diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index 81a113f..aeef1c1 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 namespace dropshell {
 
 
-config *get_global_config() {
-    static config *gConfig = new config();
-    return gConfig;
+config & gConfig() {
+    static config *globalConfig = new config();
+    return *globalConfig;
 }
 
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ config::~config() {
 }
 
 bool config::load_config() {
-    std::string config_path = get_local_dropshell_config_file();
+    std::string config_path = localfile::dropshell_conf();
     if (config_path.empty() || !std::filesystem::exists(config_path))
         return false;
 
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ void config::save_config()
         return;
     }
 
-    std::string parent_path = get_local_dropshell_config_parent_path();
+    std::string parent_path = dropshell::get_parent(localfile::dropshell_conf());
     std::filesystem::create_directories(parent_path);
 
-    std::string config_path = get_local_dropshell_config_file();
+    std::string config_path = localfile::dropshell_conf();
     envmanager config_env(config_path);
 
     config_env.set_variable("local.config.directories", multi2string(mLocalConfigPaths));
diff --git a/src/config.hpp b/src/config.hpp
index 32852b7..d4aedf5 100644
--- a/src/config.hpp
+++ b/src/config.hpp
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@ class config {
 };
 
 
-config *get_global_config();
+config & gConfig();
 
 } // namespace dropshell 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/server_env.cpp b/src/server_env_manager.cpp
similarity index 74%
rename from src/server_env.cpp
rename to src/server_env_manager.cpp
index 3e9097f..88183df 100644
--- a/src/server_env.cpp
+++ b/src/server_env_manager.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "server_env.hpp"
+#include "server_env_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/envmanager.hpp"
 #include "utils/directories.hpp"
 #include "utils/utils.hpp"
@@ -12,15 +12,12 @@
 
 namespace dropshell {
 
-server_env::server_env(const std::string& server_name) : mValid(false), mServer_name(server_name) {
+server_env_manager::server_env_manager(const std::string& server_name) : mValid(false), mServer_name(server_name) {
     if (server_name.empty())
-    {
-        std::cerr << "Warning: Server name is empty, passed to server_env constructor." << std::endl;
         return;
-    }
         
     // Construct the full path to server.env
-    std::string env_path = get_local_server_env_path(server_name);
+    std::string env_path = localfile::server_env(server_name);
     
     // Check if file exists
     if (!std::filesystem::exists(env_path)) {
@@ -54,7 +51,7 @@ server_env::server_env(const std::string& server_name) : mValid(false), mServer_
     }    
 }
 
-std::string server_env::get_variable(const std::string& name) const {
+std::string server_env_manager::get_variable(const std::string& name) const {
     if (!m_env_manager) {
         return "";
     }
@@ -62,17 +59,17 @@ std::string server_env::get_variable(const std::string& name) const {
 }
 
 // Helper method implementations
-std::string server_env::construct_ssh_cmd() const {
+std::string server_env_manager::construct_ssh_cmd() const {
     std::stringstream ssh_cmd;
     ssh_cmd << "ssh -p " << get_SSH_PORT() << " "
             << get_SSH_USER() << "@" << get_SSH_HOST();
     return ssh_cmd.str();
 }
 
-std::string server_env::construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, bool silent) const
+std::string server_env_manager::construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, bool silent) const
 {
-    std::string remote_service_template_path = get_remote_service_template_path(mServer_name,service_name);
-    std::string remote_service_config_path = get_remote_service_config_path(mServer_name,service_name);
+    std::string remote_service_template_path = remotepath::service_template(mServer_name,service_name);
+    std::string remote_service_config_path = remotepath::service_config(mServer_name,service_name);
 
     std::string script_path = remote_service_template_path + "/" + command + ".sh";
 
@@ -89,19 +86,19 @@ std::string server_env::construct_standard_command_run_cmd(const std::string &se
     return run_cmd;
 }
 
-void server_env::get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string &service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars) const
+void server_env_manager::get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string &service_name, std::map<std::string, std::string> & all_env_vars) const
 {
     all_env_vars.clear();
 
     // add in some handy variables.
-    all_env_vars["CONFIG_PATH"] = get_remote_service_config_path(mServer_name,service_name);
+    all_env_vars["CONFIG_PATH"] = remotepath::service_config(mServer_name,service_name);
     all_env_vars["SERVER"] = mServer_name;
     all_env_vars["SERVICE"] = service_name;
 
 
     { // load service.env from the service on this machine.
     std::map<std::string, std::string> env_vars;
-    envmanager env_manager(get_local_service_env_path(mServer_name,service_name));
+    envmanager env_manager(localfile::service_env(mServer_name,service_name));
     env_manager.load();
     env_manager.get_all_variables(env_vars);
     all_env_vars.merge(env_vars);
@@ -123,18 +120,18 @@ void server_env::get_all_service_env_vars(const std::string &service_name, std::
 }
 
 
-bool server_env::check_remote_dir_exists(const std::string &dir_path) const
+bool server_env_manager::check_remote_dir_exists(const std::string &dir_path) const
 {
     sCommand scommand("test -d " + quote(dir_path));
     return execute_ssh_command(scommand);
 }
 
-bool server_env::check_remote_file_exists(const std::string& file_path) const {
+bool server_env_manager::check_remote_file_exists(const std::string& file_path) const {
     sCommand scommand("test -f " + quote(file_path));
     return execute_ssh_command(scommand);
 }
 
-bool server_env::check_remote_items_exist(const std::vector<std::string> &file_paths) const
+bool server_env_manager::check_remote_items_exist(const std::vector<std::string> &file_paths) const
 {
     // convert file_paths to a single string, separated by spaces
     std::string file_paths_str;
@@ -154,34 +151,34 @@ bool server_env::check_remote_items_exist(const std::vector<std::string> &file_p
     return true;
 }
 
-bool server_env::execute_ssh_command(const sCommand& command) const {
+bool server_env_manager::execute_ssh_command(const sCommand& command) const {
     std::string full_cmd = construct_ssh_cmd() + " " + quote(command.construct_safecmd());
     return execute_local_command(full_cmd);
 }
 
-bool server_env::execute_ssh_command_and_capture_output(const sCommand& command, std::string &output) const
+bool server_env_manager::execute_ssh_command_and_capture_output(const sCommand& command, std::string &output) const
 {
     std::string full_cmd = construct_ssh_cmd() + " " + quote(command.construct_safecmd());
     return execute_local_command_and_capture_output(full_cmd, output);
 }
 
-bool server_env::run_remote_template_command(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, bool silent) const
+bool server_env_manager::run_remote_template_command(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, bool silent) const
 {
     std::string full_cmd = construct_standard_command_run_cmd(service_name, command, args, silent);
     return execute_ssh_command(full_cmd);
 }
 
-bool server_env::run_remote_template_command_and_capture_output(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string &output, bool silent) const
+bool server_env_manager::run_remote_template_command_and_capture_output(const std::string &service_name, const std::string &command, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string &output, bool silent) const
 {
     std::string full_cmd = construct_standard_command_run_cmd(service_name, command, args, silent);
     return execute_ssh_command_and_capture_output(full_cmd, output);
 }
 
-bool server_env::execute_local_command(const sCommand& command) {
+bool server_env_manager::execute_local_command(const sCommand& command) {
     return (system(command.construct_safecmd().c_str()) == 0);
 }
 
-bool server_env::execute_local_command_and_capture_output(const sCommand& command, std::string &output)
+bool server_env_manager::execute_local_command_and_capture_output(const sCommand& command, std::string &output)
 {
     std::string full_cmd = command.construct_safecmd() + " 2>&1";
     FILE *pipe = popen(full_cmd.c_str(), "r");
diff --git a/src/server_env.hpp b/src/server_env_manager.hpp
similarity index 96%
rename from src/server_env.hpp
rename to src/server_env_manager.hpp
index 18177fd..a0a3a97 100644
--- a/src/server_env.hpp
+++ b/src/server_env_manager.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "utils/envmanager.hpp"
 namespace dropshell {
 
+// class to hold a command to run on the remote server.
 class sCommand {
     public:
         sCommand(std::string directory_to_run_in, std::string command_to_run, const std::map<std::string, std::string> & env_vars) : 
@@ -41,9 +42,9 @@ class sCommand {
 // SSH_PORT
 // the following replacements are made in the values:
 // ${USER} -> the username of the user running dropshell
-class server_env {
+class server_env_manager {
     public:
-        server_env(const std::string& server_name);
+        server_env_manager(const std::string& server_name);
         std::string get_variable(const std::string& name) const;
 
         // trivial getters.
diff --git a/src/servers.cpp b/src/servers.cpp
index 0991680..f690ea5 100644
--- a/src/servers.cpp
+++ b/src/servers.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "servers.hpp"
-#include "server_env.hpp"
+#include "server_env_manager.hpp"
 #include "service_runner.hpp"
 #include "utils/tableprint.hpp"
 #include "utils/envmanager.hpp"
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@ namespace dropshell {
 std::vector<ServerInfo> get_configured_servers() {
     std::vector<ServerInfo> servers;
 
-    std::vector<std::string> local_config_directories = get_global_config()->get_local_config_directories();
+    std::vector<std::string> local_config_directories = gConfig().get_local_config_directories();
     if (local_config_directories.empty())
         return servers;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < local_config_directories.size(); i++) {
-        std::string servers_dir = get_local_config_servers_path(i);
+        std::string servers_dir = localpath::config_servers(i);
         if (!servers_dir.empty() && std::filesystem::exists(servers_dir)) {
 
             for (const auto& entry : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(servers_dir)) {
                 if (std::filesystem::is_directory(entry)) {
                     std::string server_name = entry.path().filename().string();
 
-                    server_env env(server_name);
+                    server_env_manager env(server_name);
                     if (!env.is_valid()) {
                         std::cerr << "Error: Invalid server environment file: " << entry.path().string() << std::endl;
                         continue;
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void list_servers() {
 }
 
 void show_server_details(const std::string& server_name) {
-    server_env env(server_name);
+    server_env_manager env(server_name);
     if (!env.is_valid()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Invalid server environment file: " << server_name << std::endl;
         return;
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void show_server_details(const std::string& server_name) {
 void create_server(const std::string &server_name)
 {
     // 1. check if server name already exists
-    std::string server_existing_dir = get_local_server_path(server_name);
+    std::string server_existing_dir = localpath::server(server_name);
     if (!server_existing_dir.empty()) {
         std::cerr << "Error: Server name already exists: " << server_name << std::endl;
         std::cerr << "Current server path: " << server_existing_dir << std::endl;
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void create_server(const std::string &server_name)
     }
 
     // 2. create a new directory in the user config directory
-    std::string config_servers_dir = get_local_config_servers_path(0);
+    std::string config_servers_dir = localpath::config_servers();
     std::string server_dir = config_servers_dir + "/" + server_name;
     std::filesystem::create_directory(server_dir);
 
diff --git a/src/service_runner.hpp b/src/service_runner.hpp
index efb6a7d..8dfd0d0 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.hpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <memory>
-#include "server_env.hpp"
+#include "server_env_manager.hpp"
 #include "services.hpp"
 #include "utils/utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/assert.hpp"
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class service_runner {
 
     private:
         std::string m_server_name;
-        server_env m_server_env;
+        server_env_manager m_server_env;
         ServiceInfo m_service_info;
         bool mValid;
 
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.cpp b/src/utils/directories.cpp
index ac6cce5..ea37d88 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "directories.hpp"
 #include "config.hpp"
-#include "server_env.hpp"
+#include "server_env_manager.hpp"
 #include <iostream>
 #include <string>
 #include <filesystem>
@@ -10,135 +10,88 @@ namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 namespace dropshell {
 
 
-
-std::string get_local_dropshell_config_parent_path()
-{   
+namespace localfile {
+    std::string dropshell_conf() {
     // Try ~/.config/dropshell/dropshell.conf
     const char* home = std::getenv("HOME");
     if (home) {
-        fs::path user_path = fs::path(home) / ".config" / "dropshell";
+        fs::path user_path = fs::path(home) / ".config" / "dropshell" /  "dropshell.conf";
         return user_path.string();
     }
     std::cerr << "Warning: Couldn't determine user directory" << std::endl;
     return std::string();
-}
-
-std::string get_local_dropshell_config_file()
-{
-    std::string parent_path = get_local_dropshell_config_parent_path();
-    if (parent_path.empty())
-        return std::string();
-    return parent_path + "/dropshell.conf";
-}
-
-std::string get_local_system_templates_path()
-{
-    return "/opt/dropshell/templates";
-}
-
-std::string get_local_backup_path()
-{
-    config *cfg = get_global_config();
-    if (!cfg)
-        return std::string();
-    return cfg->get_local_backup_path();
-}
-
-int getNumConfigDirectories()
-{
-    config *cfg = get_global_config();
-    std::vector<std::string> local_config_directories = cfg->get_local_config_directories();
-    return local_config_directories.size();
-}
-
-std::string get_primary_local_config_path()
-{
-    return get_local_config_path(0);
-}
-
-std::string get_local_config_path(int index)
-{
-    config *cfg = get_global_config();
-    if (!cfg)
-        return std::string();
-
-    std::vector<std::string> local_config_directories = cfg->get_local_config_directories();
-    if (index < 0 || index >= local_config_directories.size())
-        return std::string();
-    return local_config_directories[index];
-}
-
-std::string get_local_config_templates_path(int index)
-{
-    std::string config_path = get_local_config_path(index);
-    if (config_path.empty()) 
-        return std::string();
-    return config_path + "/templates";
-}
-
-std::string get_local_config_servers_path(int index)
-{
-    std::string config_path = get_local_config_path(index);
-    if (config_path.empty()) 
-        return std::string();
-    return config_path + "/servers";
-}
-
-std::string get_local_server_path(const std::string &server_name)
-{
-    config *cfg = get_global_config();
-    std::vector<std::string> local_config_directories = cfg->get_local_config_directories();
-    for (auto &dir : local_config_directories) {
-        std::string server_path = dir + "/servers/" + server_name;
-        if (fs::exists(server_path)) {
-            return server_path;
-        }
     }
-    return std::string();
-}
 
-std::string get_local_server_env_path(const std::string &server_name)
-{
-    if (server_name.empty())
-        return std::string();
-    std::string serverpath = get_local_server_path(server_name);
-    if (serverpath.empty()) 
-        return std::string();
-    return (fs::path(serverpath) / "server.env").string();
-}
+    std::string server_env(const std::string &server_name) {
+        if (server_name.empty())
+            return std::string();
+        std::string serverpath = localpath::server(server_name);
+        if (serverpath.empty()) 
+            return std::string();
+        return (fs::path(serverpath) / "server.env").string();
+    }
 
-std::string get_local_service_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
-{
-    if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-        return std::string();
+    std::string service_env(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) {
+        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
+            return std::string();
+        std::string servicepath = localpath::service(server_name, service_name);
+        if (servicepath.empty())
+            return std::string();
+        return (fs::path(servicepath) / "service.env").string();
+    }
 
-    std::string serverpath = get_local_server_path(server_name);
-    if (serverpath.empty()) 
-        return std::string();
-    return (fs::path(serverpath) / service_name).string();
-}
+    std::string service_hash(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) {
+        std::string config_path = localpath::config();
+        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty() || config_path.empty())
+            return std::string();
+        return (fs::path(config_path) / ".remote_versions" / server_name / (service_name + ".hash.env")).string();
+    }
 
-std::string get_local_service_env_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
-{
-    if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-        return std::string();
-    std::string servicepath = get_local_service_path(server_name, service_name);
-    if (servicepath.empty())
-        return std::string();
-    return (fs::path(servicepath) / "service.env").string();
-}
+} // namespace localfile
 
-std::string get_local_service_hash_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
-{
-    if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-        return std::string();
 
-    std::string config_path = get_primary_local_config_path();
-    if (config_path.empty())
-        return std::string();
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+namespace localpath {
+        // /opt/dropshell/templates
+        std::string system_templates() {
+            return "/opt/dropshell/templates";
+        }
+
+        // configured by user - defaults to first config_path/backups.
+        std::string backups_path() {
+            return gConfig().get_local_backup_path();
+        }
+
+        int num_config_directories() {
+            return gConfig().get_local_config_directories().size();
+        }
+
+        std::string config(int index) {
+            return (num_config_directories()>index) ? gConfig().get_local_config_directories()[index] : "";
+        }
+
+        std::string config_templates(int index) {
+            return (num_config_directories()>index) ? (gConfig().get_local_config_directories()[index]+"/templates") : "";
+        }
+
+        std::string config_servers(int index) {
+            return (num_config_directories()>index) ? (gConfig().get_local_config_directories()[index]+"/servers") : "";
+        }
+
+        std::string server(const std::string &server_name) {
+            for (auto &dir : gConfig().get_local_config_directories()) 
+                if (fs::exists(dir + "/servers/" + server_name))
+                    return dir + "/servers/" + server_name;
+            return "";
+        }
+
+        std::string service(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) {
+            std::string serverpath = localpath::server(server_name);
+            return (serverpath.empty() ? "" : (serverpath+"/"+service_name));
+        }
+} // namespace localpath
 
-    return (fs::path(config_path) / ".remote_versions" / server_name / (service_name + ".hash.env")).string();
-}
 
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -152,74 +105,53 @@ std::string get_local_service_hash_path(const std::string &server_name, const st
     //          |-- (script files)
     //      |-- backups
 
-    std::string get_remote_DROPSHELL_path(const std::string &server_name)
-    {
-        if (server_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        server_env env(server_name);
-        if (!env.is_valid())
-            return std::string();
-        return env.get_DROPSHELL_DIR();
+namespace remotepath {
+    std::string DROPSHELL_DIR(const std::string &server_name)
+    {            
+        return server_env_manager(server_name).get_DROPSHELL_DIR();
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_services_path(const std::string &server_name)
+    std::string services(const std::string &server_name)
     {
-        if (server_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string dropshell_path = get_remote_DROPSHELL_path(server_name);
-        if (dropshell_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(dropshell_path) / "services").string();
+        std::string dsp = DROPSHELL_DIR(server_name);
+        return (dsp.empty() ? "" : (dsp + "/services"));
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_service_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
+    std::string service(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name)
     {
-        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string services_path = get_remote_services_path(server_name);
-        if (services_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(services_path) / service_name).string();
+        std::string services_path = services(server_name);
+        return (services_path.empty() ? "" : (services_path + "/" + service_name));
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_service_config_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
+    std::string service_config(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
     {
-        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string service_path = get_remote_service_path(server_name, service_name);
-        if (service_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(service_path) / "config").string();
+        std::string service_path = service(server_name, service_name);
+        return (service_path.empty() ? "" : (service_path + "/config"));
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_service_template_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
+    std::string service_template(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
     {
-        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string service_path = get_remote_service_path(server_name, service_name);
-        if (service_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(service_path) / "template").string();
+        std::string service_path = service(server_name, service_name);
+        return (service_path.empty() ? "" : (service_path + "/template"));
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_backups_path(const std::string &server_name) 
+    std::string backups(const std::string &server_name) 
     {
-        if (server_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string dropshell_path = get_remote_DROPSHELL_path(server_name);
-        if (dropshell_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(dropshell_path) / "backups").string();
+        std::string dsp = DROPSHELL_DIR(server_name);
+        return (dsp.empty() ? "" : (dsp + "/backups"));
     }
 
-    std::string get_remote_service_env_file(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
+    std::string service_env(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name) 
     {
-        if (server_name.empty() || service_name.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        std::string service_path = get_remote_service_config_path(server_name, service_name);
-        if (service_path.empty())
-            return std::string();
-        return (fs::path(service_path) / "service.env").string();
+        std::string service_path = service_config(server_name, service_name);
+        return (service_path.empty() ? "" : (service_path + "/service.env"));
     }
+} // namespace remotepath
+std::string get_parent(std::string path)
+{
+    if (path.empty())
+        return std::string();
+    return fs::path(path).parent_path().string();
+}
 
 } // namespace dropshell
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utils/directories.hpp b/src/utils/directories.hpp
index ec172c2..19ca053 100644
--- a/src/utils/directories.hpp
+++ b/src/utils/directories.hpp
@@ -5,13 +5,9 @@
 
 namespace dropshell {
 
-    // local paths - return empty string on failure
-    std::string get_local_dropshell_config_parent_path();
-    std::string get_local_dropshell_config_file();
-    std::string get_local_system_templates_path();
-    std::string get_local_backup_path();
-
+    // all functions return empty string on failure
 
+    //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // local user config directories
     // config_path
     //   |-- servers
@@ -30,23 +26,32 @@ namespace dropshell {
     //   |-- .remote_versions
     //   |   |-- server_name
     //   |       |-- service_name.hash.env
+    namespace localfile {
+        // ~/.config/dropshell/dropshell.conf
+        std::string dropshell_conf();
+        std::string server_env(const std::string &server_name);
+        std::string service_env(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+        std::string service_hash(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+    } // namespace localfile
 
-    std::string get_primary_local_config_path();
+    namespace localpath {
+        // /opt/dropshell/templates
+        std::string system_templates();
+
+        // configured by user - defaults to first config_path/backups.
+        std::string backups_path();
+
+        int num_config_directories();
+        std::string config(int index=0);
+        std::string config_templates(int index=0);
+        std::string config_servers(int index=0);
+
+        std::string server(const std::string &server_name);
+        std::string service(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+    } // namespace local
 
 
-    int getNumConfigDirectories();
-    std::string get_local_config_path(int index);
-    std::string get_local_config_templates_path(int index);
-    std::string get_local_config_servers_path(int index);
-
-    std::string get_local_server_path(const std::string &server_name);
-    std::string get_local_server_env_path(const std::string &server_name);
-
-    std::string get_local_service_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-    std::string get_local_service_env_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-
-    std::string get_local_service_hash_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-
+    //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // remote paths
     // DROPSHELL_DIR
     //   |-- backups
@@ -59,14 +64,23 @@ namespace dropshell {
     //               |-- example
     //                   |-- service.env
     //                   |-- (other config files for specific server&service)
-    std::string get_remote_DROPSHELL_path(const std::string &server_name);
-    std::string get_remote_services_path(const std::string &server_name);
-    std::string get_remote_service_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-    std::string get_remote_service_config_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-    std::string get_remote_service_template_path(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
-    std::string get_remote_backups_path(const std::string &server_name);
+    namespace remotefile {
+        std::string service_env(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+    } // namespace remotefile
+
+    namespace remotepath {
+        std::string DROPSHELL_DIR(const std::string &server_name);
+        std::string services(const std::string &server_name);
+        std::string service(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+        std::string service_config(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+        std::string service_template(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
+        std::string backups(const std::string &server_name);
+    } // namespace remotepath
+
+    //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // utility functions
+    std::string get_parent(std::string path);
 
-    std::string get_remote_service_env_file(const std::string &server_name, const std::string &service_name);
 } // namespace dropshell
 
 #endif