diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index a7b2a87..ab80a92 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -655,6 +655,18 @@ class Application(object):
         f = getattr(self.window(), methodname)
         f()
 
+    # build application-centric paths
+    def getpath(self, *parts):
+        return os.path.join(os.getenv('HOME'), '.pmc', *parts)
+
+    # create directories under the application path
+    def mkdirs(self, *parts):
+        path = self.getpath()
+        for part in parts:
+            path = os.path.join(path, part)
+            if not os.path.exists(path):
+                os.mkdir(path)
+
     # load user configuration NOW
     def loadrc(self):
         path = os.path.join(os.getenv('HOME'), '.pmc', 'conf')