diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.cpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.cpp
index 21651aa..e3060a3 100644
--- a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.cpp
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.cpp
@@ -30,13 +30,6 @@ namespace mijin
 // public functions
 //
 
-std::vector<fs::path> OSFileSystemAdapter::getRoots()
-{
-    return {
-        "/" // TODO: other OSs
-    };
-}
-
 fs::path OSFileSystemAdapter::getHomeFolder()
 {
     return getKnownFolder(KnownFolder::USER_HOME);
diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.hpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.hpp
index 7ea4e62..47aa2b1 100644
--- a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.hpp
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/filesystem.hpp
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ class FileSystemAdapter
 public:
     virtual ~FileSystemAdapter() = default;
 
-    [[nodiscard]] virtual std::vector<fs::path> getRoots() = 0;
     [[nodiscard]] virtual fs::path getHomeFolder() = 0;
     [[nodiscard]] virtual std::vector<FileInfo> listFiles(const fs::path& folder) = 0;
     [[nodiscard]] virtual FileInfo getFileInfo(const fs::path& file) = 0;
@@ -92,7 +91,6 @@ public:
 class OSFileSystemAdapter : public FileSystemAdapter
 {
 public:
-    std::vector<fs::path> getRoots() override;
     fs::path getHomeFolder() override;
     std::vector<FileInfo> listFiles(const fs::path& folder) override;
     FileInfo getFileInfo(const fs::path& file) override;
@@ -153,6 +151,30 @@ inline std::string formatFileSize(std::size_t sizeInBytes)
     return oss.str();
 }
 
+namespace vfs_pipe
+{
+template<typename TReal, typename TAdapter = FileSystemAdapter>
+struct Builder
+{
+    using adapter_t = TAdapter;
+
+    operator std::unique_ptr<FileSystemAdapter>()
+    {
+        return static_cast<TReal&>(*this).build();
+    }
+};
+
+struct OSBuilder : Builder<OSBuilder, OSFileSystemAdapter>
+{
+    std::unique_ptr<OSFileSystemAdapter> build()
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<OSFileSystemAdapter>();
+    }
+};
+
+[[nodiscard]]
+inline OSBuilder os() noexcept { return {}; }
+}
 } // namespace mijin
 
 template<>
diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/mapping.hpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/mapping.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8064ee8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/mapping.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+
+#pragma once
+
+#if !defined(MIJIN_VIRTUAL_FILESYSTEM_MAPPING_HPP_INCLUDED)
+#define MIJIN_VIRTUAL_FILESYSTEM_MAPPING_HPP_INCLUDED 1
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include "./filesystem.hpp"
+#include "../internal/common.hpp"
+
+namespace mijin
+{
+
+//
+// public defines
+//
+
+//
+// public constants
+//
+
+//
+// public types
+//
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+class MappingFileSystemAdapter : public FileSystemAdapter
+{
+private:
+    TWrapped wrapped_;
+    fs::path root_;
+public:
+    template<typename... TArgs>
+    explicit MappingFileSystemAdapter(fs::path root, TArgs&&... args)
+            : wrapped_(std::forward<TArgs>(args)...), root_(std::move(root)) {}
+    MappingFileSystemAdapter(const MappingFileSystemAdapter&) = default;
+    MappingFileSystemAdapter(MappingFileSystemAdapter&&) MIJIN_NOEXCEPT = default;
+
+    MappingFileSystemAdapter& operator=(const MappingFileSystemAdapter&) = default;
+    MappingFileSystemAdapter& operator=(MappingFileSystemAdapter&&) MIJIN_NOEXCEPT = default;
+
+    fs::path getHomeFolder() override;
+    std::vector<FileInfo> listFiles(const fs::path& folder) override;
+    FileInfo getFileInfo(const fs::path& file) override;
+    Optional<fs::path> getNativePath(const fs::path& file) override;
+    StreamError open(const fs::path& path, FileOpenMode mode, std::unique_ptr<Stream>& outStream) override;
+private:
+    bool adjustPath(fs::path& path) const MIJIN_NOEXCEPT;
+};
+
+//
+// public functions
+//
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+fs::path MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::getHomeFolder()
+{
+    return "/";
+}
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+std::vector<FileInfo> MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::listFiles(const fs::path& folder)
+{
+    fs::path adjusted = folder;
+    if (!adjustPath(adjusted))
+    {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    std::vector<FileInfo> result;
+    result = wrapped_.listFiles(adjusted);
+    for (FileInfo& fileInfo : result)
+    {
+        fileInfo.path = root_ / fileInfo.path;
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+FileInfo MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::getFileInfo(const fs::path& file)
+{
+    fs::path adjusted = file;
+    if (!adjustPath(adjusted))
+    {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    return wrapped_.getFileInfo(adjusted);
+}
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+Optional<fs::path> MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::getNativePath(const fs::path& file)
+{
+    fs::path adjusted = file;
+    if (!adjustPath(adjusted))
+    {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    return wrapped_.getNativePath(adjusted);
+}
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+StreamError MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::open(const fs::path& path, FileOpenMode mode, std::unique_ptr<Stream>& outStream)
+{
+    fs::path adjusted = path;
+    if (!adjustPath(adjusted))
+    {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    return wrapped_.open(adjusted, mode, outStream);
+}
+
+template<typename TWrapped>
+bool MappingFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::adjustPath(fs::path& path) const MIJIN_NOEXCEPT
+{
+    if (!path.is_absolute())
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // checks whether path starts with root
+    auto [itRoot, itPath] = std::mismatch(root_.begin(), root_.end(), path.begin(), path.end());
+    if (itRoot != root_.end())
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    std::error_code error;
+    fs::path wrapped = fs::relative(path, root_, error);
+
+    if (wrapped.empty() || error)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    path = std::move(wrapped);
+    return true;
+}
+
+namespace vfs_pipe
+{
+template<typename TBase>
+struct MappingBuilder : Builder<MappingBuilder<TBase>, MappingFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>>
+{
+    fs::path root;
+    TBase base;
+
+    std::unique_ptr<MappingFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>> build()
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<MappingFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>>(root, std::move(*base.build()));
+    }
+};
+
+struct MappingOptions
+{
+    fs::path root;
+};
+
+[[nodiscard]]
+inline MappingOptions map_to(fs::path root) noexcept
+{
+    return {.root = std::move(root) };
+}
+
+template<typename TBase>
+[[nodiscard]]
+MappingBuilder<TBase> operator|(TBase other, MappingOptions options) noexcept
+{
+    return {.root = std::move(options.root), .base = std::move(other) };
+}
+}
+} // namespace mijin
+
+#endif // !defined(MIJIN_VIRTUAL_FILESYSTEM_MAPPING_HPP_INCLUDED)
diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/relative.hpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/relative.hpp
index b7a10ea..5a024db 100644
--- a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/relative.hpp
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/relative.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ public:
     RelativeFileSystemAdapter& operator=(const RelativeFileSystemAdapter&) = default;
     RelativeFileSystemAdapter& operator=(RelativeFileSystemAdapter&&) MIJIN_NOEXCEPT = default;
 
-    std::vector<fs::path> getRoots() override;
     fs::path getHomeFolder() override;
     std::vector<FileInfo> listFiles(const fs::path& folder) override;
     FileInfo getFileInfo(const fs::path& file) override;
@@ -52,12 +51,6 @@ private:
 // public functions
 //
 
-template<typename TWrapped>
-std::vector<fs::path> RelativeFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::getRoots()
-{
-    return { root_ };
-}
-
 template<typename TWrapped>
 fs::path RelativeFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::getHomeFolder()
 {
@@ -106,6 +99,39 @@ fs::path RelativeFileSystemAdapter<TWrapped>::appendPath(const fs::path& other)
     }
     return combinedPath;
 }
+
+namespace vfs_pipe
+{
+template<typename TBase>
+struct RelativeBuilder : Builder<RelativeBuilder<TBase>, RelativeFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>>
+{
+    fs::path root;
+    TBase base;
+
+    std::unique_ptr<RelativeFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>> build()
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<RelativeFileSystemAdapter<typename TBase::adapter_t>>(root, std::move(*base.build()));
+    }
+};
+
+struct RelativeOptions
+{
+    fs::path root;
+};
+
+[[nodiscard]]
+inline RelativeOptions relative_to(fs::path root) noexcept
+{
+    return {.root = std::move(root) };
+}
+
+template<typename TBase>
+[[nodiscard]]
+RelativeBuilder<TBase> operator|(TBase other, RelativeOptions options) noexcept
+{
+    return {.root = std::move(options.root), .base = std::move(other) };
+}
+}
 } // namespace mijin
 
 #endif // !defined(MIJIN_VIRTUAL_FILESYSTEM_RELATIVE_HPP_INCLUDED)
diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.cpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.cpp
index b588433..7f61624 100644
--- a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.cpp
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.cpp
@@ -30,24 +30,6 @@ namespace mijin
 // public functions
 //
 
-std::vector<fs::path> StackedFileSystemAdapter::getRoots()
-{
-    std::vector<fs::path> roots;
-
-    for (auto& adapter : adapters_)
-    {
-        for (const fs::path& root : adapter->getRoots())
-        {
-            auto it = std::find(roots.begin(), roots.end(), root);
-            if (it == roots.end()) {
-                roots.push_back(root);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    return roots;
-}
-
 fs::path StackedFileSystemAdapter::getHomeFolder()
 {
     if (adapters_.empty()) {
@@ -105,13 +87,28 @@ Optional<fs::path> StackedFileSystemAdapter::getNativePath(const fs::path& file)
 
 StreamError StackedFileSystemAdapter::open(const fs::path& path, FileOpenMode mode, std::unique_ptr<Stream>& outStream)
 {
+    // try to open existing files first
     for (auto& adapter : adapters_)
     {
         const FileInfo fileInfo = adapter->getFileInfo(path);
-        if (fileInfo.exists) {
+        if (fileInfo.exists)
+        {
             return adapter->open(path, mode, outStream);
         }
     }
+
+    // if that doesn't work we attempt to write, try creating it
+    if (mode == FileOpenMode::WRITE || mode == FileOpenMode::READ_WRITE)
+    {
+        for (auto& adapter : adapters_)
+        {
+            const StreamError error = adapter->open(path, mode, outStream);
+            if (error == StreamError::SUCCESS)
+            {
+                return StreamError::SUCCESS;
+            }
+        }
+    }
     return StreamError::IO_ERROR;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.hpp b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.hpp
index 6f38f9f..725c5dc 100644
--- a/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.hpp
+++ b/source/mijin/virtual_filesystem/stacked.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class StackedFileSystemAdapter : public FileSystemAdapter
 private:
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<FileSystemAdapter>> adapters_;
 public:
-    std::vector<fs::path> getRoots() override;
     fs::path getHomeFolder() override;
     std::vector<FileInfo> listFiles(const fs::path& folder) override;
     FileInfo getFileInfo(const fs::path& file) override;