diff --git a/watchdog/utils.hpp b/watchdog/utils.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b0d613
--- /dev/null
+++ b/watchdog/utils.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <utility>
+
+namespace watchdog
+{
+namespace dump
+{
+
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+/**
+ * @class TemporaryFile
+ *
+ * A temporary file in the file system.
+ *
+ * The temporary file is created by the constructor.  The absolute path to the
+ * file can be obtained using getPath().
+ *
+ * The temporary file can be deleted by calling remove().  Otherwise the file
+ * will be deleted by the destructor.
+ *
+ * TemporaryFile objects cannot be copied, but they can be moved.  This enables
+ * them to be stored in containers like std::vector.
+ */
+class TemporaryFile
+{
+  public:
+    // Specify which compiler-generated methods we want
+    TemporaryFile(const TemporaryFile&) = delete;
+    TemporaryFile& operator=(const TemporaryFile&) = delete;
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Constructor.
+     *
+     * @details Creates a temporary file in the temporary directory (normally
+     * /tmp).
+     *
+     * Throws an exception if the file cannot be created.
+     */
+    TemporaryFile();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Move constructor.
+     *
+     * @details Transfers ownership of a temporary file.
+     *
+     * @param file TemporaryFile object being moved
+     */
+    TemporaryFile(TemporaryFile&& file) : path{std::move(file.path)}
+    {
+        // Clear path in other object; after move path is in unspecified state
+        file.path.clear();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Move assignment operator.
+     *
+     * @details Deletes the temporary file owned by this object.  Then transfers
+     * ownership of the temporary file owned by the other object.
+     *
+     * Throws an exception if an error occurs during the deletion.
+     *
+     * @param file TemporaryFile object being moved
+     */
+    TemporaryFile& operator=(TemporaryFile&& file);
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Destructor.
+     *
+     * @details description the temporary file if necessary.
+     */
+    ~TemporaryFile()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            remove();
+        }
+        catch (...)
+        {
+            // Destructors should not throw exceptions
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Deletes the temporary file.
+     *
+     * @details Does nothing if the file has already been deleted.
+     *
+     * Throws an exception if an error occurs during the deletion.
+     */
+    void remove();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the absolute path to the temporary file.
+     *
+     * @details Returns an empty path if the file has been deleted.
+     *
+     * @return temporary file path
+     */
+    const fs::path& getPath() const
+    {
+        return path;
+    }
+
+  private:
+    /**
+     * @brief Absolute path to the temporary file.
+     *
+     * @details Empty when file has been deleted.
+     */
+    fs::path path{};
+};
+
+} // namespace dump
+} // namespace watchdog