, 1997 John W. Eaton
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any
+later version.
+
+Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the Free
+Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+
+*/
+
+#if !defined (octave_liboctave_sysdep_h)
+#define octave_liboctave_sysdep_h 1
+
+#include <string>
+
+#include "lo-ieee.h"
+
+extern string octave_getcwd (void);
+
+extern bool octave_chdir (const string&);
+
+#if ! defined (HAVE_GETHOSTNAME) && defined (HAVE_SYS_UTSNAME_H)
+extern int gethostname (char *, int);
+#endif
+
+#endif
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/