diff --git a/util/util.go b/util/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5aab4501c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package data
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+var Debug bool
+var NotImplementedError = fmt.Errorf("Error: not implemented yet.")
+
+// Shorthand printing functions.
+func PErr(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, format, a...)
+}
+
+func POut(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stdout, format, a...)
+}
+
+func DErr(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	if Debug {
+		PErr(format, a...)
+	}
+}
+
+func DOut(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	if Debug {
+		POut(format, a...)
+	}
+}