diff --git a/tools/gbench/util.py b/tools/gbench/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f8e8e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/gbench/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+"""util.py - General utilities for running, loading, and processing benchmarks
+"""
+import json
+import os
+import tempfile
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+# Input file type enumeration
+IT_Invalid = 0
+IT_JSON = 1
+IT_Executable = 2
+
+_num_magic_bytes = 2 if sys.platform.startswith('win') else 4
+
+
+def is_executable_file(filename):
+    """
+    Return 'True' if 'filename' names a valid file which is likely
+    an executable. A file is considered an executable if it starts with the
+    magic bytes for a EXE, Mach O, or ELF file.
+    """
+    if not os.path.isfile(filename):
+        return False
+    with open(filename, mode='rb') as f:
+        magic_bytes = f.read(_num_magic_bytes)
+    if sys.platform == 'darwin':
+        return magic_bytes in [
+            b'\xfe\xed\xfa\xce',  # MH_MAGIC
+            b'\xce\xfa\xed\xfe',  # MH_CIGAM
+            b'\xfe\xed\xfa\xcf',  # MH_MAGIC_64
+            b'\xcf\xfa\xed\xfe',  # MH_CIGAM_64
+            b'\xca\xfe\xba\xbe',  # FAT_MAGIC
+            b'\xbe\xba\xfe\xca'   # FAT_CIGAM
+        ]
+    elif sys.platform.startswith('win'):
+        return magic_bytes == b'MZ'
+    else:
+        return magic_bytes == b'\x7FELF'
+
+
+def is_json_file(filename):
+    """
+    Returns 'True' if 'filename' names a valid JSON output file.
+    'False' otherwise.
+    """
+    try:
+        with open(filename, 'r') as f:
+            json.load(f)
+        return True
+    except BaseException:
+        pass
+    return False
+
+
+def classify_input_file(filename):
+    """
+    Return a tuple (type, msg) where 'type' specifies the classified type
+    of 'filename'. If 'type' is 'IT_Invalid' then 'msg' is a human readable
+    string represeting the error.
+    """
+    ftype = IT_Invalid
+    err_msg = None
+    if not os.path.exists(filename):
+        err_msg = "'%s' does not exist" % filename
+    elif not os.path.isfile(filename):
+        err_msg = "'%s' does not name a file" % filename
+    elif is_executable_file(filename):
+        ftype = IT_Executable
+    elif is_json_file(filename):
+        ftype = IT_JSON
+    else:
+        err_msg = "'%s' does not name a valid benchmark executable or JSON file" % filename
+    return ftype, err_msg
+
+
+def check_input_file(filename):
+    """
+    Classify the file named by 'filename' and return the classification.
+    If the file is classified as 'IT_Invalid' print an error message and exit
+    the program.
+    """
+    ftype, msg = classify_input_file(filename)
+    if ftype == IT_Invalid:
+        print("Invalid input file: %s" % msg)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    return ftype
+
+
+def find_benchmark_flag(prefix, benchmark_flags):
+    """
+    Search the specified list of flags for a flag matching `<prefix><arg>` and
+    if it is found return the arg it specifies. If specified more than once the
+    last value is returned. If the flag is not found None is returned.
+    """
+    assert prefix.startswith('--') and prefix.endswith('=')
+    result = None
+    for f in benchmark_flags:
+        if f.startswith(prefix):
+            result = f[len(prefix):]
+    return result
+
+
+def remove_benchmark_flags(prefix, benchmark_flags):
+    """
+    Return a new list containing the specified benchmark_flags except those
+    with the specified prefix.
+    """
+    assert prefix.startswith('--') and prefix.endswith('=')
+    return [f for f in benchmark_flags if not f.startswith(prefix)]
+
+
+def load_benchmark_results(fname):
+    """
+    Read benchmark output from a file and return the JSON object.
+    REQUIRES: 'fname' names a file containing JSON benchmark output.
+    """
+    with open(fname, 'r') as f:
+        return json.load(f)
+
+
+def run_benchmark(exe_name, benchmark_flags):
+    """
+    Run a benchmark specified by 'exe_name' with the specified
+    'benchmark_flags'. The benchmark is run directly as a subprocess to preserve
+    real time console output.
+    RETURNS: A JSON object representing the benchmark output
+    """
+    output_name = find_benchmark_flag('--benchmark_out=',
+                                      benchmark_flags)
+    is_temp_output = False
+    if output_name is None:
+        is_temp_output = True
+        thandle, output_name = tempfile.mkstemp()
+        os.close(thandle)
+        benchmark_flags = list(benchmark_flags) + \
+            ['--benchmark_out=%s' % output_name]
+
+    cmd = [exe_name] + benchmark_flags
+    print("RUNNING: %s" % ' '.join(cmd))
+    exitCode = subprocess.call(cmd)
+    if exitCode != 0:
+        print('TEST FAILED...')
+        sys.exit(exitCode)
+    json_res = load_benchmark_results(output_name)
+    if is_temp_output:
+        os.unlink(output_name)
+    return json_res
+
+
+def run_or_load_benchmark(filename, benchmark_flags):
+    """
+    Get the results for a specified benchmark. If 'filename' specifies
+    an executable benchmark then the results are generated by running the
+    benchmark. Otherwise 'filename' must name a valid JSON output file,
+    which is loaded and the result returned.
+    """
+    ftype = check_input_file(filename)
+    if ftype == IT_JSON:
+        return load_benchmark_results(filename)
+    elif ftype == IT_Executable:
+        return run_benchmark(filename, benchmark_flags)
+    else:
+        assert False  # This branch is unreachable