diff --git a/aos/util/file.h b/aos/util/file.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c1f11f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aos/util/file.h
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#ifndef AOS_UTIL_FILE_H_
+#define AOS_UTIL_FILE_H_
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace aos {
+namespace util {
+
+// Returns the complete contents of filename. LOG(FATAL)s if any errors are
+// encountered.
+::std::string ReadFileToStringOrDie(const ::std::string &filename);
+
+}  // namespace util
+}  // namespace aos
+
+#endif  // AOS_UTIL_FILE_H_