diff --git a/src/lib/arch/Arch.h b/src/lib/arch/Arch.h
index 42a73c2e..c062d6f3 100644
--- a/src/lib/arch/Arch.h
+++ b/src/lib/arch/Arch.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #if SYSAPI_WIN32
 #    include "arch/win32/ArchConsoleWindows.h"
 #    include "arch/win32/ArchDaemonWindows.h"
-#    include "arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.h"
 #    include "arch/win32/ArchLogWindows.h"
 #    include "arch/win32/ArchMiscWindows.h"
 #    include "arch/win32/ArchMultithreadWindows.h"
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@
 #elif SYSAPI_UNIX
 #    include "arch/unix/ArchConsoleUnix.h"
 #    include "arch/unix/ArchDaemonUnix.h"
-#    include "arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.h"
 #    include "arch/unix/ArchLogUnix.h"
 #    if HAVE_PTHREAD
 #        include "arch/unix/ArchMultithreadPosix.h"
@@ -86,7 +84,6 @@ typically at the beginning of \c main().
 */
 class Arch : public ARCH_CONSOLE,
                 public ARCH_DAEMON,
-                public ARCH_FILE,
                 public ARCH_LOG,
                 public ARCH_MULTITHREAD,
                 public ARCH_NETWORK,
diff --git a/src/lib/arch/IArchFile.h b/src/lib/arch/IArchFile.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 88cb7792..00000000
--- a/src/lib/arch/IArchFile.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Symless Ltd.
- * Copyright (C) 2002 Chris Schoeneman
- * 
- * This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
- * found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
- * 
- * This package 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-#pragma once
-
-#include "common/IInterface.h"
-#include "common/stdstring.h"
-#include "base/String.h"
-
-//! Interface for architecture dependent file system operations
-/*!
-This interface defines the file system operations required by
-barrier.  Each architecture must implement this interface.
-*/
-class IArchFile : public IInterface {
-public:
-    //! @name manipulators
-    //@{
-
-    //! Extract base name
-    /*!
-    Find the base name in the given \c pathname.
-    */
-    virtual const char*    getBasename(const char* pathname) = 0;
-
-    //! Concatenate path components
-    /*!
-    Concatenate pathname components with a directory separator
-    between them.  This should not check if the resulting path
-    is longer than allowed by the system;  we'll rely on the
-    system calls to tell us that.
-    */
-    virtual std::string    concatPath(
-                            const std::string& prefix,
-                            const std::string& suffix) = 0;
-};
diff --git a/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.cpp b/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 206f1f18..00000000
--- a/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Symless Ltd.
- * Copyright (C) 2002 Chris Schoeneman
- * 
- * This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
- * found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
- * 
- * This package 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-#include "arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.h"
-#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <pwd.h>
-#include <sys/types.h>
-#include <cstring>
-
-//
-// ArchFileUnix
-//
-
-const char*
-ArchFileUnix::getBasename(const char* pathname)
-{
-    if (pathname == NULL) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    const char* basename = strrchr(pathname, '/');
-    if (basename != NULL) {
-        return basename + 1;
-    }
-    else {
-        return pathname;
-    }
-}
-
-std::string
-ArchFileUnix::concatPath(const std::string& prefix,
-                const std::string& suffix)
-{
-    std::string path;
-    path.reserve(prefix.size() + 1 + suffix.size());
-    path += prefix;
-    if (path.size() == 0 || path[path.size() - 1] != '/') {
-        path += '/';
-    }
-    path += suffix;
-    return path;
-}
diff --git a/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.h b/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.h
deleted file mode 100644
index b39f9827..00000000
--- a/src/lib/arch/unix/ArchFileUnix.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Symless Ltd.
- * Copyright (C) 2002 Chris Schoeneman
- * 
- * This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
- * found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
- * 
- * This package 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-#pragma once
-
-#include "arch/IArchFile.h"
-
-#define ARCH_FILE ArchFileUnix
-
-//! Unix implementation of IArchFile
-class ArchFileUnix : public IArchFile {
-public:
-    // IArchFile overrides
-    virtual const char*    getBasename(const char* pathname);
-    virtual std::string    concatPath(const std::string& prefix,
-                            const std::string& suffix);
-};
diff --git a/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.cpp b/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 8f362551..00000000
--- a/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Symless Ltd.
- * Copyright (C) 2002 Chris Schoeneman
- * 
- * This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
- * found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
- * 
- * This package 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-#include "arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.h"
-#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
-
-#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
-#include <Windows.h>
-#include <shlobj.h>
-#include <tchar.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-//
-// ArchFileWindows
-//
-
-const char*
-ArchFileWindows::getBasename(const char* pathname)
-{
-    if (pathname == NULL) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    // check for last slash
-    const char* basename = strrchr(pathname, '/');
-    if (basename != NULL) {
-        ++basename;
-    }
-    else {
-        basename = pathname;
-    }
-
-    // check for last backslash
-    const char* basename2 = strrchr(pathname, '\\');
-    if (basename2 != NULL && basename2 > basename) {
-        basename = basename2 + 1;
-    }
-
-    return basename;
-}
-
-std::string
-ArchFileWindows::concatPath(const std::string& prefix,
-                const std::string& suffix)
-{
-    std::string path;
-    path.reserve(prefix.size() + 1 + suffix.size());
-    path += prefix;
-    if (path.size() == 0 ||
-        (path[path.size() - 1] != '\\' &&
-        path[path.size() - 1] != '/')) {
-        path += '\\';
-    }
-    path += suffix;
-    return path;
-}
diff --git a/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.h b/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 2bfa316d..00000000
--- a/src/lib/arch/win32/ArchFileWindows.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Symless Ltd.
- * Copyright (C) 2002 Chris Schoeneman
- * 
- * This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
- * found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
- * 
- * This package 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 this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-#pragma once
-
-#include "arch/IArchFile.h"
-
-#define ARCH_FILE ArchFileWindows
-
-//! Win32 implementation of IArchFile
-class ArchFileWindows : public IArchFile {
-public:
-    // IArchFile overrides
-    virtual const char*    getBasename(const char* pathname);
-    virtual std::string    concatPath(const std::string& prefix,
-                            const std::string& suffix);
-};
diff --git a/src/lib/barrier/ArgParser.cpp b/src/lib/barrier/ArgParser.cpp
index 1ce918c7..df478ab9 100644
--- a/src/lib/barrier/ArgParser.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/barrier/ArgParser.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "barrier/ArgsBase.h"
 #include "base/Log.h"
 #include "base/String.h"
+#include "common/PathUtilities.h"
 
 #ifdef WINAPI_MSWINDOWS
 #include <VersionHelpers.h>
@@ -455,7 +456,7 @@ void
 ArgParser::updateCommonArgs(const char* const* argv)
 {
     argsBase().m_name = ARCH->getHostName();
-    argsBase().m_pname = ARCH->getBasename(argv[0]);
+    argsBase().m_pname = PathUtilities::basename(argv[0]).c_str();
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/src/lib/barrier/ClientApp.cpp b/src/lib/barrier/ClientApp.cpp
index 87686f29..23c0ea36 100644
--- a/src/lib/barrier/ClientApp.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/barrier/ClientApp.cpp
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@
 #include "base/TMethodJob.h"
 #include "base/Log.h"
 #include "common/Version.h"
-
-#if SYSAPI_WIN32
-#include "arch/win32/ArchMiscWindows.h"
-#endif
+#include "common/PathUtilities.h"
 
 #if WINAPI_MSWINDOWS
 #include "platform/MSWindowsScreen.h"
@@ -519,7 +516,7 @@ ClientApp::runInner(int argc, char** argv, ILogOutputter* outputter, StartupFunc
 {
     // general initialization
     m_serverAddress = new NetworkAddress;
-    args().m_pname         = ARCH->getBasename(argv[0]);
+    args().m_pname = PathUtilities::basename(argv[0]).c_str();
 
     // install caller's output filter
     if (outputter != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/lib/barrier/ServerApp.cpp b/src/lib/barrier/ServerApp.cpp
index 240db855..c6e31a5d 100644
--- a/src/lib/barrier/ServerApp.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/barrier/ServerApp.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "base/TMethodEventJob.h"
 #include "common/Version.h"
 #include "common/DataDirectories.h"
+#include "common/PathUtilities.h"
 
 #if SYSAPI_WIN32
 #include "arch/win32/ArchMiscWindows.h"
@@ -143,8 +144,8 @@ ServerApp::help()
            << std::endl
            << "If no configuration file pathname is provided then the first of the" << std::endl
            << "following to load successfully sets the configuration:" << std::endl
-           << "  $HOME/" << USR_CONFIG_NAME << std::endl
-           << "  " << ARCH->concatPath(DataDirectories::systemconfig(), SYS_CONFIG_NAME) << std::endl;
+           << "  " << PathUtilities::concat(DataDirectories::personal(), SYS_CONFIG_NAME) << std::endl
+           << "  " << PathUtilities::concat(DataDirectories::systemconfig(), SYS_CONFIG_NAME) << std::endl;
 
     LOG((CLOG_PRINT "%s", buffer.str().c_str()));
 }
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ ServerApp::loadConfig()
         String path = DataDirectories::personal();
         if (!path.empty()) {
             // complete path
-            path = ARCH->concatPath(path, USR_CONFIG_NAME);
+            path = PathUtilities::concat(path, USR_CONFIG_NAME);
 
             // now try loading the user's configuration
             if (loadConfig(path)) {
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ ServerApp::loadConfig()
             // try the system-wide config file
             path = DataDirectories::systemconfig();
             if (!path.empty()) {
-                path = ARCH->concatPath(path, SYS_CONFIG_NAME);
+                path = PathUtilities::concat(path, SYS_CONFIG_NAME);
                 if (loadConfig(path)) {
                     loaded            = true;
                     args().m_configFile = path;
@@ -780,7 +781,7 @@ ServerApp::runInner(int argc, char** argv, ILogOutputter* outputter, StartupFunc
     // general initialization
     m_barrierAddress = new NetworkAddress;
     args().m_config         = new Config(m_events);
-    args().m_pname          = ARCH->getBasename(argv[0]);
+    args().m_pname = PathUtilities::basename(argv[0]).c_str();
 
     // install caller's output filter
     if (outputter != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/lib/common/DataDirectories.h b/src/lib/common/DataDirectories.h
index ddb903e4..edc604a6 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/DataDirectories.h
+++ b/src/lib/common/DataDirectories.h
@@ -26,4 +26,3 @@ private:
     static std::string _global;
     static std::string _systemconfig;
 };
-
diff --git a/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.cpp b/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9859e048
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#include "PathUtilities.h"
+
+// keep the default platform delimiter as the first in the list
+#ifdef _WIN32
+static const char *Delimiters = "\\/";
+#else
+static const char *Delimiters = "/";
+#endif
+
+static const char DefaultDelimiter = Delimiters[0];
+
+std::string PathUtilities::basename(const std::string& path)
+{
+    return path.substr(path.find_last_of(Delimiters) + 1);
+}
+
+std::string PathUtilities::concat(const std::string& left, const std::string& right)
+{
+    // although npos is usually (-1) we can't count on that so handle it explicitly
+    auto leftEnd = left.find_last_not_of(Delimiters);
+    if (leftEnd == std::string::npos)
+        leftEnd = 0;
+    else
+        ++leftEnd;
+    auto rightStart = right.find_first_not_of(Delimiters, 0);
+    if (rightStart == std::string::npos) {
+        // l/r empty
+        if (left.size() == 0 && right.size() == 0)
+            return "";
+        // r useless, l okay
+        if (leftEnd > 0)
+            return left.substr(0, leftEnd);
+        // both useless but one has a delim
+        return std::string(1, DefaultDelimiter);
+    }
+    if (leftEnd == 0) {
+        // r okay and not prefixed with delims, l empty
+        if (left.size() == 0 && rightStart == 0)
+            return right.substr(rightStart);
+        // r okay and prefixed with delims OR l full of delims
+        return DefaultDelimiter + right.substr(rightStart);
+    }
+    // normal concatenation
+    return left.substr(0, leftEnd) + DefaultDelimiter + right.substr(rightStart);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.h b/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..993229b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/common/PathUtilities.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+
+class PathUtilities
+{
+public:
+    static std::string basename(const std::string& path);
+    static std::string concat(const std::string& left, const std::string& right);
+
+private:
+    // static class
+    PathUtilities() {}
+};