def join(*paths):
    """Like os.path.join but doesn't treat absolute RHS specially"""
    import os.path
    return os.path.normpath("/".join(paths))

def relative(src, dest):
    """ Return a relative path from src to dest.

    >>> relative("/usr/bin", "/tmp/foo/bar")
    ../../tmp/foo/bar

    >>> relative("/usr/bin", "/usr/lib")
    ../lib

    >>> relative("/tmp", "/tmp/foo/bar")
    foo/bar
    """
    import os.path

    if hasattr(os.path, "relpath"):
        return os.path.relpath(dest, src)
    else:
        destlist = os.path.normpath(dest).split(os.path.sep)
        srclist = os.path.normpath(src).split(os.path.sep)

        # Find common section of the path
        common = os.path.commonprefix([destlist, srclist])
        commonlen = len(common)

        # Climb back to the point where they differentiate
        relpath = [ os.path.pardir ] * (len(srclist) - commonlen)
        if commonlen < len(destlist):
            # Add remaining portion
            relpath += destlist[commonlen:]

        return os.path.sep.join(relpath)

def format_display(path, metadata):
    """ Prepare a path for display to the user. """
    rel = relative(metadata.getVar("TOPDIR", 1), path)
    if len(rel) > len(path):
        return path
    else:
        return rel