diff --git a/pyhmy/util.py b/pyhmy/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0ccf66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyhmy/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import json
+import subprocess
+import os
+import stat
+import sys
+
+import requests
+
+
+class Typgpy(str):
+    """
+    Typography constants for pretty printing.
+
+    Note that an ENDC is needed to made the end of a 'highlighted' text segment.
+    """
+    HEADER = '\033[95m'
+    OKBLUE = '\033[94m'
+    OKGREEN = '\033[92m'
+    WARNING = '\033[93m'
+    FAIL = '\033[91m'
+    ENDC = '\033[0m'
+    BOLD = '\033[1m'
+    UNDERLINE = '\033[4m'
+
+
+def get_gopath():
+    """
+    :returns The go-path, assuming that go is installed.
+    """
+    return subprocess.check_output(["go", "env", "GOPATH"]).decode().strip()
+
+
+def get_goversion():
+    """
+    :returns The go-version, assuming that go is installed.
+    """
+    return subprocess.check_output(["go", "version"]).decode().strip()
+
+
+def get_bls_build_variables():
+    """
+    :returns The environment variables needed to build and/or run programs that
+             use the Harmony BLS & MCL repo.
+    :raises RuntimeError if openssl is not found.
+
+    Note that this assumes that the BLS & MCL repo are in the appropriate directory
+    as stated here: https://github.com/harmony-one/harmony/blob/master/README.md
+    """
+    variables = {}
+    try:
+        openssl_dir = subprocess.check_output(["which", "openssl"]).decode().strip().split("\n")[0]
+    except (IndexError, subprocess.CalledProcessError) as e:
+        raise RuntimeError("`openssl` not found") from e
+    hmy_path = f"{get_gopath()}/src/github.com/harmony-one"
+    bls_dir = f"{hmy_path}/bls"
+    mcl_dir = f"{hmy_path}/mcl"
+    assert os.path.exists(bls_dir), f" Harmony BLS repo not found at {bls_dir}"
+    assert os.path.exists(mcl_dir), f"Harmony MCL repo not found at {mcl_dir}"
+    if sys.platform.startswith("darwin"):
+        variables["CGO_CFLAGS"] = f"-I{bls_dir}/include -I{mcl_dir}/include -I{openssl_dir}/include"
+        variables["CGO_LDFLAGS"] = f"-L{bls_dir}/lib -L{openssl_dir}/lib"
+        variables["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = f"{bls_dir}/lib:{mcl_dir}/lib:{openssl_dir}/lib"
+        variables["DYLD_FALLBACK_LIBRARY_PATH"] = variables["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"]
+    else:
+        variables["CGO_CFLAGS"] = f"-I{bls_dir}/include -I{mcl_dir}/include"
+        variables["CGO_LDFLAGS"] = f"-L{bls_dir}/lib"
+        variables["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = f"{bls_dir}/lib:{mcl_dir}/lib"
+    return variables
+
+
+def download_cli(bin_name="hmy", replace=False):
+    """
+    This function will download the statically linked CLI binary to the current
+    working directory.
+
+    :param bin_name: The desired filename of the binary
+    :param replace: A flag to force a replacement of the binary/file.
+    """
+    assert isinstance(bin_name, str), "binary name must be a string"
+    assert bin_name, "binary name must be non-empty"
+    assert '/' not in bin_name, "binary name must not be path"
+    if os.path.exists(f"{os.getcwd()}/{bin_name}") and not replace:
+        return
+    hmy_script_path = f"{os.getcwd()}/hmy.sh"
+    with open(hmy_script_path, 'w') as f:
+        f.write(requests.get("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/harmony-one/go-sdk/master/scripts/hmy.sh")
+                .content.decode())
+    os.chmod(hmy_script_path, os.stat(hmy_script_path).st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
+    if os.path.exists(f"{os.getcwd()}/hmy"):
+        os.rename(f"{os.getcwd()}/hmy", f"{os.getcwd()}/.hmy_temp")
+    subprocess.call([hmy_script_path, '-d'])
+    os.rename(f"{os.getcwd()}/hmy", f"{os.getcwd()}/{bin_name}")
+    if os.path.exists(f"{os.getcwd()}/.hmy_temp"):
+        os.rename(f"{os.getcwd()}/.hmy_temp", f"{os.getcwd()}/hmy")
+
+
+def json_load(string):
+    """
+    :param string: The JSON string to load
+    :returns A dictionary loaded from a JSON string to a dictionary.
+    :raises The exception caused by the load (if present).
+
+    Note that this prints the failed input should an error arise.
+    """
+    try:
+        return json.loads(string)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"{Typgpy.FAIL}Could not parse input: '{string}'{Typgpy.ENDC}")
+        raise e from e