diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionCodes.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionCodes.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b1625621
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionCodes.java
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+//
+// $Id: DirectionCodes.java,v 1.1 2001/12/17 03:32:32 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.util;
+
+/**
+ * A single, top-level location for the definition of compass direction
+ * constants, which are used by a variety of Narya services.
+ */
+public interface DirectionCodes
+{
+    /** A direction code indicating no direction. */
+    public static final int NONE = -1;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating southwest. */
+    public static final int SOUTHWEST = 0;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating west. */
+    public static final int WEST = 1;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating northwest. */
+    public static final int NORTHWEST = 2;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating north. */
+    public static final int NORTH = 3;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating northeast. */
+    public static final int NORTHEAST = 4;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating east. */
+    public static final int EAST = 5;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating southeast. */
+    public static final int SOUTHEAST = 6;
+
+    /** A direction code indicating south. */
+    public static final int SOUTH = 7;
+
+    /** The total number of directions. */
+    public static final int DIRECTION_COUNT = 8;
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionUtil.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ac9e5b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/DirectionUtil.java
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+//
+// $Id: DirectionUtil.java,v 1.1 2001/12/17 03:32:32 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.util;
+
+/**
+ * Direction related utility functions.
+ */
+public class DirectionUtil implements DirectionCodes
+{
+    /**
+     * Returns a string representation of the supplied direction code.
+     */
+    public static String toString (int direction)
+    {
+        return ((direction >= SOUTHWEST) && (direction <= SOUTH)) ?
+            DIR_STRINGS[direction] : "INVALID";
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an abbreviated string representation of the supplied
+     * direction code.
+     */
+    public static String toShortString (int direction)
+    {
+        return ((direction >= SOUTHWEST) && (direction <= SOUTH)) ?
+            SHORT_DIR_STRINGS[direction] : "?";
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns a string representation of an array of direction codes. The
+     * directions are represented by the abbreviated names.
+     */
+    public static String toString (int[] directions)
+    {
+        StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer();
+        for (int i = 0; i < directions.length; i++) {
+            if (i > 0) {
+                buf.append(", ");
+            }
+            buf.append(toShortString(directions[i]));
+        }
+        return buf.toString();
+    }
+
+    /** Direction constant string names. */
+    protected static final String[] DIR_STRINGS = {
+        "SOUTHWEST", "WEST", "NORTHWEST", "NORTH",
+        "NORTHEAST", "EAST", "SOUTHEAST", "SOUTH"
+    };
+
+    /** Abbreviated direction constant string names. */
+    protected static final String[] SHORT_DIR_STRINGS = {
+        "SW", "W", "NW", "N", "NE", "E", "SE", "S"
+    };
+}