new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/liboctave/oct-env.h
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/*
+
+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_env_h)
+#define octave_env_h 1
+
+#include <string>
+
+class
+octave_env
+{
+protected:
+
+  octave_env (void);
+
+public:
+
+  static string polite_directory_format (const string& name);
+
+  static bool absolute_pathname (const string& s);
+
+  static string base_pathname (const string& s);
+
+  static string make_absolute (const string& s, const string& dot_path);
+
+  static string getcwd (void);
+
+  static string get_home_directory (void);
+
+  static string get_program_name (void);
+
+  static string get_program_invocation_name (void);
+
+  static string get_user_name (void);
+
+  static string get_host_name (void);
+
+  static string getenv (const string& name);
+
+  static void putenv (const string& name, const string& value);
+
+  static bool chdir (const string& newdir);
+
+  static void set_program_name (const string& s);
+
+private:
+
+  static bool instance_ok (void);
+
+  string do_polite_directory_format (const string& name) const;
+
+  bool do_absolute_pathname (const string& s) const;
+
+  string do_base_pathname (const string& s) const;
+
+  string do_make_absolute (const string& s, const string& dot_path) const;
+
+  string do_getcwd (void);
+
+  string do_get_home_directory (void) const;
+
+  string do_get_user_name (void) const;
+
+  string do_get_host_name (void) const;
+
+  string do_getenv (const string& name) const;
+
+  void do_putenv (const string& name, const string& value) const;
+
+  bool do_chdir (const string& newdir);
+
+  void do_set_program_name (const string& s) const;
+
+  void pathname_backup (string& path, int n) const;
+
+  void error (int) const;
+
+  void error (const string&) const;
+
+  // No copying!
+
+  octave_env (const octave_env&);
+
+  octave_env& operator = (const octave_env&);
+
+  // The real thing.
+  static octave_env *instance;
+
+  // TRUE means follow symbolic links that point to directories just
+  // as if they are real directories.
+  bool follow_symbolic_links;
+
+  // TRUE means that pwd always give verbatim directory, regardless
+  // of symbolic link following.
+  bool verbatim_pwd;
+
+  // Where are we?
+  string current_directory;
+
+  // Etc.
+  mutable string program_name;
+
+  mutable string program_invocation_name;
+
+  mutable string user_name;
+
+  mutable string host_name;
+};
+
+#endif
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/