diff --git a/scripts/lib/wic/utils/runner.py b/scripts/lib/wic/utils/runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7431917
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/lib/wic/utils/runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python -tt
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2011 Intel, Inc.
+#
+# 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; version 2 of the License
+#
+# 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., 59
+# Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+from wic import msger
+
+def runtool(cmdln_or_args, catch=1):
+    """ wrapper for most of the subprocess calls
+    input:
+        cmdln_or_args: can be both args and cmdln str (shell=True)
+        catch: 0, quitely run
+               1, only STDOUT
+               2, only STDERR
+               3, both STDOUT and STDERR
+    return:
+        (rc, output)
+        if catch==0: the output will always None
+    """
+
+    if catch not in (0, 1, 2, 3):
+        # invalid catch selection, will cause exception, that's good
+        return None
+
+    if isinstance(cmdln_or_args, list):
+        cmd = cmdln_or_args[0]
+        shell = False
+    else:
+        import shlex
+        cmd = shlex.split(cmdln_or_args)[0]
+        shell = True
+
+    if catch != 3:
+        dev_null = os.open("/dev/null", os.O_WRONLY)
+
+    if catch == 0:
+        sout = dev_null
+        serr = dev_null
+    elif catch == 1:
+        sout = subprocess.PIPE
+        serr = dev_null
+    elif catch == 2:
+        sout = dev_null
+        serr = subprocess.PIPE
+    elif catch == 3:
+        sout = subprocess.PIPE
+        serr = subprocess.STDOUT
+
+    try:
+        process = subprocess.Popen(cmdln_or_args, stdout=sout,
+                                   stderr=serr, shell=shell)
+        (sout, serr) = process.communicate()
+        # combine stdout and stderr, filter None out
+        out = ''.join(filter(None, [sout, serr]))
+    except OSError, err:
+        if err.errno == 2:
+            # [Errno 2] No such file or directory
+            msger.error('Cannot run command: %s, lost dependency?' % cmd)
+        else:
+            raise # relay
+    finally:
+        if catch != 3:
+            os.close(dev_null)
+
+    return (process.returncode, out)
+
+def show(cmdln_or_args):
+    # show all the message using msger.verbose
+
+    rcode, out = runtool(cmdln_or_args, catch=3)
+
+    if isinstance(cmdln_or_args, list):
+        cmd = ' '.join(cmdln_or_args)
+    else:
+        cmd = cmdln_or_args
+
+    msg = 'running command: "%s"' % cmd
+    if out:
+        out = out.strip()
+    if out:
+        msg += ', with output::'
+        msg += '\n  +----------------'
+        for line in out.splitlines():
+            msg += '\n  | %s' % line
+        msg += '\n  +----------------'
+
+    msger.verbose(msg)
+    return rcode
+
+def outs(cmdln_or_args, catch=1):
+    # get the outputs of tools
+    return runtool(cmdln_or_args, catch)[1].strip()
+
+def quiet(cmdln_or_args):
+    return runtool(cmdln_or_args, catch=0)[0]