diff --git a/Data/String/Conversions.hs b/Data/String/Conversions.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Data/String/Conversions.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+{-# language MultiParamTypeClasses, TypeSynonymInstances, FlexibleInstances #-}
+
+-- | A type class for converting strings.
+-- Supported types are:
+--
+--     * 'String'
+--
+--     * strict 'Data.ByteString.ByteString'
+--
+--     * lazy 'Data.ByteString.Lazy.ByteString'
+--
+--     * strict 'Data.Text.Text'
+--
+--     * lazy 'Data.Text.Lazy.Text'
+--
+-- Assumes UTF-8.
+
+module Data.String.Conversions where
+
+
+import Data.Monoid
+
+import Control.Applicative
+
+-- string imports
+
+import qualified Data.ByteString
+import qualified Data.ByteString.UTF8
+
+import qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy
+import qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy.UTF8
+
+import qualified Data.Text
+import qualified Data.Text.Encoding
+
+import qualified Data.Text.Lazy
+import qualified Data.Text.Lazy.Encoding
+
+
+-- * class and conversions
+
+class ConvertibleStrings a b where
+    convertString :: a -> b
+
+cs :: ConvertibleStrings a b => a -> b
+cs = convertString
+
+
+-- * type synonyms
+
+type StrictByteString = Data.ByteString.ByteString
+type SBS              = Data.ByteString.ByteString
+
+type LazyByteString = Data.ByteString.Lazy.ByteString
+type LBS            = Data.ByteString.Lazy.ByteString
+
+type StrictText = Data.Text.Text
+type ST         = Data.Text.Text
+
+type LazyText = Data.Text.Lazy.Text
+type LT       = Data.Text.Lazy.Text
+
+
+-- instances
+-- ---------
+
+-- from String
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings String StrictByteString where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.UTF8.fromString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings String LazyByteString where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.Lazy.UTF8.fromString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings String StrictText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.pack
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings String LazyText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Lazy.pack
+
+
+-- from StrictByteString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictByteString String where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.UTF8.toString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictByteString LazyByteString where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.Lazy.fromChunks . pure
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictByteString StrictText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Encoding.decodeUtf8
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictByteString LazyText where
+    convertString =
+        Data.Text.Lazy.Encoding.decodeUtf8 . Data.ByteString.Lazy.fromChunks . pure
+
+
+-- from LazyByteString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyByteString String where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.Lazy.UTF8.toString
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyByteString StrictByteString where
+    convertString = mconcat . Data.ByteString.Lazy.toChunks
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyByteString StrictText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Encoding.decodeUtf8 . mconcat . Data.ByteString.Lazy.toChunks
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyByteString LazyText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Lazy.Encoding.decodeUtf8
+
+
+-- from StrictText
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictText String where
+    convertString = Data.Text.unpack
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictText StrictByteString where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Encoding.encodeUtf8
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictText LazyByteString where
+    convertString = Data.ByteString.Lazy.fromChunks . pure . Data.Text.Encoding.encodeUtf8
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings StrictText LazyText where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Lazy.fromChunks . pure
+
+
+-- from LazyText
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyText String where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Lazy.unpack
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyText StrictByteString where
+    convertString =
+        mconcat . Data.ByteString.Lazy.toChunks . Data.Text.Lazy.Encoding.encodeUtf8
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyText LazyByteString where
+    convertString = Data.Text.Lazy.Encoding.encodeUtf8
+
+instance ConvertibleStrings LazyText StrictText where
+    convertString = mconcat . Data.Text.Lazy.toChunks
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+Copyright (c) 2012, Sönke Hahn
+
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+      copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
+      disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
+      with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of Sönke Hahn nor the names of other
+      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+      from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+"AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
diff --git a/Setup.hs b/Setup.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Setup.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+import Distribution.Simple
+main = defaultMain
diff --git a/string-conversions.cabal b/string-conversions.cabal
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/string-conversions.cabal
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+-- Initial string-conversions.cabal generated by cabal init. For further
+-- documentation, see http://haskell.org/cabal/users-guide/
+
+name:                string-conversions
+version:             0.1
+synopsis:            Simplifies dealing with different types for strings
+description:         Provides a simple type class for converting values
+                     of different string types
+                     into values of other string types.
+license:             BSD3
+license-file:        LICENSE
+author:              Sönke Hahn
+maintainer:          shahn@joyridelabs.de
+-- copyright:
+category:            Data
+build-type:          Simple
+cabal-version:       >=1.8
+
+source-repository head
+  type:     darcs
+  location: http://patch-tag.com/r/shahn/string-conversions/
+
+library
+  exposed-modules:     Data.String.Conversions
+  build-depends:
+    base < 5,
+    bytestring == 0.9.*,
+    text == 0.11.*,
+    utf8-string == 0.3.*
+  ghc-options:
+    -Wall
