System.FilePath.Posix.ByteString

A library for RawFilePath manipulations, using Posix style paths on all platforms. Importing System.FilePath.ByteString is usually better.

This module is the same as System.FilePath.Posix from the filepath library, except it uses RawFilePath.

Given the example RawFilePath: /directory/file.ext

We can use the following functions to extract pieces.

• takeFileName gives "file.ext"
• takeDirectory gives "/directory"
• takeExtension gives ".ext"
• dropExtension gives "/directory/file"
• takeBaseName gives "file"

And we could have built an equivalent path with the following expressions:

• "/directory" </> "file.ext".
• "/directory/file" <.> "ext".
• "/directory/file.txt" -<.> "ext".

Each function in this module is documented with several examples, which are also used as tests.

Here are a few examples of using the filepath functions together:

Example 1: Find the possible locations of a Haskell module Test imported from module Main:

[replaceFileName path_to_main "Test" <.> ext | ext <- ["hs","lhs"] ]

Example 2: Compile a Haskell file, putting the .hi file under interface:

takeDirectory file </> "interface" </> (takeFileName file -<.> "hi")

References: [1] Naming Files, Paths and Namespaces (Microsoft MSDN)

Types

type RawFilePath = ByteString

A literal POSIX file path

Filename encoding

When using FilePath, you do not usually need to care about how it is encoded, because it is a [Char] and encoding and decoding is handled by IO actions as needed. Unfortunately the situation is more complicated when using RawFilePath.

It's natural to enable OverloadedStrings and use it to construct a RawFilePath, eg "foo" </> "bar". A gotcha though is that any non-ascii characters will be truncated to 8 bits. That is not a limitation of this library, but of the IsString implementation of ByteString.

Posix filenames do not have any defined encoding. This library assumes that whatever encoding may be used for a RawFilePath, it is compatable with ASCII. In particular, 0x2F (/) is always a path separator, and 0x2E (.) is assumed to be an extension separator. All encodings in common use are compatible with ASCII, and unix tools have always made similar assumptions, so this is unlikely to be a problem, unless you are dealing with EBCDIC or similar historical oddities.

Windows's API expects filenames to be encoded with UTF-16. This is especially problimatic when using OverloadedStrings since a ByteString "bar" is not a valid encoding for a Windows filename (but "b\0a\0r\0" is). To avoid this problem, and to simplify the implementation, RawFilePath is assumed to be encoded with UTF-8 (not UTF-16) when this library is used on Windows. There are not currently any libraries for Windows that use RawFilePath, so you will probably need to convert them back to FilePath in order to do IO in any case.

encodeFilePath :: FilePath -> RawFilePath

Convert from FilePath to RawFilePath.

When run on Unix, this applies the filesystem encoding (see getFileSystemEncoding).

When run on Windows, this encodes as UTF-8.

the implementation of this function assumes that the filesystem encoding will not be changed while the program is running.

decodeFilePath :: RawFilePath -> FilePath

Convert from RawFilePath to FilePath

When run on Unix, this applies the filesystem encoding (see getFileSystemEncoding).

When run on Windows, this decodes UTF-8.

Separator predicates

pathSeparator :: Word8

The character that separates directories. In the case where more than one character is possible, pathSeparator is the 'ideal' one.

Windows: pathSeparator == fromIntegral (ord '\\')
Posix:   pathSeparator == fromIntegral (ord '/')
isPathSeparator pathSeparator

pathSeparators :: [Word8]

The list of all possible separators.

Windows: pathSeparators == [fromIntegral (ord '\\'), fromIntegral (ord '/')]
Posix:   pathSeparators == [fromIntegral (ord '/')]
pathSeparator `elem` pathSeparators

isPathSeparator :: Word8 -> Bool

Rather than using (== pathSeparator), use this. Test if something is a path separator.

isPathSeparator a == (a `elem` pathSeparators)

searchPathSeparator :: Word8

The character that is used to separate the entries in the $PATH environment variable.

Windows: searchPathSeparator == fromIntegral (ord ';')
Posix:   searchPathSeparator == fromIntegral (ord ':')

isSearchPathSeparator :: Word8 -> Bool

Is the character a file separator?

isSearchPathSeparator a == (a == searchPathSeparator)

extSeparator :: Word8

File extension character

extSeparator == fromIntegral (ord '.')

isExtSeparator :: Word8 -> Bool

Is the character an extension character?

isExtSeparator a == (a == extSeparator)

$PATH methods

splitSearchPath :: ByteString -> [RawFilePath]

Take a string, split it on the searchPathSeparator character. Blank items are ignored on Windows, and converted to . on Posix. On Windows path elements are stripped of quotes.

Follows the recommendations in http://www.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/009695399/basedefs/xbd_chap08.html

Posix:   splitSearchPath "File1:File2:File3"  == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Posix:   splitSearchPath "File1::File2:File3" == ["File1",".","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;File2;File3"  == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;;File2;File3" == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;\"File2\";File3" == ["File1","File2","File3"]

getSearchPath :: IO [RawFilePath]

Get a list of RawFilePaths in the $PATH variable.

Extension functions

splitExtension :: RawFilePath -> (ByteString, ByteString)

Split on the extension. addExtension is the inverse.

splitExtension "/directory/path.ext" == ("/directory/path",".ext")
uncurry (<>) (splitExtension x) == x
Valid x => uncurry addExtension (splitExtension x) == x
splitExtension "file.txt" == ("file",".txt")
splitExtension "file" == ("file","")
splitExtension "file/file.txt" == ("file/file",".txt")
splitExtension "file.txt/boris" == ("file.txt/boris","")
splitExtension "file.txt/boris.ext" == ("file.txt/boris",".ext")
splitExtension "file/path.txt.bob.fred" == ("file/path.txt.bob",".fred")
splitExtension "file/path.txt/" == ("file/path.txt/","")

takeExtension :: RawFilePath -> ByteString

Get the extension of a file, returns "" for no extension, .ext otherwise.

takeExtension "/directory/path.ext" == ".ext"
takeExtension x == snd (splitExtension x)
Valid x => takeExtension (addExtension x "ext") == ".ext"
Valid x => takeExtension (replaceExtension x "ext") == ".ext"

replaceExtension :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Set the extension of a file, overwriting one if already present, equivalent to -<.>.

replaceExtension "/directory/path.txt" "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
replaceExtension "/directory/path.txt" ".ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
replaceExtension "file.txt" ".bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file.txt" "bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file" ".bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file.txt" "" == "file"
replaceExtension "file.fred.bob" "txt" == "file.fred.txt"
replaceExtension x y == addExtension (dropExtension x) y

(-<.>) :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath infixr 7

Remove the current extension and add another, equivalent to replaceExtension.

"/directory/path.txt" -<.> "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
"/directory/path.txt" -<.> ".ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
"foo.o" -<.> "c" == "foo.c"

dropExtension :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Remove last extension, and the "." preceding it.

dropExtension "/directory/path.ext" == "/directory/path"
dropExtension x == fst (splitExtension x)

addExtension :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Add an extension, even if there is already one there, equivalent to <.>.

addExtension "/directory/path" "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
addExtension "file.txt" "bib" == "file.txt.bib"
addExtension "file." ".bib" == "file..bib"
addExtension "file" ".bib" == "file.bib"
addExtension "/" "x" == "/.x"
addExtension x "" == x
Valid x => takeFileName (addExtension (addTrailingPathSeparator x) "ext") == ".ext"
Windows: addExtension "\\\\share" ".txt" == "\\\\share\\.txt"

hasExtension :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Does the given filename have an extension?

hasExtension "/directory/path.ext" == True
hasExtension "/directory/path" == False
null (takeExtension x) == not (hasExtension x)

(<.>) :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath infixr 7

Add an extension, even if there is already one there, equivalent to addExtension.

"/directory/path" <.> "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
"/directory/path" <.> ".ext" == "/directory/path.ext"

splitExtensions :: RawFilePath -> (RawFilePath, ByteString)

Split on all extensions.

splitExtensions "/directory/path.ext" == ("/directory/path",".ext")
splitExtensions "file.tar.gz" == ("file",".tar.gz")
uncurry (<>) (splitExtensions x) == x
Valid x => uncurry addExtension (splitExtensions x) == x
splitExtensions "file.tar.gz" == ("file",".tar.gz")

dropExtensions :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Drop all extensions.

dropExtensions "/directory/path.ext" == "/directory/path"
dropExtensions "file.tar.gz" == "file"
not $ hasExtension $ dropExtensions x
not $ any isExtSeparator $ takeFileName $ dropExtensions x

takeExtensions :: RawFilePath -> ByteString

Get all extensions.

takeExtensions "/directory/path.ext" == ".ext"
takeExtensions "file.tar.gz" == ".tar.gz"

replaceExtensions :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Replace all extensions of a file with a new extension. Note that replaceExtension and addExtension both work for adding multiple extensions, so only required when you need to drop all extensions first.

replaceExtensions "file.fred.bob" "txt" == "file.txt"
replaceExtensions "file.fred.bob" "tar.gz" == "file.tar.gz"

isExtensionOf :: ByteString -> RawFilePath -> Bool

Does the given filename have the specified extension?

"png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png" == True
".png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png" == True
".tar.gz" `isExtensionOf` "bar/foo.tar.gz" == True
"ar.gz" `isExtensionOf` "bar/foo.tar.gz" == False
"png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png.jpg" == False
"csv/table.csv" `isExtensionOf` "/data/csv/table.csv" == False

stripExtension :: ByteString -> RawFilePath -> Maybe RawFilePath

Drop the given extension from a FilePath, and the "." preceding it. Returns Nothing if the FilePath does not have the given extension, or Just and the part before the extension if it does.

This function can be more predictable than dropExtensions, especially if the filename might itself contain . characters.

stripExtension "hs.o" "foo.x.hs.o" == Just "foo.x"
stripExtension "hi.o" "foo.x.hs.o" == Nothing
dropExtension x == fromJust (stripExtension (takeExtension x) x)
dropExtensions x == fromJust (stripExtension (takeExtensions x) x)
stripExtension ".c.d" "a.b.c.d"  == Just "a.b"
stripExtension ".c.d" "a.b..c.d" == Just "a.b."
stripExtension "baz"  "foo.bar"  == Nothing
stripExtension "bar"  "foobar"   == Nothing
stripExtension ""     x          == Just x

Filename/directory functions

splitFileName :: RawFilePath -> (ByteString, ByteString)

Split a filename into directory and file. </> is the inverse. The first component will often end with a trailing slash.

splitFileName "/directory/file.ext" == ("/directory/","file.ext")
Valid x => uncurry (</>) (splitFileName x) == x || fst (splitFileName x) == "./"
Valid x => isValid (fst (splitFileName x))
splitFileName "file/bob.txt" == ("file/", "bob.txt")
splitFileName "file/" == ("file/", "")
splitFileName "bob" == ("./", "bob")
Posix:   splitFileName "/" == ("/","")
Windows: splitFileName "c:" == ("c:","")

takeFileName :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Get the file name.

takeFileName "/directory/file.ext" == "file.ext"
takeFileName "test/" == ""
takeFileName x `isSuffixOf` x
takeFileName x == snd (splitFileName x)
Valid x => takeFileName (replaceFileName x "fred") == "fred"
Valid x => takeFileName (x </> "fred") == "fred"
Valid x => isRelative (takeFileName x)

replaceFileName :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Set the filename.

replaceFileName "/directory/other.txt" "file.ext" == "/directory/file.ext"
Valid x => replaceFileName x (takeFileName x) == x

dropFileName :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Drop the filename. Unlike takeDirectory, this function will leave a trailing path separator on the directory.

dropFileName "/directory/file.ext" == "/directory/"
dropFileName x == fst (splitFileName x)

takeBaseName :: RawFilePath -> ByteString

Get the base name, without an extension or path.

takeBaseName "/directory/file.ext" == "file"
takeBaseName "file/test.txt" == "test"
takeBaseName "dave.ext" == "dave"
takeBaseName "" == ""
takeBaseName "test" == "test"
takeBaseName (addTrailingPathSeparator x) == ""
takeBaseName "file/file.tar.gz" == "file.tar"

replaceBaseName :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Set the base name.

replaceBaseName "/directory/other.ext" "file" == "/directory/file.ext"
replaceBaseName "file/test.txt" "bob" == "file/bob.txt"
replaceBaseName "fred" "bill" == "bill"
replaceBaseName "/dave/fred/bob.gz.tar" "new" == "/dave/fred/new.tar"
Valid x => replaceBaseName x (takeBaseName x) == x

takeDirectory :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Get the directory name, move up one level.

          takeDirectory "/directory/other.ext" == "/directory"
          takeDirectory x `isPrefixOf` x || takeDirectory x == "."
          takeDirectory "foo" == "."
          takeDirectory "/" == "/"
          takeDirectory "/foo" == "/"
          takeDirectory "/foo/bar/baz" == "/foo/bar"
          takeDirectory "/foo/bar/baz/" == "/foo/bar/baz"
          takeDirectory "foo/bar/baz" == "foo/bar"
Windows:  takeDirectory "foo\\bar" == "foo"
Windows:  takeDirectory "foo\\bar\\\\" == "foo\\bar"
Windows:  takeDirectory "C:\\" == "C:\\"

replaceDirectory :: RawFilePath -> ByteString -> RawFilePath

Set the directory, keeping the filename the same.

replaceDirectory "root/file.ext" "/directory/" == "/directory/file.ext"
Valid x => replaceDirectory x (takeDirectory x) `equalFilePath` x

combine :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

An alias for </>.

(</>) :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath -> RawFilePath infixr 5

Combine two paths with a path separator. If the second path starts with a path separator or a drive letter, then it returns the second. The intention is that readFile (dir </> file) will access the same file as setCurrentDirectory dir; readFile file.

Posix:   "/directory" </> "file.ext" == "/directory/file.ext"
Windows: "/directory" </> "file.ext" == "/directory\\file.ext"
         "directory" </> "/file.ext" == "/file.ext"
Valid x => (takeDirectory x </> takeFileName x) `equalFilePath` x

Combined:

Posix:   "/" </> "test" == "/test"
Posix:   "home" </> "bob" == "home/bob"
Posix:   "x:" </> "foo" == "x:/foo"
Windows: "C:\\foo" </> "bar" == "C:\\foo\\bar"
Windows: "home" </> "bob" == "home\\bob"

Not combined:

Posix:   "home" </> "/bob" == "/bob"
Windows: "home" </> "C:\\bob" == "C:\\bob"

Not combined (tricky):

On Windows, if a filepath starts with a single slash, it is relative to the root of the current drive. In [1], this is (confusingly) referred to as an absolute path. The current behavior of </> is to never combine these forms.

Windows: "home" </> "/bob" == "/bob"
Windows: "home" </> "\\bob" == "\\bob"
Windows: "C:\\home" </> "\\bob" == "\\bob"

On Windows, from [1]: "If a file name begins with only a disk designator but not the backslash after the colon, it is interpreted as a relative path to the current directory on the drive with the specified letter." The current behavior of </> is to never combine these forms.

Windows: "D:\\foo" </> "C:bar" == "C:bar"
Windows: "C:\\foo" </> "C:bar" == "C:bar"

splitPath :: RawFilePath -> [RawFilePath]

Split a path by the directory separator.

splitPath "/directory/file.ext" == ["/","directory/","file.ext"]
mconcat (splitPath x) == x
splitPath "test//item/" == ["test//","item/"]
splitPath "test/item/file" == ["test/","item/","file"]
splitPath "" == []
Windows: splitPath "c:\\test\\path" == ["c:\\","test\\","path"]
Posix:   splitPath "/file/test" == ["/","file/","test"]

joinPath :: [RawFilePath] -> RawFilePath

Join path elements back together.

joinPath ["/","directory/","file.ext"] == "/directory/file.ext"
Valid x => joinPath (splitPath x) == x
joinPath [] == ""
Posix: joinPath ["test","file","path"] == "test/file/path"

splitDirectories :: RawFilePath -> [RawFilePath]

Just as splitPath, but don't add the trailing slashes to each element.

         splitDirectories "/directory/file.ext" == ["/","directory","file.ext"]
         splitDirectories "test/file" == ["test","file"]
         splitDirectories "/test/file" == ["/","test","file"]
Windows: splitDirectories "C:\\test\\file" == ["C:\\", "test", "file"]
         Valid x => joinPath (splitDirectories x) `equalFilePath` x
         splitDirectories "" == []
Windows: splitDirectories "C:\\test\\\\\\file" == ["C:\\", "test", "file"]
         splitDirectories "/test///file" == ["/","test","file"]

Drive functions

splitDrive :: RawFilePath -> (RawFilePath, RawFilePath)

Split a path into a drive and a path. On Posix, / is a Drive.

uncurry (<>) (splitDrive x) == x
Windows: splitDrive "file" == ("","file")
Windows: splitDrive "c:/file" == ("c:/","file")
Windows: splitDrive "c:\\file" == ("c:\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\shared\\test" == ("\\\\shared\\","test")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\shared" == ("\\\\shared","")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\UNC\\shared\\file" == ("\\\\?\\UNC\\shared\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\UNCshared\\file" == ("\\\\?\\","UNCshared\\file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\d:\\file" == ("\\\\?\\d:\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "/d" == ("","/d")
Posix:   splitDrive "/test" == ("/","test")
Posix:   splitDrive "//test" == ("//","test")
Posix:   splitDrive "test/file" == ("","test/file")
Posix:   splitDrive "file" == ("","file")

joinDrive :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Join a drive and the rest of the path.

Valid x => uncurry joinDrive (splitDrive x) == x
Windows: joinDrive "C:" "foo" == "C:foo"
Windows: joinDrive "C:\\" "bar" == "C:\\bar"
Windows: joinDrive "\\\\share" "foo" == "\\\\share\\foo"
Windows: joinDrive "/:" "foo" == "/:\\foo"

takeDrive :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Get the drive from a filepath.

takeDrive x == fst (splitDrive x)

hasDrive :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Does a path have a drive.

not (hasDrive x) == null (takeDrive x)
Posix:   hasDrive "/foo" == True
Windows: hasDrive "C:\\foo" == True
Windows: hasDrive "C:foo" == True
         hasDrive "foo" == False
         hasDrive "" == False

dropDrive :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Delete the drive, if it exists.

dropDrive x == snd (splitDrive x)

isDrive :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Is an element a drive

Posix:   isDrive "/" == True
Posix:   isDrive "/foo" == False
Windows: isDrive "C:\\" == True
Windows: isDrive "C:\\foo" == False
         isDrive "" == False

Trailing slash functions

hasTrailingPathSeparator :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Is an item either a directory or the last character a path separator?

hasTrailingPathSeparator "test" == False
hasTrailingPathSeparator "test/" == True

addTrailingPathSeparator :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Add a trailing file path separator if one is not already present.

hasTrailingPathSeparator (addTrailingPathSeparator x)
hasTrailingPathSeparator x ==> addTrailingPathSeparator x == x
Posix:    addTrailingPathSeparator "test/rest" == "test/rest/"

dropTrailingPathSeparator :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Remove any trailing path separators

dropTrailingPathSeparator "file/test/" == "file/test"
          dropTrailingPathSeparator "/" == "/"
Windows:  dropTrailingPathSeparator "\\" == "\\"
Posix:    not (hasTrailingPathSeparator (dropTrailingPathSeparator x)) || isDrive x

File name manipulations

normalise :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Normalise a file

• // outside of the drive can be made blank
• / -> pathSeparator
• ./ -> ""

Posix:   normalise "/file/\\test////" == "/file/\\test/"
Posix:   normalise "/file/./test" == "/file/test"
Posix:   normalise "/test/file/../bob/fred/" == "/test/file/../bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "../bob/fred/" == "../bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "./bob/fred/" == "bob/fred/"
Windows: normalise "c:\\file/bob\\" == "C:\\file\\bob\\"
Windows: normalise "c:\\" == "C:\\"
Windows: normalise "C:.\\" == "C:"
Windows: normalise "\\\\server\\test" == "\\\\server\\test"
Windows: normalise "//server/test" == "\\\\server\\test"
Windows: normalise "c:/file" == "C:\\file"
Windows: normalise "/file" == "\\file"
Windows: normalise "\\" == "\\"
Windows: normalise "/./" == "\\"
         normalise "." == "."
Posix:   normalise "./" == "./"
Posix:   normalise "./." == "./"
Posix:   normalise "/./" == "/"
Posix:   normalise "/" == "/"
Posix:   normalise "bob/fred/." == "bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "//home" == "/home"

equalFilePath :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath -> Bool

Equality of two FilePaths. If you call System.Directory.canonicalizePath first this has a much better chance of working. Note that this doesn't follow symlinks or DOSNAM~1s.

         x == y ==> equalFilePath x y
         normalise x == normalise y ==> equalFilePath x y
         equalFilePath "foo" "foo/"
         not (equalFilePath "foo" "/foo")
Posix:   not (equalFilePath "foo" "FOO")
Windows: equalFilePath "foo" "FOO"
Windows: not (equalFilePath "C:" "C:/")

makeRelative :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Contract a filename, based on a relative path. Note that the resulting path will never introduce .. paths, as the presence of symlinks means ../b may not reach a/b if it starts from a/c. For a worked example see this blog post.

The corresponding makeAbsolute function can be found in System.Directory.

         makeRelative "/directory" "/directory/file.ext" == "file.ext"
         Valid x => makeRelative (takeDirectory x) x `equalFilePath` takeFileName x
         makeRelative x x == "."
         Valid x y => equalFilePath x y || (isRelative x && makeRelative y x == x) || equalFilePath (y </> makeRelative y x) x
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "c:\\home\\bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "c:/home/bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "D:\\Home\\Bob" == "D:\\Home\\Bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "C:Home\\Bob" == "C:Home\\Bob"
Windows: makeRelative "/Home" "/home/bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "/" "//" == "//"
Posix:   makeRelative "/Home" "/home/bob" == "/home/bob"
Posix:   makeRelative "/home/" "/home/bob/foo/bar" == "bob/foo/bar"
Posix:   makeRelative "/fred" "bob" == "bob"
Posix:   makeRelative "/file/test" "/file/test/fred" == "fred"
Posix:   makeRelative "/file/test" "/file/test/fred/" == "fred/"
Posix:   makeRelative "some/path" "some/path/a/b/c" == "a/b/c"

isRelative :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Is a path relative, or is it fixed to the root?

Windows: isRelative "path\\test" == True
Windows: isRelative "c:\\test" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:test" == True
Windows: isRelative "c:\\" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:/" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:" == True
Windows: isRelative "\\\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "\\\\?\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "\\\\?\\UNC\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "/foo" == True
Windows: isRelative "\\foo" == True
Posix:   isRelative "test/path" == True
Posix:   isRelative "/test" == False
Posix:   isRelative "/" == False

According to [1]:

• "A UNC name of any format [is never relative]."
• "You cannot use the "\?" prefix with a relative path."

isAbsolute :: RawFilePath -> Bool

not . isRelative

isAbsolute x == not (isRelative x)

isValid :: RawFilePath -> Bool

Is a RawFilePath valid, i.e. could you create a file like it? This function checks for invalid names, and invalid characters, but does not check if length limits are exceeded, as these are typically filesystem dependent.

         isValid "" == False
         isValid "\0" == False
Posix:   isValid "/random_ path:*" == True
Posix:   isValid x == (x /= mempty)
Windows: isValid "c:\\test" == True
Windows: isValid "c:\\test:of_test" == False
Windows: isValid "test*" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\test\\nul" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\test\\prn.txt" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\nul\\file" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\\\foo" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\?\\D:file" == False
Windows: isValid "foo\tbar" == False
Windows: isValid "nul .txt" == False
Windows: isValid " nul.txt" == True

makeValid :: RawFilePath -> RawFilePath

Take a FilePath and make it valid; does not change already valid FilePaths.

isValid (makeValid x)
isValid x ==> makeValid x == x
makeValid "" == "_"
makeValid "file\0name" == "file_name"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\already\\/valid" == "c:\\already\\/valid"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test:of_test" == "c:\\test_of_test"
Windows: makeValid "test*" == "test_"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test\\nul" == "c:\\test\\nul_"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test\\prn.txt" == "c:\\test\\prn_.txt"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test/prn.txt" == "c:\\test/prn_.txt"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\nul\\file" == "c:\\nul_\\file"
Windows: makeValid "\\\\\\foo" == "\\\\drive"
Windows: makeValid "\\\\?\\D:file" == "\\\\?\\D:\\file"
Windows: makeValid "nul .txt" == "nul _.txt"