diff --git a/helpers.c b/helpers.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63fc880
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers.c
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the flashrom project.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2009-2010 Carl-Daniel Hailfinger
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Stefan Tauner
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301 USA
+ */
+
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "flash.h"
+
+/* Returns the minimum number of bits needed to represent the given address.
+ * FIXME: use mind-blowing implementation. */
+uint32_t address_to_bits(uint32_t addr)
+{
+	unsigned int lzb = 0;
+	while (((1 << (31 - lzb)) & ~addr) != 0)
+		lzb++;
+	return 32 - lzb;
+}
+
+int bitcount(unsigned long a)
+{
+	int i = 0;
+	for (; a != 0; a >>= 1)
+		if (a & 1)
+			i++;
+	return i;
+}
+
+int max(int a, int b)
+{
+	return (a > b) ? a : b;
+}
+
+int min(int a, int b)
+{
+	return (a < b) ? a : b;
+}
+
+char *strcat_realloc(char *dest, const char *src)
+{
+	dest = realloc(dest, strlen(dest) + strlen(src) + 1);
+	if (!dest) {
+		msg_gerr("Out of memory!\n");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	strcat(dest, src);
+	return dest;
+}
+
+void tolower_string(char *str)
+{
+	for (; *str != '\0'; str++)
+		*str = (char)tolower((unsigned char)*str);
+}
+