Use git_buf for path storage instead of stack-based buffers

This converts virtually all of the places that allocate GIT_PATH_MAX
buffers on the stack for manipulating paths to use git_buf objects
instead.  The patch is pretty careful not to touch the public API
for libgit2, so there are a few places that still use GIT_PATH_MAX.

This extends and changes some details of the git_buf implementation
to add a couple of extra functions and to make error handling easier.

This includes serious alterations to all the path.c functions, and
several of the fileops.c ones, too.  Also, there are a number of new
functions that parallel existing ones except that use a git_buf
instead of a stack-based buffer (such as git_config_find_global_r
that exists alongsize git_config_find_global).

This also modifies the win32 version of p_realpath to allocate whatever
buffer size is needed to accommodate the realpath instead of hardcoding
a GIT_PATH_MAX limit, but that change needs to be tested still.

32 files changed, 1414 insertions, 955 deletions

diff --git a/src/blob.c b/src/blob.c
index 87f5686af..7497ba7bf 100644
--- a/src/blob.c
+++ b/src/blob.c
@@ -67,12 +67,13 @@ int git_blob_create_frombuffer(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const void *b
 
 int git_blob_create_fromfile(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *path)
 {
-	int error, islnk;
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	int islnk = 0;
 	int fd = 0;
-	char full_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf full_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	char buffer[2048];
 	git_off_t size;
-	git_odb_stream *stream;
+	git_odb_stream *stream = NULL;
 	struct stat st;
 	const char *workdir;
 	git_odb *odb;
@@ -81,11 +82,14 @@ int git_blob_create_fromfile(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *pat
 	if (workdir == NULL)
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to create blob. (No working directory found)");
 
-	git_path_join(full_path, workdir, path);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&full_path, workdir, path);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
-	error = p_lstat(full_path, &st);
+	error = p_lstat(full_path.ptr, &st);
 	if (error < 0) {
-		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to stat blob. %s", strerror(errno));
+		error = git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to stat blob. %s", strerror(errno));
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	islnk = S_ISLNK(st.st_mode);
@@ -93,18 +97,18 @@ int git_blob_create_fromfile(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *pat
 
 	error = git_repository_odb__weakptr(&odb, repo);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return error;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	if (!islnk) {
-		if ((fd = p_open(full_path, O_RDONLY)) < 0)
-			return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to create blob. Could not open '%s'", full_path);
+		if ((fd = p_open(full_path.ptr, O_RDONLY)) < 0) {
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to create blob. Could not open '%s'", full_path.ptr
+);
+			goto cleanup;
+		}
 	}
 
-	if ((error = git_odb_open_wstream(&stream, odb, (size_t)size, GIT_OBJ_BLOB)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		if (!islnk)
-			p_close(fd);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create blob");
-	}
+	if ((error = git_odb_open_wstream(&stream, odb, (size_t)size, GIT_OBJ_BLOB)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	while (size > 0) {
 		ssize_t read_len;
@@ -112,13 +116,11 @@ int git_blob_create_fromfile(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *pat
 		if (!islnk)
 			read_len = p_read(fd, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
 		else
-			read_len = p_readlink(full_path, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+			read_len = p_readlink(full_path.ptr, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
 
 		if (read_len < 0) {
-			if (!islnk)
-				p_close(fd);
-			stream->free(stream);
-			return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create blob. Can't read full file");
+			error = git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create blob. Can't read full file");
+			goto cleanup;
 		}
 
 		stream->write(stream, buffer, read_len);
@@ -126,10 +128,15 @@ int git_blob_create_fromfile(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *pat
 	}
 
 	error = stream->finalize_write(oid, stream);
-	stream->free(stream);
-	if (!islnk)
+
+cleanup:
+	if (stream)
+		stream->free(stream);
+	if (!islnk && fd)
 		p_close(fd);
+	git_buf_free(&full_path);
 
-	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create blob");
+	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS :
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create blob");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index b90dd29c5..295b87e1a 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ char git_buf_initbuf[1];
 
 #define ENSURE_SIZE(b, d) \
 	if ((ssize_t)(d) > buf->asize && git_buf_grow(b, (d)) < GIT_SUCCESS)\
-		return;
+		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+
 
 void git_buf_init(git_buf *buf, size_t initial_size)
 {
@@ -29,6 +30,14 @@ void git_buf_init(git_buf *buf, size_t initial_size)
 
 int git_buf_grow(git_buf *buf, size_t target_size)
 {
+	int error = git_buf_try_grow(buf, target_size);
+	if (error != GIT_SUCCESS)
+		buf->asize = -1;
+	return error;
+}
+
+int git_buf_try_grow(git_buf *buf, size_t target_size)
+{
 	char *new_ptr;
 	size_t new_size;
 
@@ -55,10 +64,9 @@ int git_buf_grow(git_buf *buf, size_t target_size)
 	new_size = (new_size + 7) & ~7;
 
 	new_ptr = git__realloc(new_ptr, new_size);
-	if (!new_ptr) {
-		buf->asize = -1;
+	/* if realloc fails, return without modifying the git_buf */
+	if (!new_ptr)
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
-	}
 
 	buf->asize = new_size;
 	buf->ptr   = new_ptr;
@@ -93,7 +101,12 @@ int git_buf_oom(const git_buf *buf)
 	return (buf->asize < 0);
 }
 
-void git_buf_set(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len)
+int git_buf_lasterror(const git_buf *buf)
+{
+	return (buf->asize < 0) ? GIT_ENOMEM : GIT_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+int git_buf_set(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len)
 {
 	if (len == 0 || data == NULL) {
 		git_buf_clear(buf);
@@ -103,35 +116,38 @@ void git_buf_set(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len)
 		buf->size = len;
 		buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
 	}
+	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-void git_buf_sets(git_buf *buf, const char *string)
+int git_buf_sets(git_buf *buf, const char *string)
 {
-	git_buf_set(buf, string, string ? strlen(string) : 0);
+	return git_buf_set(buf, string, string ? strlen(string) : 0);
 }
 
-void git_buf_putc(git_buf *buf, char c)
+int git_buf_putc(git_buf *buf, char c)
 {
 	ENSURE_SIZE(buf, buf->size + 2);
 	buf->ptr[buf->size++] = c;
 	buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
+	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-void git_buf_put(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len)
+int git_buf_put(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len)
 {
 	ENSURE_SIZE(buf, buf->size + len + 1);
 	memmove(buf->ptr + buf->size, data, len);
 	buf->size += len;
 	buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
+	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-void git_buf_puts(git_buf *buf, const char *string)
+int git_buf_puts(git_buf *buf, const char *string)
 {
 	assert(string);
-	git_buf_put(buf, string, strlen(string));
+	return git_buf_put(buf, string, strlen(string));
 }
 
-void git_buf_printf(git_buf *buf, const char *format, ...)
+int git_buf_printf(git_buf *buf, const char *format, ...)
 {
 	int len;
 	va_list arglist;
@@ -145,16 +161,18 @@ void git_buf_printf(git_buf *buf, const char *format, ...)
 
 		if (len < 0) {
 			buf->asize = -1;
-			return;
+			return GIT_ENOMEM;
 		}
 
 		if (len + 1 <= buf->asize - buf->size) {
 			buf->size += len;
-			return;
+			break;
 		}
 
 		ENSURE_SIZE(buf, buf->size + len + 1);
 	}
+
+	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 const char *git_buf_cstr(git_buf *buf)
@@ -162,7 +180,7 @@ const char *git_buf_cstr(git_buf *buf)
 	return buf->ptr;
 }
 
-void git_buf_copy_cstr(char *data, size_t datasize, git_buf *buf)
+void git_buf_copy_cstr(char *data, size_t datasize, const git_buf *buf)
 {
 	size_t copylen;
 
@@ -190,6 +208,14 @@ void git_buf_consume(git_buf *buf, const char *end)
 	}
 }
 
+void git_buf_truncate(git_buf *buf, ssize_t len)
+{
+	if (len < buf->size) {
+		buf->size = len;
+		buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
+	}
+}
+
 void git_buf_swap(git_buf *buf_a, git_buf *buf_b)
 {
 	git_buf t = *buf_a;
@@ -197,7 +223,7 @@ void git_buf_swap(git_buf *buf_a, git_buf *buf_b)
 	*buf_b = t;
 }
 
-char *git_buf_take_cstr(git_buf *buf)
+char *git_buf_detach(git_buf *buf)
 {
 	char *data = buf->ptr;
 
@@ -209,18 +235,34 @@ char *git_buf_take_cstr(git_buf *buf)
 	return data;
 }
 
-void git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...)
+void git_buf_attach(git_buf *buf, char *ptr, ssize_t asize)
 {
-	/* Make two passes to avoid multiple reallocation */
+	git_buf_free(buf);
+
+	if (ptr) {
+		buf->ptr = ptr;
+		buf->size = strlen(ptr);
+		if (asize)
+			buf->asize = (asize < buf->size) ? buf->size + 1 : asize;
+		else /* pass 0 to fall back on strlen + 1 */
+			buf->asize = buf->size + 1;
+	} else {
+		git_buf_grow(buf, asize);
+	}
+}
 
+int git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...)
+{
 	va_list ap;
-	int i;
+	int i, error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	size_t total_size = 0;
 	char *out;
 
 	if (buf->size > 0 && buf->ptr[buf->size - 1] != separator)
 		++total_size; /* space for initial separator */
 
+	/* Make two passes to avoid multiple reallocation */
+
 	va_start(ap, nbuf);
 	for (i = 0; i < nbuf; ++i) {
 		const char* segment;
@@ -237,7 +279,10 @@ void git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...)
 	}
 	va_end(ap);
 
-	ENSURE_SIZE(buf, buf->size + total_size + 1);
+	/* expand buffer if needed */
+	if (total_size > 0 &&
+		(error = git_buf_grow(buf, buf->size + total_size + 1)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
 	out = buf->ptr + buf->size;
 
@@ -274,14 +319,17 @@ void git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...)
 	/* set size based on num characters actually written */
 	buf->size = out - buf->ptr;
 	buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
+
+	return error;
 }
 
-void git_buf_join(
+int git_buf_join(
 	git_buf *buf,
 	char separator,
 	const char *str_a,
 	const char *str_b)
 {
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	size_t strlen_a = strlen(str_a);
 	size_t strlen_b = strlen(str_b);
 	int need_sep = 0;
@@ -293,7 +341,9 @@ void git_buf_join(
 			need_sep = 1;
 	}
 
-	ENSURE_SIZE(buf, strlen_a + strlen_b + need_sep + 1);
+	error = git_buf_grow(buf, strlen_a + strlen_b + need_sep + 1);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
 	memmove(buf->ptr, str_a, strlen_a);
 	if (need_sep)
@@ -302,4 +352,6 @@ void git_buf_join(
 
 	buf->size = strlen_a + strlen_b + need_sep;
 	buf->ptr[buf->size] = '\0';
+
+	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/buffer.h b/src/buffer.h
index fa0c7f0b8..30658f3c2 100644
--- a/src/buffer.h
+++ b/src/buffer.h
@@ -18,34 +18,87 @@ extern char git_buf_initbuf[];
 
 #define GIT_BUF_INIT { git_buf_initbuf, 0, 0 }
 
+/**
+ * Initialize a git_buf structure.
+ *
+ * For the cases where GIT_BUF_INIT cannot be used to do static
+ * initialization.
+ */
 void git_buf_init(git_buf *buf, size_t initial_size);
+
+/**
+ * Grow the buffer to hold at least `target_size` bytes.
+ *
+ * If the allocation fails, this will return an error and the buffer
+ * will be marked as invalid for future operations.  The existing
+ * contents of the buffer will be preserved however.
+ * @return GIT_SUCCESS or GIT_ENOMEM on failure
+ */
 int git_buf_grow(git_buf *buf, size_t target_size);
+
+/**
+ * Attempt to grow the buffer to hold at least `target_size` bytes.
+ *
+ * This is just like `git_buf_grow` except that even if the allocation
+ * fails, the git_buf will still be left in a valid state.
+ */
+int git_buf_try_grow(git_buf *buf, size_t target_size);
+
 void git_buf_free(git_buf *buf);
 void git_buf_swap(git_buf *buf_a, git_buf *buf_b);
+char *git_buf_detach(git_buf *buf);
+void git_buf_attach(git_buf *buf, char *ptr, ssize_t asize);
 
 /**
+ * Test if there have been any reallocation failures with this git_buf.
+ *
  * Any function that writes to a git_buf can fail due to memory allocation
  * issues.  If one fails, the git_buf will be marked with an OOM error and
- * further calls to modify the buffer will fail.  You just check
- * git_buf_oom() at the end of your sequence and it will be true if you ran
- * out of memory at any point with that buffer.
+ * further calls to modify the buffer will fail.  Check git_buf_oom() at the
+ * end of your sequence and it will be true if you ran out of memory at any
+ * point with that buffer.
+ * @return 0 if no error, 1 if allocation error.
  */
 int git_buf_oom(const git_buf *buf);
 
-void git_buf_set(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len);
-void git_buf_sets(git_buf *buf, const char *string);
-void git_buf_putc(git_buf *buf, char c);
-void git_buf_put(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len);
-void git_buf_puts(git_buf *buf, const char *string);
-void git_buf_printf(git_buf *buf, const char *format, ...) GIT_FORMAT_PRINTF(2, 3);
+/**
+ * Just like git_buf_oom, except returns appropriate error code.
+ * @return GIT_ENOMEM if allocation error, GIT_SUCCESS if not.
+ */
+int git_buf_lasterror(const git_buf *buf);
+
+/*
+ * The functions below that return int values, will return GIT_ENOMEM
+ * if they fail to expand the git_buf when they are called, otherwise
+ * GIT_SUCCESS.  Passing a git_buf that has failed an allocation will
+ * automatically return GIT_ENOMEM for all further calls.  As a result,
+ * you can ignore the return code of these functions and call them in a
+ * series then just call git_buf_lasterror at the end.
+ */
+int git_buf_set(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len);
+int git_buf_sets(git_buf *buf, const char *string);
+int git_buf_putc(git_buf *buf, char c);
+int git_buf_put(git_buf *buf, const char *data, size_t len);
+int git_buf_puts(git_buf *buf, const char *string);
+int git_buf_printf(git_buf *buf, const char *format, ...) GIT_FORMAT_PRINTF(2, 3);
 void git_buf_clear(git_buf *buf);
 void git_buf_consume(git_buf *buf, const char *end);
-void git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...);
-void git_buf_join(git_buf *buf, char separator, const char *str_a, const char *str_b);
+void git_buf_truncate(git_buf *buf, ssize_t len);
+
+int git_buf_join_n(git_buf *buf, char separator, int nbuf, ...);
+int git_buf_join(git_buf *buf, char separator, const char *str_a, const char *str_b);
+
+/**
+ * Join two strings as paths, inserting a slash between as needed.
+ * @return error code or GIT_SUCCESS
+ */
+GIT_INLINE (int) git_buf_joinpath(git_buf *buf, const char *a, const char *b)
+{
+	return git_buf_join(buf, '/', a, b);
+}
 
 const char *git_buf_cstr(git_buf *buf);
-char *git_buf_take_cstr(git_buf *buf);
-void git_buf_copy_cstr(char *data, size_t datasize, git_buf *buf);
+void git_buf_copy_cstr(char *data, size_t datasize, const git_buf *buf);
 
 #define git_buf_PUTS(buf, str) git_buf_put(buf, str, sizeof(str) - 1)
 
diff --git a/src/commit.c b/src/commit.c
index bf6ca7855..5d077d54e 100644
--- a/src/commit.c
+++ b/src/commit.c
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ int git_commit_create(
 	git_buf_puts(&commit, message);
 
 	if (git_buf_oom(&commit)) {
-		error = git__throw(GIT_ENOMEM, "Not enough memory to build the commit data");
+		error = git__throw(git_buf_lasterror(&commit),
+			"Not enough memory to build the commit data");
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index a8e15405b..2e341d256 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -330,9 +330,25 @@ int git_config_get_string(git_config *cfg, const char *name, const char **out)
 
 int git_config_find_global(char *global_config_path)
 {
-	const char *home;
+	git_buf path  = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	int     error = git_config_find_global_r(&path);
+
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if (path.size > GIT_PATH_MAX)
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ESHORTBUFFER, "Path is too long");
+		else
+			git_buf_copy_cstr(global_config_path, GIT_PATH_MAX, &path);
+	}
+
+	git_buf_free(&path);
 
-	home = getenv("HOME");
+	return error;
+}
+
+int git_config_find_global_r(git_buf *path)
+{
+	int error;
+	const char *home = getenv("HOME");
 
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
 	if (home == NULL)
@@ -342,10 +358,13 @@ int git_config_find_global(char *global_config_path)
 	if (home == NULL)
 		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to open global config file. Cannot locate the user's home directory");
 
-	git_path_join(global_config_path, home, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME);
+	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(path, home, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
-	if (git_futils_exists(global_config_path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_exists(path->ptr) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_clear(path);
 		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to open global config file. The file does not exist");
+	}
 
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
@@ -353,7 +372,7 @@ int git_config_find_global(char *global_config_path)
 
 
 #if GIT_WIN32
-static int win32_find_system(char *system_config_path)
+static int win32_find_system(git_buf *system_config_path)
 {
 	const wchar_t *query = L"%PROGRAMFILES%\\Git\\etc\\gitconfig";
 	wchar_t *apphome_utf16;
@@ -378,25 +397,21 @@ static int win32_find_system(char *system_config_path)
 	apphome_utf8 = gitwin_from_utf16(apphome_utf16);
 	git__free(apphome_utf16);
 
-	if (strlen(apphome_utf8) >= GIT_PATH_MAX) {
-		git__free(apphome_utf8);
-		return git__throw(GIT_ESHORTBUFFER, "Path is too long");
-	}
+	git_buf_attach(system_config_path, apphome_utf8, 0);
 
-	strcpy(system_config_path, apphome_utf8);
-	git__free(apphome_utf8);
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 #endif
 
-int git_config_find_system(char *system_config_path)
+int git_config_find_system_r(git_buf *system_config_path)
 {
-	const char *etc = "/etc/gitconfig";
+	if (git_buf_sets(system_config_path, "/etc/gitconfig") < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git_buf_lasterror(system_config_path);
 
-	if (git_futils_exists(etc) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		memcpy(system_config_path, etc, strlen(etc) + 1);
+	if (git_futils_exists(system_config_path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
-	}
+
+	git_buf_clear(system_config_path);
 
 #if GIT_WIN32
 	return win32_find_system(system_config_path);
@@ -405,6 +420,23 @@ int git_config_find_system(char *system_config_path)
 #endif
 }
 
+int git_config_find_system(char *system_config_path)
+{
+	git_buf path  = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	int     error = git_config_find_system_r(&path);
+
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if (path.size > GIT_PATH_MAX)
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ESHORTBUFFER, "Path is too long");
+		else
+			git_buf_copy_cstr(system_config_path, GIT_PATH_MAX, &path);
+	}
+
+	git_buf_free(&path);
+
+	return error;
+}
+
 int git_config_open_global(git_config **out)
 {
 	int error;
diff --git a/src/config.h b/src/config.h
index 7f3494edc..fc639c6d4 100644
--- a/src/config.h
+++ b/src/config.h
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@ struct git_config {
 	git_vector files;
 };
 
+extern int git_config_find_global_r(git_buf *global_config_path);
+extern int git_config_find_system_r(git_buf *system_config_path);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/fetch.c b/src/fetch.c
index f447248c5..f9e15b232 100644
--- a/src/fetch.c
+++ b/src/fetch.c
@@ -115,25 +115,31 @@ int git_fetch_download_pack(char **out, git_remote *remote)
 }
 
 /* Receiving data from a socket and storing it is pretty much the same for git and HTTP */
-int git_fetch__download_pack(char **out, const char *buffered, size_t buffered_size,
-                             GIT_SOCKET fd, git_repository *repo)
+int git_fetch__download_pack(
+	char **out,
+	const char *buffered,
+	size_t buffered_size,
+	GIT_SOCKET fd,
+	git_repository *repo)
 {
 	git_filebuf file = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
 	int error;
-	char buff[1024], path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	char buff[1024];
+	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	static const char suff[] = "/objects/pack/pack-received";
 	gitno_buffer buf;
 
-
-	git_path_join(path, repo->path_repository, suff);
-
 	gitno_buffer_setup(&buf, buff, sizeof(buff), fd);
 
 	if (memcmp(buffered, "PACK", strlen("PACK"))) {
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "The pack doesn't start with the signature");
 	}
 
-	error = git_filebuf_open(&file, path, GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&path, repo->path_repository, suff);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&file, path.ptr, GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
@@ -166,7 +172,7 @@ int git_fetch__download_pack(char **out, const char *buffered, size_t buffered_s
 cleanup:
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&file);
+    git_buf_free(&path);
 
 	return error;
-
 }
diff --git a/src/filebuf.c b/src/filebuf.c
index 6600bfa4b..aa47d5eb0 100644
--- a/src/filebuf.c
+++ b/src/filebuf.c
@@ -196,18 +196,19 @@ int git_filebuf_open(git_filebuf *file, const char *path, int flags)
 
 	/* If we are writing to a temp file */
 	if (flags & GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY) {
-		char tmp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+		git_buf tmp_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 		/* Open the file as temporary for locking */
-		file->fd = git_futils_mktmp(tmp_path, path);
+		file->fd = git_futils_mktmp(&tmp_path, path);
 		if (file->fd < 0) {
+			git_buf_free(&tmp_path);
 			error = GIT_EOSERR;
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
 
 		/* No original path */
 		file->path_original = NULL;
-		file->path_lock = git__strdup(tmp_path);
+		file->path_lock = git_buf_detach(&tmp_path);
 
 		if (file->path_lock == NULL) {
 			error = GIT_ENOMEM;
diff --git a/src/fileops.c b/src/fileops.c
index 955bb1bf6..fb2f954d7 100644
--- a/src/fileops.c
+++ b/src/fileops.c
@@ -10,35 +10,40 @@
 
 int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *file_path, const mode_t mode)
 {
-	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
-	char target_folder_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error;
+	git_buf target_folder = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-	error = git_path_dirname_r(target_folder_path, sizeof(target_folder_path), file_path);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	error = git_path_dirname_r(&target_folder, file_path);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_free(&target_folder);
 		return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDPATH, "Failed to recursively build `%s` tree structure. Unable to parse parent folder name", file_path);
+	} else {
+		/* reset error */
+		error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	}
 
 	/* Does the containing folder exist? */
-	if (git_futils_isdir(target_folder_path)) {
-		git_path_join(target_folder_path, target_folder_path, ""); /* Ensure there's a trailing slash */
-
+	if (git_futils_isdir(target_folder.ptr) != GIT_SUCCESS)
 		/* Let's create the tree structure */
-		error = git_futils_mkdir_r(target_folder_path, mode);
-		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return error;	/* The callee already takes care of setting the correct error message. */
-	}
+		error = git_futils_mkdir_r(target_folder.ptr, NULL, mode);
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf_free(&target_folder);
+	return error;
 }
 
-int git_futils_mktmp(char *path_out, const char *filename)
+int git_futils_mktmp(git_buf *path_out, const char *filename)
 {
 	int fd;
 
-	strcpy(path_out, filename);
-	strcat(path_out, "_git2_XXXXXX");
+	git_buf_sets(path_out, filename);
+	git_buf_puts(path_out, "_git2_XXXXXX");
+
+	if (git_buf_oom(path_out))
+		return git__rethrow(git_buf_lasterror(path_out),
+			"Failed to create temporary file for %s", filename);
 
-	if ((fd = p_mkstemp(path_out)) < 0)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create temporary file %s", path_out);
+	if ((fd = p_mkstemp(path_out->ptr)) < 0)
+		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create temporary file %s", path_out->ptr);
 
 	return fd;
 }
@@ -180,6 +185,14 @@ int git_futils_readbuffer(git_fbuffer *obj, const char *path)
 	return git_futils_readbuffer_updated(obj, path, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
+void git_futils_fbuffer_rtrim(git_fbuffer *obj)
+{
+	unsigned char *buff = obj->data;
+	while (obj->len > 0 && isspace(buff[obj->len - 1]))
+		obj->len--;
+	buff[obj->len] = '\0';
+}
+
 void git_futils_freebuffer(git_fbuffer *obj)
 {
 	assert(obj);
@@ -215,76 +228,72 @@ GIT_INLINE(int) is_dot_or_dotdot(const char *name)
 }
 
 int git_futils_direach(
-	char *path,
-	size_t path_sz,
-	int (*fn)(void *, char *),
+	git_buf *path,
+	int (*fn)(void *, git_buf *),
 	void *arg)
 {
-	size_t wd_len = strlen(path);
+	ssize_t wd_len;
 	DIR *dir;
 	struct dirent *de;
 
-	if (!wd_len || path_sz < wd_len + 2)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDARGS, "Failed to process `%s` tree structure. Path is either empty or buffer size is too short", path);
-
-	while (path[wd_len - 1] == '/')
-		wd_len--;
-	path[wd_len++] = '/';
-	path[wd_len] = '\0';
+	if (git_path_to_dir(path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git_buf_lasterror(path);
 
-	dir = opendir(path);
+	wd_len = path->size;
+	dir = opendir(path->ptr);
 	if (!dir)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to process `%s` tree structure. An error occured while opening the directory", path);
+		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to process `%s` tree structure. An error occured while opening the directory", path->ptr);
 
 	while ((de = readdir(dir)) != NULL) {
-		size_t de_len;
 		int result;
 
 		if (is_dot_or_dotdot(de->d_name))
 			continue;
 
-		de_len = strlen(de->d_name);
-		if (path_sz < wd_len + de_len + 1) {
-			closedir(dir);
-			return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to process `%s` tree structure. Buffer size is too short", path);
-		}
+		if (git_buf_puts(path, de->d_name) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return git_buf_lasterror(path);
 
-		strcpy(path + wd_len, de->d_name);
 		result = fn(arg, path);
-		if (result < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+
+		git_buf_truncate(path, wd_len); /* restore path */
+
+		if (result != GIT_SUCCESS) {
 			closedir(dir);
 			return result;	/* The callee is reponsible for setting the correct error message */
 		}
-		if (result > 0) {
-			closedir(dir);
-			return result;
-		}
 	}
 
 	closedir(dir);
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode)
+int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const char *base, const mode_t mode)
 {
 	int error, root_path_offset;
+	git_buf make_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	size_t start;
 	char *pp, *sp;
-	char *path_copy = git__strdup(path);
 
-	if (path_copy == NULL)
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+	if (base != NULL) {
+		start = strlen(base);
+		error = git_buf_joinpath(&make_path, base, path);
+	} else {
+		start = 0;
+		error = git_buf_puts(&make_path, path);
+	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create `%s` tree structure", path);
 
-	error = GIT_SUCCESS;
-	pp = path_copy;
+	pp = make_path.ptr + start;
 
-	root_path_offset = git_path_root(pp);
+	root_path_offset = git_path_root(make_path.ptr);
 	if (root_path_offset > 0)
 		pp += root_path_offset; /* On Windows, will skip the drive name (eg. C: or D:) */
 
 	while (error == GIT_SUCCESS && (sp = strchr(pp, '/')) != NULL) {
-		if (sp != pp && git_futils_isdir(path_copy) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if (sp != pp && git_futils_isdir(make_path.ptr) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
 			*sp = 0;
-			error = p_mkdir(path_copy, mode);
+			error = p_mkdir(make_path.ptr, mode);
 
 			/* Do not choke while trying to recreate an existing directory */
 			if (errno == EEXIST)
@@ -297,12 +306,12 @@ int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode)
 	}
 
 	if (*pp != '\0' && error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		error = p_mkdir(path, mode);
+		error = p_mkdir(make_path.ptr, mode);
 		if (errno == EEXIST)
 			error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
-	git__free(path_copy);
+	git_buf_free(&make_path);
 
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__throw(error, "Failed to recursively create `%s` tree structure", path);
@@ -310,32 +319,34 @@ int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode)
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static int _rmdir_recurs_foreach(void *opaque, char *path)
+static int _rmdir_recurs_foreach(void *opaque, git_buf *path)
 {
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	int force = *(int *)opaque;
 
-	if (git_futils_isdir(path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		size_t root_size = strlen(path);
-
-		if ((error = git_futils_direach(path, GIT_PATH_MAX, _rmdir_recurs_foreach, opaque)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to remove directory `%s`", path);
-
-		path[root_size] = '\0';
-		return p_rmdir(path);
+	if (git_futils_isdir(path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		error = git_futils_direach(path, _rmdir_recurs_foreach, opaque);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to remove directory `%s`", path->ptr);
+		return p_rmdir(path->ptr);
 
 	} else if (force) {
-		return p_unlink(path);
+		return p_unlink(path->ptr);
 	}
 
-	return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to remove directory. `%s` is not empty", path);
+	return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to remove directory. `%s` is not empty", path->ptr);
 }
 
 int git_futils_rmdir_r(const char *path, int force)
 {
-	char p[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	strncpy(p, path, GIT_PATH_MAX);
-	return _rmdir_recurs_foreach(&force, p);
+	int error;
+	git_buf p = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+
+	error = git_buf_sets(&p, path);
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		error = _rmdir_recurs_foreach(&force, &p);
+	git_buf_free(&p);
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_futils_cmp_path(const char *name1, int len1, int isdir1,
@@ -356,3 +367,39 @@ int git_futils_cmp_path(const char *name1, int len1, int isdir1,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int _check_dir_contents(
+	git_buf *dir,
+	const char *sub,
+	int append_on_success,
+	int (*predicate)(const char *))
+{
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	size_t dir_size = dir->size;
+	size_t sub_size = strlen(sub);
+
+	/* leave base valid even if we could not make space for subdir */
+	if ((error = git_buf_try_grow(dir, dir_size + sub_size + 2)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
+
+	/* save excursion */
+	git_buf_joinpath(dir, dir->ptr, sub);
+
+	error = (*predicate)(dir->ptr);
+
+	/* restore excursion */
+	if (!append_on_success || error != GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git_buf_truncate(dir, dir_size);
+
+	return error;
+}
+
+int git_futils_contains_dir(git_buf *base, const char *subdir, int append_if_exists)
+{
+	return _check_dir_contents(base, subdir, append_if_exists, &git_futils_isdir);
+}
+
+int git_futils_contains_file(git_buf *base, const char *file, int append_if_exists)
+{
+	return _check_dir_contents(base, file, append_if_exists, &git_futils_isfile);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/fileops.h b/src/fileops.h
index e1a59f633..df135d0db 100644
--- a/src/fileops.h
+++ b/src/fileops.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ typedef struct { /* file io buffer */
 extern int git_futils_readbuffer(git_fbuffer *obj, const char *path);
 extern int git_futils_readbuffer_updated(git_fbuffer *obj, const char *path, time_t *mtime, int *updated);
 extern void git_futils_freebuffer(git_fbuffer *obj);
+extern void git_futils_fbuffer_rtrim(git_fbuffer *obj);
 
 /**
  * File utils
@@ -72,9 +73,25 @@ extern int git_futils_isdir(const char *path);
 extern int git_futils_isfile(const char *path);
 
 /**
+ * Check if the given path contains the given subdirectory.
+ *
+ * If `append_if_exists` is true, then the subdir will be appended to the
+ * parent path if it does exists.
+ */
+extern int git_futils_contains_dir(git_buf *parent, const char *subdir, int append_if_exists);
+
+/**
+ * Check if the given path contains the given file
+ *
+ * If `append_if_exists` is true, then the filename will be appended to the
+ * parent path if it does exists.
+ */
+extern int git_futils_contains_file(git_buf *parent, const char *file, int append_if_exists);
+
+/**
  * Create a path recursively
  */
-extern int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode);
+extern int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const char *base, const mode_t mode);
 
 /**
  * Create all the folders required to contain
@@ -85,9 +102,11 @@ extern int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *path, const mode_t mode);
 extern int git_futils_rmdir_r(const char *path, int force);
 
 /**
- * Create and open a temporary file with a `_git2_` suffix
+ * Create and open a temporary file with a `_git2_` suffix.
+ * Writes the filename into path_out.
+ * @return On success, an open file descriptor, else an error code < 0.
  */
-extern int git_futils_mktmp(char *path_out, const char *filename);
+extern int git_futils_mktmp(git_buf *path_out, const char *filename);
 
 /**
  * Move a file on the filesystem, create the
@@ -133,16 +152,14 @@ extern void git_futils_mmap_free(git_map *map);
  *
  * @param pathbuf buffer the function reads the initial directory
  * 		path from, and updates with each successive entry's name.
- * @param pathmax maximum allocation of pathbuf.
  * @param fn function to invoke with each entry. The first arg is
  *		the input state and the second arg is pathbuf. The function
  *		may modify the pathbuf, but only by appending new text.
  * @param state to pass to fn as the first arg.
  */
 extern int git_futils_direach(
-	char *pathbuf,
-	size_t pathmax,
-	int (*fn)(void *, char *),
+	git_buf *pathbuf,
+	int (*fn)(void *, git_buf *),
 	void *state);
 
 extern int git_futils_cmp_path(const char *name1, int len1, int isdir1,
diff --git a/src/index.c b/src/index.c
index 9f336ba0a..9baab16a9 100644
--- a/src/index.c
+++ b/src/index.c
@@ -294,40 +294,30 @@ git_index_entry *git_index_get(git_index *index, unsigned int n)
 
 static int index_entry_init(git_index_entry **entry_out, git_index *index, const char *rel_path, int stage)
 {
-	git_index_entry *entry;
-	char full_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_index_entry *entry = NULL;
 	struct stat st;
 	git_oid oid;
 	int error;
-	const char *workdir;
 
 	if (INDEX_OWNER(index) == NULL)
 		return git__throw(GIT_EBAREINDEX,
 			"Failed to initialize entry. Repository is bare");
 
-	workdir = git_repository_workdir(INDEX_OWNER(index));
-	if (workdir == NULL)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EBAREINDEX,
-			"Failed to initialize entry. Cannot resolved workdir");
-
-	git_path_join(full_path, workdir, rel_path);
-
-	if (p_lstat(full_path, &st) < 0)
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND,
-			"Failed to initialize entry. '%s' cannot be opened", full_path);
-
 	if (stage < 0 || stage > 3)
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
 			"Failed to initialize entry. Invalid stage %i", stage);
 
+	/* There is no need to validate the rel_path here, since it will be
+	 * immediately validated by the call to git_blob_create_fromfile.
+	 */
+
 	/* write the blob to disk and get the oid */
 	if ((error = git_blob_create_fromfile(&oid, INDEX_OWNER(index), rel_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize index entry");
 
-	entry = git__malloc(sizeof(git_index_entry));
+	entry = git__calloc(1, sizeof(git_index_entry));
 	if (!entry)
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
-	memset(entry, 0x0, sizeof(git_index_entry));
 
 	entry->ctime.seconds = (git_time_t)st.st_ctime;
 	entry->mtime.seconds = (git_time_t)st.st_mtime;
diff --git a/src/indexer.c b/src/indexer.c
index a69ab850c..8fdf89d9d 100644
--- a/src/indexer.c
+++ b/src/indexer.c
@@ -151,28 +151,35 @@ cleanup:
 	return error;
 }
 
-static void index_path(char *path, git_indexer *idx)
+static int index_path(git_buf *path, git_indexer *idx)
 {
-	char *ptr;
 	const char prefix[] = "pack-", suffix[] = ".idx";
+	size_t slash = (size_t)path->size;
 
-	ptr = strrchr(path, '/') + 1;
+	/* search backwards for '/' */
+	while (slash > 0 && path->ptr[slash - 1] != '/')
+		slash--;
 
-	memcpy(ptr, prefix, strlen(prefix));
-	ptr += strlen(prefix);
-	git_oid_fmt(ptr, &idx->hash);
-	ptr += GIT_OID_HEXSZ;
-	memcpy(ptr, suffix, strlen(suffix) + 1);
+	if (git_buf_grow(path, slash + 1 + strlen(prefix) +
+					 GIT_OID_HEXSZ + strlen(suffix) + 1) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+
+	git_buf_truncate(path, slash + 1);
+	git_buf_puts(path, prefix);
+	git_oid_fmt(path->ptr + path->size, &idx->hash);
+	path->size += GIT_OID_HEXSZ;
+	git_buf_puts(path, suffix);
+
+	return git_buf_lasterror(path);
 }
 
 int git_indexer_write(git_indexer *idx)
 {
 	git_mwindow *w = NULL;
 	int error;
-	size_t namelen;
 	unsigned int i, long_offsets = 0, left;
 	struct git_pack_idx_header hdr;
-	char filename[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf filename = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	struct entry *entry;
 	void *packfile_hash;
 	git_oid file_hash;
@@ -180,16 +187,23 @@ int git_indexer_write(git_indexer *idx)
 
 	git_vector_sort(&idx->objects);
 
-	namelen = strlen(idx->pack->pack_name);
-	memcpy(filename, idx->pack->pack_name, namelen);
-	memcpy(filename + namelen - strlen("pack"), "idx", strlen("idx") + 1);
+	git_buf_sets(&filename, idx->pack->pack_name);
+	git_buf_truncate(&filename, filename.size - strlen("pack"));
+	git_buf_puts(&filename, "idx");
 
-	error = git_filebuf_open(&idx->file, filename, GIT_FILEBUF_HASH_CONTENTS);
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(&filename)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&idx->file, filename.ptr, GIT_FILEBUF_HASH_CONTENTS);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* Write out the header */
 	hdr.idx_signature = htonl(PACK_IDX_SIGNATURE);
 	hdr.idx_version = htonl(2);
 	error = git_filebuf_write(&idx->file, &hdr, sizeof(hdr));
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* Write out the fanout table */
 	for (i = 0; i < 256; ++i) {
@@ -270,14 +284,18 @@ int git_indexer_write(git_indexer *idx)
 		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* Figure out what the final name should be */
-	index_path(filename, idx);
+	error = index_path(&filename, idx);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
 	/* Commit file */
-	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&idx->file, filename, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&idx->file, filename.ptr, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
 
 cleanup:
 	git_mwindow_free_all(&idx->pack->mwf);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&idx->file);
+	git_buf_free(&filename);
 
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/odb.c b/src/odb.c
index d31f93f73..b52f87078 100644
--- a/src/odb.c
+++ b/src/odb.c
@@ -344,40 +344,47 @@ static int add_default_backends(git_odb *db, const char *objects_dir, int as_alt
 
 static int load_alternates(git_odb *odb, const char *objects_dir)
 {
-	char alternates_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	char *buffer, *alternate;
-
+	git_buf alternates_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	char *buffer;
 	git_fbuffer alternates_buf = GIT_FBUFFER_INIT;
+	const char *alternate;
 	int error;
 
-	git_path_join(alternates_path, objects_dir, GIT_ALTERNATES_FILE);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&alternates_path, objects_dir, GIT_ALTERNATES_FILE);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
-	if (git_futils_exists(alternates_path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_exists(alternates_path.ptr) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_free(&alternates_path);
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	}
 
-	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&alternates_buf, alternates_path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&alternates_buf, alternates_path.ptr) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_free(&alternates_path);
 		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to add backend. Can't read alternates");
+	}
 
 	buffer = (char *)alternates_buf.data;
 	error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	/* add each alternate as a new backend; one alternate per line */
 	while ((alternate = git__strtok(&buffer, "\r\n")) != NULL) {
-		char full_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-
 		if (*alternate == '\0' || *alternate == '#')
 			continue;
 
 		/* relative path: build based on the current `objects` folder */
 		if (*alternate == '.') {
-			git_path_join(full_path, objects_dir, alternate);
-			alternate = full_path;
+			error = git_buf_joinpath(&alternates_path, objects_dir, alternate);
+			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+				break;
+			alternate = git_buf_cstr(&alternates_path);
 		}
 
 		if ((error = add_default_backends(odb, alternate, 1)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			break;
 	}
 
+	git_buf_free(&alternates_path);
 	git_futils_freebuffer(&alternates_buf);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to load alternates");
diff --git a/src/odb_loose.c b/src/odb_loose.c
index f1789e071..f177af86c 100644
--- a/src/odb_loose.c
+++ b/src/odb_loose.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ typedef struct { /* object header data */
 typedef struct {
 	git_odb_stream stream;
 	git_filebuf fbuf;
-	int finished;
 } loose_writestream;
 
 typedef struct loose_backend {
@@ -51,31 +50,28 @@ typedef struct {
 } loose_locate_object_state;
 
 
-
 /***********************************************************
  *
  * MISCELANEOUS HELPER FUNCTIONS
  *
  ***********************************************************/
 
-static size_t object_file_name(char *name, size_t n, char *dir, const git_oid *id)
+static int object_file_name(git_buf *name, const char *dir, const git_oid *id)
 {
-	size_t len = strlen(dir);
+	git_buf_sets(name, dir);
 
-	/* check length: 43 = 40 hex sha1 chars + 2 * '/' + '\0' */
-	if (len+43 > n)
-		return len+43;
+	/* expand length for 40 hex sha1 chars + 2 * '/' + '\0' */
+	if (git_buf_grow(name, name->size + GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 3) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	/* the object dir: eg $GIT_DIR/objects */
-	strcpy(name, dir);
-	if (name[len-1] != '/')
-		name[len++] = '/';
+	git_path_to_dir(name);
 
 	/* loose object filename: aa/aaa... (41 bytes) */
-	git_oid_pathfmt(&name[len], id);
-	name[len+41] = '\0';
+	git_oid_pathfmt(name->ptr + name->size, id);
+	name->size += GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 1;
+	name->ptr[name->size] = '\0';
 
-	return 0;
+	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 
@@ -384,18 +380,21 @@ static int inflate_disk_obj(git_rawobj *out, git_fbuffer *obj)
  *
  ***********************************************************/
 
-static int read_loose(git_rawobj *out, const char *loc)
+static int read_loose(git_rawobj *out, git_buf *loc)
 {
 	int error;
 	git_fbuffer obj = GIT_FBUFFER_INIT;
 
 	assert(out && loc);
 
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(loc)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
+
 	out->data = NULL;
 	out->len = 0;
 	out->type = GIT_OBJ_BAD;
 
-	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&obj, loc) < 0)
+	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&obj, loc->ptr) < 0)
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose object. File not found");
 
 	error = inflate_disk_obj(out, &obj);
@@ -404,7 +403,7 @@ static int read_loose(git_rawobj *out, const char *loc)
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose object");
 }
 
-static int read_header_loose(git_rawobj *out, const char *loc)
+static int read_header_loose(git_rawobj *out, git_buf *loc)
 {
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS, z_return = Z_ERRNO, read_bytes;
 	git_file fd;
@@ -414,9 +413,12 @@ static int read_header_loose(git_rawobj *out, const char *loc)
 
 	assert(out && loc);
 
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(loc)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
+
 	out->data = NULL;
 
-	if ((fd = p_open(loc, O_RDONLY)) < 0)
+	if ((fd = p_open(loc->ptr, O_RDONLY)) < 0)
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose object header. File not found");
 
 	init_stream(&zs, inflated_buffer, sizeof(inflated_buffer));
@@ -456,33 +458,39 @@ cleanup:
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static int locate_object(char *object_location, loose_backend *backend, const git_oid *oid)
+static int locate_object(
+	git_buf *object_location,
+	loose_backend *backend,
+	const git_oid *oid)
 {
-	object_file_name(object_location, GIT_PATH_MAX, backend->objects_dir, oid);
-	return git_futils_exists(object_location);
+	int error = object_file_name(object_location, backend->objects_dir, oid);
+
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		error = git_futils_exists(git_buf_cstr(object_location));
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 /* Explore an entry of a directory and see if it matches a short oid */
-static int fn_locate_object_short_oid(void *state, char *pathbuf) {
+static int fn_locate_object_short_oid(void *state, git_buf *pathbuf) {
 	loose_locate_object_state *sstate = (loose_locate_object_state *)state;
 
-	size_t pathbuf_len = strlen(pathbuf);
-	if (pathbuf_len - sstate->dir_len != GIT_OID_HEXSZ - 2) {
+	if (pathbuf->size - sstate->dir_len != GIT_OID_HEXSZ - 2) {
 		/* Entry cannot be an object. Continue to next entry */
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
-	if (!git_futils_exists(pathbuf) && git_futils_isdir(pathbuf)) {
+	if (!git_futils_exists(pathbuf->ptr) && git_futils_isdir(pathbuf->ptr)) {
 		/* We are already in the directory matching the 2 first hex characters,
 		 * compare the first ncmp characters of the oids */
 		if (!memcmp(sstate->short_oid + 2,
-			(unsigned char *)pathbuf + sstate->dir_len,
+			(unsigned char *)pathbuf->ptr + sstate->dir_len,
 			sstate->short_oid_len - 2)) {
 
 			if (!sstate->found) {
 				sstate->res_oid[0] = sstate->short_oid[0];
 				sstate->res_oid[1] = sstate->short_oid[1];
-				memcpy(sstate->res_oid+2, pathbuf+sstate->dir_len, GIT_OID_HEXSZ-2);
+				memcpy(sstate->res_oid+2, pathbuf->ptr+sstate->dir_len, GIT_OID_HEXSZ-2);
 			}
 			sstate->found++;
 		}
@@ -494,39 +502,50 @@ static int fn_locate_object_short_oid(void *state, char *pathbuf) {
 }
 
 /* Locate an object matching a given short oid */
-static int locate_object_short_oid(char *object_location, git_oid *res_oid, loose_backend *backend, const git_oid *short_oid, unsigned int len)
+static int locate_object_short_oid(
+	git_buf *object_location,
+	git_oid *res_oid,
+	loose_backend *backend,
+	const git_oid *short_oid,
+	unsigned int len)
 {
 	char *objects_dir = backend->objects_dir;
 	size_t dir_len = strlen(objects_dir);
 	loose_locate_object_state state;
 	int error;
 
-	if (dir_len+43 > GIT_PATH_MAX)
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to locate object from short oid. Object path too long");
+	/* prealloc memory for OBJ_DIR/xx/ */
+	if ((error = git_buf_grow(object_location, dir_len + 5)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to locate object from short oid");
 
-	strcpy(object_location, objects_dir);
+	git_buf_sets(object_location, objects_dir);
+	git_path_to_dir(object_location);
 
-	/* Add a separator if not already there */
-	if (object_location[dir_len-1] != '/')
-		object_location[dir_len++] = '/';
+	/* save adjusted position at end of dir so it can be restored later */
+	dir_len = object_location->size;
 
 	/* Convert raw oid to hex formatted oid */
 	git_oid_fmt((char *)state.short_oid, short_oid);
+
 	/* Explore OBJ_DIR/xx/ where xx is the beginning of hex formatted short oid */
-	sprintf(object_location+dir_len, "%.2s/", state.short_oid);
+	error = git_buf_printf(object_location, "%.2s/", state.short_oid);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to locate object from short oid");
 
 	/* Check that directory exists */
-	if (git_futils_exists(object_location) || git_futils_isdir(object_location))
+	if (git_futils_exists(object_location->ptr) ||
+		git_futils_isdir(object_location->ptr))
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to locate object from short oid. Object not found");
 
-	state.dir_len = dir_len+3;
+	state.dir_len = object_location->size;
 	state.short_oid_len = len;
 	state.found = 0;
+
 	/* Explore directory to find a unique object matching short_oid */
-	error = git_futils_direach(object_location, GIT_PATH_MAX, fn_locate_object_short_oid, &state);
-	if (error) {
+	error = git_futils_direach(object_location, fn_locate_object_short_oid, &state);
+	if (error)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to locate object from short oid");
-	}
+
 	if (!state.found) {
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to locate object from short oid. Object not found");
 	}
@@ -538,7 +557,16 @@ static int locate_object_short_oid(char *object_location, git_oid *res_oid, loos
 	}
 
 	/* Update the location according to the oid obtained */
-	git_oid_pathfmt(object_location+dir_len, res_oid);
+
+	git_buf_truncate(object_location, dir_len);
+	error = git_buf_grow(object_location, dir_len + GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 2);
+	if (error)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to locate object from short oid");
+
+	git_oid_pathfmt(object_location->ptr + dir_len, res_oid);
+
+	object_location->size += GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 1;
+	object_location->ptr[object_location->size] = '\0';
 
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
@@ -561,45 +589,49 @@ static int locate_object_short_oid(char *object_location, git_oid *res_oid, loos
 
 static int loose_backend__read_header(size_t *len_p, git_otype *type_p, git_odb_backend *backend, const git_oid *oid)
 {
-	char object_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf object_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_rawobj raw;
-	int error;
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	assert(backend && oid);
 
 	raw.len = 0;
 	raw.type = GIT_OBJ_BAD;
 
-	if (locate_object(object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid) < 0)
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose backend header. Object not found");
+	if (locate_object(&object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid) < 0)
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose backend header. Object not found");
+	else if ((error = read_header_loose(&raw, &object_path)) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		*len_p = raw.len;
+		*type_p = raw.type;
+	}
 
-	if ((error = read_header_loose(&raw, object_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return error;
+	git_buf_free(&object_path);
 
-	*len_p = raw.len;
-	*type_p = raw.type;
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__read(void **buffer_p, size_t *len_p, git_otype *type_p, git_odb_backend *backend, const git_oid *oid)
 {
-	char object_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf object_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_rawobj raw;
-	int error;
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	assert(backend && oid);
 
-	if (locate_object(object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid) < 0)
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose backend. Object not found");
-
-	if ((error = read_loose(&raw, object_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
+	if (locate_object(&object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid) < 0)
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to read loose backend. Object not found");
+	else if ((error = read_loose(&raw, &object_path)) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		*buffer_p = raw.data;
+		*len_p = raw.len;
+		*type_p = raw.type;
+	}
+	else {
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
+	}
 
-	*buffer_p = raw.data;
-	*len_p = raw.len;
-	*type_p = raw.type;
+	git_buf_free(&object_path);
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__read_prefix(
@@ -611,45 +643,52 @@ static int loose_backend__read_prefix(
 	const git_oid *short_oid,
 	unsigned int len)
 {
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+
 	if (len < GIT_OID_MINPREFIXLEN)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EAMBIGUOUSOIDPREFIX, "Failed to read loose backend. Prefix length is lower than %d.", GIT_OID_MINPREFIXLEN);
+		return git__throw(GIT_EAMBIGUOUSOIDPREFIX, "Failed to read loose "
+			"backend. Prefix length is lower than %d.", GIT_OID_MINPREFIXLEN);
 
 	if (len >= GIT_OID_HEXSZ) {
 		/* We can fall back to regular read method */
-		int error = loose_backend__read(buffer_p, len_p, type_p, backend, short_oid);
+		error = loose_backend__read(buffer_p, len_p, type_p, backend, short_oid);
 		if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
 			git_oid_cpy(out_oid, short_oid);
-
-		return error;
 	} else {
-		char object_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+		git_buf object_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 		git_rawobj raw;
-		int error;
 
 		assert(backend && short_oid);
 
-		if ((error = locate_object_short_oid(object_path, out_oid, (loose_backend *)backend, short_oid, len)) < 0) {
-			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
+		if ((error = locate_object_short_oid(&object_path, out_oid,
+		    (loose_backend *)backend, short_oid, len)) < 0)
+			git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
+		else if ((error = read_loose(&raw, &object_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
+		else {
+			*buffer_p = raw.data;
+			*len_p = raw.len;
+			*type_p = raw.type;
 		}
 
-		if ((error = read_loose(&raw, object_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read loose backend");
-
-		*buffer_p = raw.data;
-		*len_p = raw.len;
-		*type_p = raw.type;
+		git_buf_free(&object_path);
 	}
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__exists(git_odb_backend *backend, const git_oid *oid)
 {
-	char object_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf object_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	int error;
 
 	assert(backend && oid);
 
-	return locate_object(object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid) == GIT_SUCCESS;
+	error = locate_object(&object_path, (loose_backend *)backend, oid);
+
+	git_buf_free(&object_path);
+
+	return (error == GIT_SUCCESS);
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__stream_fwrite(git_oid *oid, git_odb_stream *_stream)
@@ -658,30 +697,39 @@ static int loose_backend__stream_fwrite(git_oid *oid, git_odb_stream *_stream)
 	loose_backend *backend = (loose_backend *)_stream->backend;
 
 	int error;
-	char final_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf final_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	if ((error = git_filebuf_hash(oid, &stream->fbuf)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose backend");
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	if (object_file_name(final_path, sizeof(final_path), backend->objects_dir, oid))
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+	if ((error = object_file_name(&final_path, backend->objects_dir, oid)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose backend");
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(&final_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	stream->finished = 1;
+	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path.ptr, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/*
 	 * Don't try to add an existing object to the repository. This
 	 * is what git does and allows us to sidestep the fact that
 	 * we're not allowed to overwrite a read-only file on Windows.
 	 */
-	if (git_futils_exists(final_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+	if (git_futils_exists(final_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&stream->fbuf);
-		return GIT_SUCCESS;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
-	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&stream->fbuf, final_path, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&stream->fbuf, final_path.ptr, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+
+cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&final_path);
+
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose backend");
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__stream_write(git_odb_stream *_stream, const char *data, size_t len)
@@ -694,9 +742,7 @@ static void loose_backend__stream_free(git_odb_stream *_stream)
 {
 	loose_writestream *stream = (loose_writestream *)_stream;
 
-	if (!stream->finished)
-		git_filebuf_cleanup(&stream->fbuf);
-
+	git_filebuf_cleanup(&stream->fbuf);
 	git__free(stream);
 }
 
@@ -718,7 +764,8 @@ static int loose_backend__stream(git_odb_stream **stream_out, git_odb_backend *_
 	loose_backend *backend;
 	loose_writestream *stream;
 
-	char hdr[64], tmp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	char hdr[64];
+	git_buf tmp_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	int hdrlen;
 	int error;
 
@@ -742,33 +789,38 @@ static int loose_backend__stream(git_odb_stream **stream_out, git_odb_backend *_
 	stream->stream.free = &loose_backend__stream_free;
 	stream->stream.mode = GIT_STREAM_WRONLY;
 
-	git_path_join(tmp_path, backend->objects_dir, "tmp_object");
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&tmp_path, backend->objects_dir, "tmp_object");
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	error = git_filebuf_open(&stream->fbuf, tmp_path,
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&stream->fbuf, tmp_path.ptr,
 		GIT_FILEBUF_HASH_CONTENTS |
 		GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY |
 		(backend->object_zlib_level << GIT_FILEBUF_DEFLATE_SHIFT));
-
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git__free(stream);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create loose backend stream");
-	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	error = stream->stream.write((git_odb_stream *)stream, hdr, hdrlen);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_filebuf_cleanup(&stream->fbuf);
-		git__free(stream);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create loose backend stream");
-	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	git_buf_free(&tmp_path);
 
 	*stream_out = (git_odb_stream *)stream;
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+
+cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&tmp_path);
+	git_filebuf_cleanup(&stream->fbuf);
+	git__free(stream);
+	return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create loose backend stream");
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__write(git_oid *oid, git_odb_backend *_backend, const void *data, size_t len, git_otype type)
 {
 	int error, header_len;
-	char final_path[GIT_PATH_MAX], header[64];
+	git_buf final_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	char header[64];
 	git_filebuf fbuf = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
 	loose_backend *backend;
 
@@ -781,30 +833,35 @@ static int loose_backend__write(git_oid *oid, git_odb_backend *_backend, const v
 			return GIT_EOBJCORRUPTED;
 	}
 
-	git_path_join(final_path, backend->objects_dir, "tmp_object");
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&final_path, backend->objects_dir, "tmp_object");
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	error = git_filebuf_open(&fbuf, final_path,
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&fbuf, final_path.ptr,
 		GIT_FILEBUF_HASH_CONTENTS |
 		GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY |
 		(backend->object_zlib_level << GIT_FILEBUF_DEFLATE_SHIFT));
-
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return error;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	git_filebuf_write(&fbuf, header, header_len);
 	git_filebuf_write(&fbuf, data, len);
 	git_filebuf_hash(oid, &fbuf);
 
-	if ((error = object_file_name(final_path, sizeof(final_path), backend->objects_dir, oid)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	error = object_file_name(&final_path, backend->objects_dir, oid);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path.ptr, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&fbuf, final_path, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&fbuf, final_path.ptr, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
 
 cleanup:
-	git_filebuf_cleanup(&fbuf);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git_filebuf_cleanup(&fbuf);
+	git_buf_free(&final_path);
 	return error;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/odb_pack.c b/src/odb_pack.c
index 800e7b0da..757d6277e 100644
--- a/src/odb_pack.c
+++ b/src/odb_pack.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ static int pack_window_contains(git_mwindow *win, off_t offset);
 
 static int packfile_sort__cb(const void *a_, const void *b_);
 
-static int packfile_load__cb(void *_data, char *path);
+static int packfile_load__cb(void *_data, git_buf *path);
 static int packfile_refresh_all(struct pack_backend *backend);
 
 static int pack_entry_find(struct git_pack_entry *e,
@@ -207,23 +207,23 @@ static int packfile_sort__cb(const void *a_, const void *b_)
 
 
 
-static int packfile_load__cb(void *_data, char *path)
+static int packfile_load__cb(void *_data, git_buf *path)
 {
 	struct pack_backend *backend = (struct pack_backend *)_data;
 	struct git_pack_file *pack;
 	int error;
 	size_t i;
 
-	if (git__suffixcmp(path, ".idx") != 0)
+	if (git__suffixcmp(path->ptr, ".idx") != 0)
 		return GIT_SUCCESS; /* not an index */
 
 	for (i = 0; i < backend->packs.length; ++i) {
 		struct git_pack_file *p = git_vector_get(&backend->packs, i);
-		if (memcmp(p->pack_name, path, strlen(path) - strlen(".idx")) == 0)
+		if (memcmp(p->pack_name, path->ptr, path->size - strlen(".idx")) == 0)
 			return GIT_SUCCESS;
 	}
 
-	error = git_packfile_check(&pack, path);
+	error = git_packfile_check(&pack, path->ptr);
 	if (error == GIT_ENOTFOUND) {
 		/* ignore missing .pack file as git does */
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
@@ -250,11 +250,13 @@ static int packfile_refresh_all(struct pack_backend *backend)
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Failed to refresh packfiles. Backend not found");
 
 	if (st.st_mtime != backend->pack_folder_mtime) {
-		char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-		strcpy(path, backend->pack_folder);
+		git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+		git_buf_sets(&path, backend->pack_folder);
 
 		/* reload all packs */
-		error = git_futils_direach(path, GIT_PATH_MAX, packfile_load__cb, (void *)backend);
+		error = git_futils_direach(&path, packfile_load__cb, (void *)backend);
+
+		git_buf_free(&path);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to refresh packfiles");
 
@@ -451,27 +453,25 @@ static void pack_backend__free(git_odb_backend *_backend)
 
 int git_odb_backend_pack(git_odb_backend **backend_out, const char *objects_dir)
 {
-	struct pack_backend *backend;
-	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	struct pack_backend *backend = NULL;
+	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	backend = git__calloc(1, sizeof(struct pack_backend));
 	if (backend == NULL)
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	if (git_vector_init(&backend->packs, 8, packfile_sort__cb) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git__free(backend);
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
-	}
+	error = git_vector_init(&backend->packs, 8, packfile_sort__cb);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	git_path_join(path, objects_dir, "pack");
-	if (git_futils_isdir(path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		backend->pack_folder = git__strdup(path);
-		backend->pack_folder_mtime = 0;
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&path, objects_dir, "pack");
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-		if (backend->pack_folder == NULL) {
-			git__free(backend);
-			return GIT_ENOMEM;
-		}
+	if (git_futils_isdir(git_buf_cstr(&path)) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		backend->pack_folder = git_buf_detach(&path);
+		backend->pack_folder_mtime = 0;
 	}
 
 	backend->parent.read = &pack_backend__read;
@@ -481,5 +481,11 @@ int git_odb_backend_pack(git_odb_backend **backend_out, const char *objects_dir)
 	backend->parent.free = &pack_backend__free;
 
 	*backend_out = (git_odb_backend *)backend;
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+
+cleanup:
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__free(backend);
+	git_buf_free(&path);
+
+	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/path.c b/src/path.c
index a8851dfdc..e4b49f35d 100644
--- a/src/path.c
+++ b/src/path.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  * Based on the Android implementation, BSD licensed.
  * Check http://android.git.kernel.org/
  */
-int git_path_basename_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path)
+int git_path_basename_r(git_buf *buffer, const char *path)
 {
 	const char *endp, *startp;
 	int len, result;
@@ -49,18 +49,13 @@ int git_path_basename_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path)
 
 Exit:
 	result = len;
-	if (buffer == NULL) {
-		return result;
-	}
-	if (len > (int)bufflen-1) {
-		len	= (int)bufflen-1;
-		result = GIT_ENOMEM;
-	}
 
-	if (len >= 0) {
-		memmove(buffer, startp, len);
-		buffer[len] = 0;
+	if (buffer != NULL) {
+		if (git_buf_set(buffer, startp, len) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return git__rethrow(git_buf_lasterror(buffer),
+				"Could not get basename of '%s'", path);
 	}
+
 	return result;
 }
 
@@ -68,7 +63,7 @@ Exit:
  * Based on the Android implementation, BSD licensed.
  * Check http://android.git.kernel.org/
  */
-int git_path_dirname_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path)
+int git_path_dirname_r(git_buf *buffer, const char *path)
 {
 	const char *endp;
 	int result, len;
@@ -114,59 +109,39 @@ int git_path_dirname_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path)
 
 Exit:
 	result = len;
-	if (len+1 > GIT_PATH_MAX) {
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
-	}
-	if (buffer == NULL)
-		return result;
 
-	if (len > (int)bufflen-1) {
-		len	= (int)bufflen-1;
-		result = GIT_ENOMEM;
+	if (buffer != NULL) {
+		if (git_buf_set(buffer, path, len) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return git__rethrow(git_buf_lasterror(buffer),
+				"Could not get dirname of '%s'", path);
 	}
 
-	if (len >= 0) {
-		memmove(buffer, path, len);
-		buffer[len] = 0;
-	}
 	return result;
 }
 
 
 char *git_path_dirname(const char *path)
 {
-	char *dname = NULL;
-	int len;
+	git_buf buf = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	char *dirname;
 
-	len = (path ? strlen(path) : 0) + 2;
-	dname = (char *)git__malloc(len);
-	if (dname == NULL)
-		return NULL;
+	git_path_dirname_r(&buf, path);
+	dirname = git_buf_detach(&buf);
+	git_buf_free(&buf); /* avoid memleak if error occurs */
 
-	if (git_path_dirname_r(dname, len, path) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git__free(dname);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	return dname;
+	return dirname;
 }
 
 char *git_path_basename(const char *path)
 {
-	char *bname = NULL;
-	int len;
-
-	len = (path ? strlen(path) : 0) + 2;
-	bname = (char *)git__malloc(len);
-	if (bname == NULL)
-		return NULL;
+	git_buf buf = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	char *basename;
 
-	if (git_path_basename_r(bname, len, path) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git__free(bname);
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	git_path_basename_r(&buf, path);
+	basename = git_buf_detach(&buf);
+	git_buf_free(&buf); /* avoid memleak if error occurs */
 
-	return bname;
+	return basename;
 }
 
 
@@ -188,39 +163,6 @@ const char *git_path_topdir(const char *path)
 	return &path[i + 1];
 }
 
-void git_path_join_n(char *buffer_out, int count, ...)
-{
-	va_list ap;
-	int i;
-	char *buffer_start = buffer_out;
-
-	va_start(ap, count);
-	for (i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
-		const char *path;
-		int len;
-
-		path = va_arg(ap, const char *);
-
-		assert((i == 0) || path != buffer_start);
-
-		if (i > 0 && *path == '/' && buffer_out > buffer_start && buffer_out[-1] == '/')
-			path++;
-
-		if (!*path)
-			continue;
-
-		len = strlen(path);
-		memmove(buffer_out, path, len);
-		buffer_out = buffer_out + len;
-
-		if (i < count - 1 && buffer_out[-1] != '/')
-			*buffer_out++ = '/';
-	}
-	va_end(ap);
-
-	*buffer_out = '\0';
-}
-
 int git_path_root(const char *path)
 {
 	int offset = 0;
@@ -237,34 +179,61 @@ int git_path_root(const char *path)
 	return -1;	/* Not a real error. Rather a signal than the path is not rooted */
 }
 
-int git_path_prettify(char *path_out, const char *path, const char *base)
+int git_path_prettify(git_buf *path_out, const char *path, const char *base)
 {
-	char *result;
+	char *result = NULL;
+	int   error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+
+	git_buf_clear(path_out);
+
+	/* construct path if needed */
+	if (base != NULL && git_path_root(path) < 0) {
+		if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(path_out, base, path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return error;
+		path = path_out->ptr;
+	}
+
+	/* allow realpath to allocate the buffer */
+	if (path != NULL)
+		result = p_realpath(path, NULL);
 
-	if (base == NULL || git_path_root(path) >= 0) {
-		result = p_realpath(path, path_out);
+	if (result) {
+		error = git_buf_sets(path_out, result);
+		git__free(result);
 	} else {
-		char aux_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-		git_path_join(aux_path, base, path);
-		result = p_realpath(aux_path, path_out);
+		error = GIT_EOSERR;
 	}
 
-	return result ? GIT_SUCCESS : GIT_EOSERR;
+	return error;
 }
 
-int git_path_prettify_dir(char *path_out, const char *path, const char *base)
+int git_path_prettify_dir(git_buf *path_out, const char *path, const char *base)
 {
-	size_t end;
+	int error = git_path_prettify(path_out, path, base);
 
-	if (git_path_prettify(path_out, path, base) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return GIT_EOSERR;
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		error = git_path_to_dir(path_out);
 
-	end = strlen(path_out);
+	return error;
+}
 
-	if (end && path_out[end - 1] != '/') {
-		path_out[end] = '/';
-		path_out[end + 1] = '\0';
-	}
+int git_path_to_dir(git_buf *path)
+{
+	if (path->asize > 0 &&
+		path->size > 0 &&
+		path->ptr[path->size - 1] != '/')
+		git_buf_putc(path, '/');
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_lasterror(path);
 }
+
+void git_path_string_to_dir(char* path, size_t size)
+{
+	size_t end = strlen(path);
+
+	if (end && path[end - 1] != '/' && end < size) {
+		path[end] = '/';
+		path[end + 1] = '\0';
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/src/path.h b/src/path.h
index 51bedeed7..0c8cc349c 100644
--- a/src/path.h
+++ b/src/path.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #define INCLUDE_path_h__
 
 #include "common.h"
+#include "buffer.h"
 
 /*
  * The dirname() function shall take a pointer to a character string
@@ -22,11 +23,13 @@
  * The `git_path_dirname` implementation is thread safe. The returned
  * string must be manually free'd.
  *
- * The `git_path_dirname_r` implementation expects a string allocated
- * by the user with big enough size.
+ * The `git_path_dirname_r` implementation writes the dirname to a `git_buf`
+ * if the buffer pointer is not NULL.
+ * It returns an error code < 0 if there is an allocation error, otherwise
+ * the length of the dirname (which will be > 0).
  */
 extern char *git_path_dirname(const char *path);
-extern int git_path_dirname_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path);
+extern int git_path_dirname_r(git_buf *buffer, const char *path);
 
 /*
  * This function returns the basename of the file, which is the last
@@ -40,32 +43,22 @@ extern int git_path_dirname_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path);
  * The `git_path_basename` implementation is thread safe. The returned
  * string must be manually free'd.
  *
- * The `git_path_basename_r` implementation expects a string allocated
- * by the user with big enough size.
+ * The `git_path_basename_r` implementation writes the basename to a `git_buf`.
+ * It returns an error code < 0 if there is an allocation error, otherwise
+ * the length of the basename (which will be >= 0).
  */
 extern char *git_path_basename(const char *path);
-extern int git_path_basename_r(char *buffer, size_t bufflen, const char *path);
+extern int git_path_basename_r(git_buf *buffer, const char *path);
 
 extern const char *git_path_topdir(const char *path);
 
-/**
- * Join two paths together. Takes care of properly fixing the
- * middle slashes and everything
- *
- * The paths are joined together into buffer_out; this is expected
- * to be an user allocated buffer of `GIT_PATH_MAX` size
- */
-extern void git_path_join_n(char *buffer_out, int npath, ...);
-
-GIT_INLINE(void) git_path_join(char *buffer_out, const char *path_a, const char *path_b)
-{
-	git_path_join_n(buffer_out, 2, path_a, path_b);
-}
+extern int git_path_root(const char *path);
 
-int git_path_root(const char *path);
+extern int git_path_prettify(git_buf *path_out, const char *path, const char *base);
+extern int git_path_prettify_dir(git_buf *path_out, const char *path, const char *base);
 
-int git_path_prettify(char *path_out, const char *path, const char *base);
-int git_path_prettify_dir(char *path_out, const char *path, const char *base);
+extern int git_path_to_dir(git_buf *path);
+extern void git_path_string_to_dir(char* path, size_t size);
 
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
 GIT_INLINE(void) git_path_mkposix(char *path)
diff --git a/src/pkt.c b/src/pkt.c
index 9dfc40255..324265089 100644
--- a/src/pkt.c
+++ b/src/pkt.c
@@ -268,8 +268,7 @@ void git_pkt_free(git_pkt *pkt)
 
 int git_pkt_buffer_flush(git_buf *buf)
 {
-	git_buf_put(buf, pkt_flush_str, strlen(pkt_flush_str));
-	return git_buf_oom(buf) ? GIT_ENOMEM : GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_put(buf, pkt_flush_str, strlen(pkt_flush_str));
 }
 
 int git_pkt_send_flush(int s)
@@ -291,9 +290,7 @@ static int buffer_want_with_caps(git_remote_head *head, git_transport_caps *caps
 	git_buf_grow(buf, buf->size + len);
 
 	git_oid_fmt(oid, &head->oid);
-	git_buf_printf(buf, "%04xwant %s%c%s\n", len, oid, 0, capstr);
-
-	return git_buf_oom(buf) ? GIT_ENOMEM : GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_printf(buf, "%04xwant %s%c%s\n", len, oid, 0, capstr);
 }
 
 static int send_want_with_caps(git_remote_head *head, git_transport_caps *caps, GIT_SOCKET fd)
@@ -401,8 +398,7 @@ int git_pkt_buffer_have(git_oid *oid, git_buf *buf)
 
 	memset(oidhex, 0x0, sizeof(oidhex));
 	git_oid_fmt(oidhex, oid);
-	git_buf_printf(buf, "%s%s\n", pkt_have_prefix, oidhex);
-	return git_buf_oom(buf) ? GIT_ENOMEM : GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_printf(buf, "%s%s\n", pkt_have_prefix, oidhex);
 }
 
 int git_pkt_send_have(git_oid *oid, int fd)
@@ -416,8 +412,7 @@ int git_pkt_send_have(git_oid *oid, int fd)
 
 int git_pkt_buffer_done(git_buf *buf)
 {
-	git_buf_puts(buf, pkt_done_str);
-	return git_buf_oom(buf) ? GIT_ENOMEM : GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_puts(buf, pkt_done_str);
 }
 
 int git_pkt_send_done(int fd)
diff --git a/src/posix.c b/src/posix.c
index 8c19588ee..916aad726 100644
--- a/src/posix.c
+++ b/src/posix.c
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ int p_getcwd(char *buffer_out, size_t size)
 
 	git_path_mkposix(buffer_out);
 
-	git_path_join(buffer_out, buffer_out, "");	//Ensure the path ends with a trailing slash
+	git_path_string_to_dir(buffer_out, size);	//Ensure the path ends with a trailing slash
+
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/reflog.c b/src/reflog.c
index fbaaaea67..84ce52d91 100644
--- a/src/reflog.c
+++ b/src/reflog.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static int reflog_write(const char *log_path, const char *oid_old,
 	git_buf_puts(&log, oid_new);
 
 	git_signature__writebuf(&log, " ", committer);
-	log.size--; /* drop LF */
+	git_buf_truncate(&log, log.size - 1); /* drop LF */
 
 	if (msg) {
 		if (strchr(msg, '\n')) {
@@ -65,15 +65,21 @@ static int reflog_write(const char *log_path, const char *oid_old,
 
 	git_buf_putc(&log, '\n');
 
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(&log)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_free(&log);
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write reflog. Memory allocation failure");
+	}
+
 	if ((error = git_filebuf_open(&fbuf, log_path, GIT_FILEBUF_APPEND)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		git_buf_free(&log);
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to write reflog. Cannot open reflog `%s`", log_path);
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write reflog. Cannot open reflog `%s`", log_path);
 	}
 
 	git_filebuf_write(&fbuf, log.ptr, log.size);
 	error = git_filebuf_commit(&fbuf, GIT_REFLOG_FILE_MODE);
 
 	git_buf_free(&log);
+
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write reflog");
 }
 
@@ -176,7 +182,7 @@ void git_reflog_free(git_reflog *reflog)
 int git_reflog_read(git_reflog **reflog, git_reference *ref)
 {
 	int error;
-	char log_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf log_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_fbuffer log_file = GIT_FBUFFER_INIT;
 	git_reflog *log = NULL;
 
@@ -185,23 +191,28 @@ int git_reflog_read(git_reflog **reflog, git_reference *ref)
 	if ((error = reflog_init(&log, ref)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read reflog. Cannot init reflog");
 
-	git_path_join_n(log_path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository, GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
+	error = git_buf_join_n(&log_path, '/', 3,
+		ref->owner->path_repository, GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	if ((error = git_futils_readbuffer(&log_file, log_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_reflog_free(log);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read reflog. Cannot read file `%s`", log_path);
+	if ((error = git_futils_readbuffer(&log_file, log_path.ptr)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read reflog. Cannot read file `%s`", log_path.ptr);
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
-	error = reflog_parse(log, log_file.data, log_file.len);
-
-	git_futils_freebuffer(&log_file);
-
-	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
-		*reflog = log;
+	if ((error = reflog_parse(log, log_file.data, log_file.len)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read reflog");
 	else
+		*reflog = log;
+
+cleanup:
+	if (error != GIT_SUCCESS && log != NULL)
 		git_reflog_free(log);
+	git_futils_freebuffer(&log_file);
+	git_buf_free(&log_path);
 
-	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to read reflog");
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_reflog_write(git_reference *ref, const git_oid *oid_old,
@@ -210,7 +221,7 @@ int git_reflog_write(git_reference *ref, const git_oid *oid_old,
 	int error;
 	char old[GIT_OID_HEXSZ+1];
 	char new[GIT_OID_HEXSZ+1];
-	char log_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf log_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_reference *r;
 	const git_oid *oid;
 
@@ -220,65 +231,83 @@ int git_reflog_write(git_reference *ref, const git_oid *oid_old,
 
 	oid = git_reference_oid(r);
 	if (oid == NULL) {
-		git_reference_free(r);
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
 			"Failed to write reflog. Cannot resolve reference `%s`", r->name);
+		git_reference_free(r);
+		return error;
 	}
 
+	git_reference_free(r);
+
 	git_oid_to_string(new, GIT_OID_HEXSZ+1, oid);
 
-	git_path_join_n(log_path, 3,
+	error = git_buf_join_n(&log_path, '/', 3,
 		ref->owner->path_repository, GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	git_reference_free(r);
-
-	if (git_futils_exists(log_path)) {
-		error = git_futils_mkpath2file(log_path, GIT_REFLOG_DIR_MODE);
+	if (git_futils_exists(log_path.ptr)) {
+		error = git_futils_mkpath2file(log_path.ptr, GIT_REFLOG_DIR_MODE);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__rethrow(error,
+			git__rethrow(error,
 				"Failed to write reflog. Cannot create reflog directory");
-
-	} else if (git_futils_isfile(log_path)) {
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
-			"Failed to write reflog. `%s` is directory", log_path);
-
+	} else if (git_futils_isfile(log_path.ptr)) {
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
+			"Failed to write reflog. `%s` is directory", log_path.ptr);
 	} else if (oid_old == NULL) {
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
 			"Failed to write reflog. Old OID cannot be NULL for existing reference");
 	}
 
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
 	if (oid_old)
-		git_oid_to_string(old, GIT_OID_HEXSZ+1, oid_old);
+		git_oid_to_string(old, sizeof(old), oid_old);
 	else
-		p_snprintf(old, GIT_OID_HEXSZ+1, "%0*d", GIT_OID_HEXSZ, 0);
+		p_snprintf(old, sizeof(old), "%0*d", GIT_OID_HEXSZ, 0);
+
+	error = reflog_write(log_path.ptr, old, new, committer, msg);
 
-	return reflog_write(log_path, old, new, committer, msg);
+cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&log_path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_reflog_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name)
 {
-	char old_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	char new_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error;
+	git_buf old_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	git_buf new_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+
+	if (git_buf_join_n(&old_path, '/', 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
+					   GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name) &&
+		git_buf_join_n(&new_path, '/', 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
+					   GIT_REFLOG_DIR, new_name))
+		error = p_rename(git_buf_cstr(&old_path), git_buf_cstr(&new_path));
+	else
+		error = GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	git_path_join_n(old_path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
-			GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
-	git_path_join_n(new_path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
-			GIT_REFLOG_DIR, new_name);
+	git_buf_free(&old_path);
+	git_buf_free(&new_path);
 
-	return p_rename(old_path, new_path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_reflog_delete(git_reference *ref)
 {
-	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+
+	error = git_buf_join_n(&path, '/', 3,
+		ref->owner->path_repository, GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
 
-	git_path_join_n(path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
-			GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS && git_futils_exists(path.ptr) == 0)
+		error = p_unlink(path.ptr);
 
-	if (git_futils_exists(path))
-		return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf_free(&path);
 
-	return p_unlink(path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 unsigned int git_reflog_entrycount(git_reflog *reflog)
diff --git a/src/refs.c b/src/refs.c
index 8931d5bac..8c3f700ad 100644
--- a/src/refs.c
+++ b/src/refs.c
@@ -88,9 +88,12 @@ void git_reference_free(git_reference *reference)
 		return;
 
 	git__free(reference->name);
+	reference->name = NULL;
 
-	if (reference->flags & GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC)
+	if (reference->flags & GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC) {
 		git__free(reference->target.symbolic);
+		reference->target.symbolic = NULL;
+	}
 
 	git__free(reference);
 }
@@ -123,14 +126,18 @@ static int reference_create(
 
 static int reference_read(git_fbuffer *file_content, time_t *mtime, const char *repo_path, const char *ref_name, int *updated)
 {
-	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	int     error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	assert(file_content && repo_path && ref_name);
 
 	/* Determine the full path of the file */
-	git_path_join(path, repo_path, ref_name);
+	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(&path, repo_path, ref_name)) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		error = git_futils_readbuffer_updated(file_content, path.ptr, mtime, updated);
+
+	git_buf_free(&path);
 
-	return git_futils_readbuffer_updated(file_content, path, mtime, updated);
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int loose_parse_symbolic(git_reference *ref, git_fbuffer *file_content)
@@ -195,14 +202,14 @@ static int loose_parse_oid(git_oid *oid, git_fbuffer *file_content)
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static git_rtype loose_guess_rtype(const char *full_path)
+static git_rtype loose_guess_rtype(const git_buf *full_path)
 {
 	git_fbuffer ref_file = GIT_FBUFFER_INIT;
 	git_rtype type;
 
 	type = GIT_REF_INVALID;
 
-	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&ref_file, full_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&ref_file, full_path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		if (git__prefixcmp((const char *)(ref_file.data), GIT_SYMREF) == 0)
 			type = GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC;
 		else
@@ -287,14 +294,17 @@ cleanup:
 static int loose_write(git_reference *ref)
 {
 	git_filebuf file = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
-	char ref_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf ref_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	int error;
 	struct stat st;
 
-	git_path_join(ref_path, ref->owner->path_repository, ref->name);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&ref_path, ref->owner->path_repository, ref->name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto unlock;
 
-	if ((error = git_filebuf_open(&file, ref_path, GIT_FILEBUF_FORCE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose reference");
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&file, ref_path.ptr, GIT_FILEBUF_FORCE);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto unlock;
 
 	if (ref->flags & GIT_REF_OID) {
 		char oid[GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 1];
@@ -314,12 +324,15 @@ static int loose_write(git_reference *ref)
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
-	if (p_stat(ref_path, &st) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (p_stat(ref_path.ptr, &st) == GIT_SUCCESS)
 		ref->mtime = st.st_mtime;
 
+	git_buf_free(&ref_path);
+
 	return git_filebuf_commit(&file, GIT_REFS_FILE_MODE);
 
 unlock:
+	git_buf_free(&ref_path);
 	git_filebuf_cleanup(&file);
 	return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose reference");
 }
@@ -518,14 +531,13 @@ struct dirent_list_data {
 	void *callback_payload;
 };
 
-static int _dirent_loose_listall(void *_data, char *full_path)
+static int _dirent_loose_listall(void *_data, git_buf *full_path)
 {
 	struct dirent_list_data *data = (struct dirent_list_data *)_data;
-	char *file_path = full_path + data->repo_path_len;
+	const char *file_path = full_path->ptr + data->repo_path_len;
 
-	if (git_futils_isdir(full_path) == GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git_futils_direach(full_path, GIT_PATH_MAX,
-			_dirent_loose_listall, _data);
+	if (git_futils_isdir(full_path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git_futils_direach(full_path, _dirent_loose_listall, _data);
 
 	/* do not add twice a reference that exists already in the packfile */
 	if ((data->list_flags & GIT_REF_PACKED) != 0 &&
@@ -540,20 +552,18 @@ static int _dirent_loose_listall(void *_data, char *full_path)
 	return data->callback(file_path, data->callback_payload);
 }
 
-static int _dirent_loose_load(void *data, char *full_path)
+static int _dirent_loose_load(void *data, git_buf *full_path)
 {
 	git_repository *repository = (git_repository *)data;
 	void *old_ref = NULL;
 	struct packref *ref;
-	char *file_path;
+	const char *file_path;
 	int error;
 
-	if (git_futils_isdir(full_path) == GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git_futils_direach(
-			full_path, GIT_PATH_MAX,
-			_dirent_loose_load, repository);
+	if (git_futils_isdir(full_path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git_futils_direach(full_path, _dirent_loose_load, repository);
 
-	file_path = full_path + strlen(repository->path_repository);
+	file_path = full_path->ptr + strlen(repository->path_repository);
 	error = loose_lookup_to_packfile(&ref, repository, file_path);
 
 	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
@@ -582,21 +592,24 @@ static int _dirent_loose_load(void *data, char *full_path)
  */
 static int packed_loadloose(git_repository *repository)
 {
-	char refs_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf refs_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	/* the packfile must have been previously loaded! */
 	assert(repository->references.packfile);
 
-	git_path_join(refs_path, repository->path_repository, GIT_REFS_DIR);
+	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(&refs_path,
+		repository->path_repository, GIT_REFS_DIR)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
 	/*
 	 * Load all the loose files from disk into the Packfile table.
 	 * This will overwrite any old packed entries with their
 	 * updated loose versions
 	 */
-	return git_futils_direach(
-		refs_path, GIT_PATH_MAX,
-		_dirent_loose_load, repository);
+	error = git_futils_direach(&refs_path, _dirent_loose_load, repository);
+	git_buf_free(&refs_path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -704,20 +717,26 @@ static int packed_find_peel(git_repository *repo, struct packref *ref)
 static int packed_remove_loose(git_repository *repo, git_vector *packing_list)
 {
 	unsigned int i;
-	char full_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf full_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < packing_list->length; ++i) {
 		struct packref *ref = git_vector_get(packing_list, i);
+		int an_error;
 
 		if ((ref->flags & GIT_PACKREF_WAS_LOOSE) == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		git_path_join(full_path, repo->path_repository, ref->name);
+		an_error = git_buf_joinpath(&full_path, repo->path_repository, ref->name);
+
+		if (an_error == GIT_SUCCESS &&
+			git_futils_exists(full_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS &&
+			p_unlink(full_path.ptr) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			an_error = GIT_EOSERR;
 
-		if (git_futils_exists(full_path) == GIT_SUCCESS &&
-			p_unlink(full_path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			error = GIT_EOSERR;
+		/* keep the error if we haven't seen one yet */
+		if (error > an_error)
+			error = an_error;
 
 		/*
 		 * if we fail to remove a single file, this is *not* good,
@@ -727,6 +746,8 @@ static int packed_remove_loose(git_repository *repo, git_vector *packing_list)
 		 */
 	}
 
+	git_buf_free(&full_path);
+
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ?
 		GIT_SUCCESS :
 		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to remove loose packed reference");
@@ -747,9 +768,9 @@ static int packed_write(git_repository *repo)
 {
 	git_filebuf pack_file = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
 	int error;
+	const char *errmsg = "Failed to write packed references file";
 	unsigned int i;
-	char pack_file_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-
+	git_buf pack_file_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_vector packing_list;
 	size_t total_refs;
 
@@ -758,7 +779,7 @@ static int packed_write(git_repository *repo)
 	total_refs = repo->references.packfile->key_count;
 	if ((error =
 		git_vector_init(&packing_list, total_refs, packed_sort)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to init packed refernces list");
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to init packed references list");
 
 	/* Load all the packfile into a vector */
 	{
@@ -775,16 +796,23 @@ static int packed_write(git_repository *repo)
 	git_vector_sort(&packing_list);
 
 	/* Now we can open the file! */
-	git_path_join(pack_file_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_PACKEDREFS_FILE);
-	if ((error = git_filebuf_open(&pack_file, pack_file_path, 0)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write open packed references file");
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&pack_file_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_PACKEDREFS_FILE);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	if ((error = git_filebuf_open(&pack_file, pack_file_path.ptr, 0)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		errmsg = "Failed to open packed references file";
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
 
 	/* Packfiles have a header... apparently
 	 * This is in fact not required, but we might as well print it
 	 * just for kicks */
 	if ((error =
-		git_filebuf_printf(&pack_file, "%s\n", GIT_PACKEDREFS_HEADER)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write packed references file header");
+		 git_filebuf_printf(&pack_file, "%s\n", GIT_PACKEDREFS_HEADER)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		errmsg = "Failed to write packed references file header";
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < packing_list.length; ++i) {
 		struct packref *ref = (struct packref *)git_vector_get(&packing_list, i);
@@ -812,17 +840,19 @@ cleanup:
 
 			error = packed_remove_loose(repo, &packing_list);
 
-			if (p_stat(pack_file_path, &st) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+			if (p_stat(pack_file_path.ptr, &st) == GIT_SUCCESS)
 				repo->references.packfile_time = st.st_mtime;
 		}
 	}
 	else git_filebuf_cleanup(&pack_file);
 
 	git_vector_free(&packing_list);
+	git_buf_free(&pack_file_path);
 
-	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ?
-		GIT_SUCCESS :
-		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write packed references file");
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "%s", errmsg);
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int _reference_available_cb(const char *ref, void *data)
@@ -873,21 +903,25 @@ static int reference_available(
 static int reference_exists(int *exists, git_repository *repo, const char *ref_name)
 {
 	int error;
-	char ref_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf ref_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	error = packed_load(repo);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Cannot resolve if a reference exists");
 
-	git_path_join(ref_path, repo->path_repository, ref_name);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&ref_path, repo->path_repository, ref_name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Cannot resolve if a reference exists");
 
-	if (git_futils_isfile(ref_path) == GIT_SUCCESS ||
-		git_hashtable_lookup(repo->references.packfile, ref_path) != NULL) {
+	if (git_futils_isfile(ref_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS ||
+		git_hashtable_lookup(repo->references.packfile, ref_path.ptr) != NULL) {
 		*exists = 1;
 	} else {
 		*exists = 0;
 	}
 
+	git_buf_free(&ref_path);
+
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -972,12 +1006,15 @@ static int reference_delete(git_reference *ref)
 	/* If the reference is loose, we can just remove the reference
 	 * from the filesystem */
 	} else {
-		char full_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 		git_reference *ref_in_pack;
+		git_buf full_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-		git_path_join(full_path, ref->owner->path_repository, ref->name);
+		error = git_buf_joinpath(&full_path, ref->owner->path_repository, ref->name);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			goto cleanup;
 
-		error = p_unlink(full_path);
+		error = p_unlink(full_path.ptr);
+		git_buf_free(&full_path); /* done with path at this point */
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			goto cleanup;
 
@@ -1261,8 +1298,7 @@ int git_reference_set_target(git_reference *ref, const char *target)
 int git_reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 {
 	int error;
-
-	char aux_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf aux_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	char normalized[GIT_REFNAME_MAX];
 
 	const char *head_target = NULL;
@@ -1309,6 +1345,13 @@ int git_reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 		return git__rethrow(error,
 			"Failed to rename reference. Reference already exists");
 
+	/* Initialize path now so we won't get an allocation failure once
+	 * we actually start removing things.
+	 */
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&aux_path, ref->owner->path_repository, new_name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
 	/*
 	 * Now delete the old ref and remove an possibly existing directory
 	 * named `new_name`. Note that using the internal `reference_delete`
@@ -1318,10 +1361,9 @@ int git_reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 	if ((error = reference_delete(ref)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	git_path_join(aux_path, ref->owner->path_repository, new_name);
-	if (git_futils_exists(aux_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		if (git_futils_isdir(aux_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			if ((error = git_futils_rmdir_r(aux_path, 0)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_exists(aux_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if (git_futils_isdir(aux_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			if ((error = git_futils_rmdir_r(aux_path.ptr, 0)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 				goto rollback;
 		} else goto rollback;
 	}
@@ -1360,9 +1402,12 @@ int git_reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 	/*
 	 * Rename the reflog file.
 	 */
-	git_path_join_n(aux_path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
-			GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
-	if (git_futils_exists(aux_path) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+	error = git_buf_join_n(&aux_path, '/', 3, ref->owner->path_repository,
+						   GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	if (git_futils_exists(aux_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS)
 		error = git_reflog_rename(ref, new_name);
 
 	/*
@@ -1377,6 +1422,7 @@ int git_reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 cleanup:
 	/* We no longer need the newly created reference nor the head */
 	git_reference_free(head);
+	git_buf_free(&aux_path);
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ?
 		GIT_SUCCESS :
 		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to rename reference");
@@ -1395,6 +1441,8 @@ rollback:
 	/* The reference is no longer packed */
 	ref->flags &= ~GIT_REF_PACKED;
 
+	git_buf_free(&aux_path);
+
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ?
 		git__rethrow(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to rename reference. Did rollback") :
 		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to rename reference. Failed to rollback");
@@ -1467,7 +1515,7 @@ int git_reference_foreach(
 {
 	int error;
 	struct dirent_list_data data;
-	char refs_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf refs_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	/* list all the packed references first */
 	if (list_flags & GIT_REF_PACKED) {
@@ -1493,8 +1541,15 @@ int git_reference_foreach(
 	data.callback = callback;
 	data.callback_payload = payload;
 
-	git_path_join(refs_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_REFS_DIR);
-	return git_futils_direach(refs_path, GIT_PATH_MAX, _dirent_loose_listall, &data);
+	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(&refs_path,
+		repo->path_repository, GIT_REFS_DIR)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to alloc space for references");
+
+	error = git_futils_direach(&refs_path, _dirent_loose_listall, &data);
+
+	git_buf_free(&refs_path);
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int cb__reflist_add(const char *ref, void *data)
diff --git a/src/refspec.c b/src/refspec.c
index 62683e7b7..7ce32ba14 100644
--- a/src/refspec.c
+++ b/src/refspec.c
@@ -93,3 +93,21 @@ int git_refspec_transform(char *out, size_t outlen, const git_refspec *spec, con
 
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
+
+int git_refspec_transform_r(git_buf *out, const git_refspec *spec, const char *name)
+{
+	if (git_buf_sets(out, spec->dst) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git_buf_lasterror(out);
+
+	/*
+	 * No '*' at the end means that it's mapped to one specific local
+	 * branch, so no actual transformation is needed.
+	 */
+	if (out->size > 0 && out->ptr[out->size - 1] != '*')
+		return GIT_SUCCESS;
+
+	git_buf_truncate(out, out->size - 1); /* remove trailing '*' */
+	git_buf_puts(out, name);
+
+	return git_buf_lasterror(out);
+}
diff --git a/src/refspec.h b/src/refspec.h
index 7c389719b..cd9f894bf 100644
--- a/src/refspec.h
+++ b/src/refspec.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #define INCLUDE_refspec_h__
 
 #include "git2/refspec.h"
+#include "buffer.h"
 
 struct git_refspec {
 	struct git_refspec *next;
@@ -20,4 +21,15 @@ struct git_refspec {
 
 int git_refspec_parse(struct git_refspec *refspec, const char *str);
 
+/**
+ * Transform a reference to its target following the refspec's rules,
+ * and writes the results into a git_buf.
+ *
+ * @param out where to store the target name
+ * @param spec the refspec
+ * @param name the name of the reference to transform
+ * @return GIT_SUCCESS or error if buffer allocation fails
+ */
+int git_refspec_transform_r(git_buf *out, const git_refspec *spec, const char *name);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/remote.c b/src/remote.c
index eca3f7748..ef42c6e2a 100644
--- a/src/remote.c
+++ b/src/remote.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ int git_remote_update_tips(git_remote *remote)
 {
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	unsigned int i = 0;
-	char refname[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf refname = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_vector *refs = &remote->refs;
 	git_remote_head *head;
 	git_reference *ref;
@@ -271,8 +271,6 @@ int git_remote_update_tips(git_remote *remote)
 
 	assert(remote);
 
-	memset(refname, 0x0, sizeof(refname));
-
 	if (refs->length == 0)
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
 
@@ -289,18 +287,20 @@ int git_remote_update_tips(git_remote *remote)
 	for (; i < refs->length; ++i) {
 		head = refs->contents[i];
 
-		error = git_refspec_transform(refname, sizeof(refname), spec, head->name);
+		error = git_refspec_transform_r(&refname, spec, head->name);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return error;
+			break;
 
-		error = git_reference_create_oid(&ref, remote->repo, refname, &head->oid, 1);
+		error = git_reference_create_oid(&ref, remote->repo, refname.ptr, &head->oid, 1);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return error;
+			break;
 
 		git_reference_free(ref);
 	}
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf_free(&refname);
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_remote_connected(git_remote *remote)
diff --git a/src/repository.c b/src/repository.c
index 0cd4a8123..67afa2ee2 100644
--- a/src/repository.c
+++ b/src/repository.c
@@ -75,21 +75,17 @@ void git_repository_free(git_repository *repo)
  *
  * Open a repository object from its path
  */
-static int quickcheck_repository_dir(const char *repository_path)
+static int quickcheck_repository_dir(git_buf *repository_path)
 {
-	char path_aux[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-
-	/* Ensure HEAD file exists */
-	git_path_join(path_aux, repository_path, GIT_HEAD_FILE);
-	if (git_futils_isfile(path_aux) < 0)
+	/* Check OBJECTS_DIR first, since it will generate the longest path name */
+	if (git_futils_contains_dir(repository_path, GIT_OBJECTS_DIR, 0) < 0)
 		return GIT_ERROR;
 
-	git_path_join(path_aux, repository_path, GIT_OBJECTS_DIR);
-	if (git_futils_isdir(path_aux) < 0)
+	/* Ensure HEAD file exists */
+	if (git_futils_contains_file(repository_path, GIT_HEAD_FILE, 0) < 0)
 		return GIT_ERROR;
 
-	git_path_join(path_aux, repository_path, GIT_REFS_DIR);
-	if (git_futils_isdir(path_aux) < 0)
+	if (git_futils_contains_dir(repository_path, GIT_REFS_DIR, 0) < 0)
 		return GIT_ERROR;
 
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
@@ -135,74 +131,74 @@ static int load_config_data(git_repository *repo)
 
 static int load_workdir(git_repository *repo)
 {
-	if (!repo->is_bare) {
-		char workdir_buf[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error;
+	git_buf workdir_buf = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-		if (git_path_dirname_r(workdir_buf, sizeof(workdir_buf), repo->path_repository) < 0)
-			return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR,
-				"Failed to resolved working directory");
+	if (repo->is_bare)
+		return GIT_SUCCESS;
 
-		git_path_join(workdir_buf, workdir_buf, "");
+	git_path_dirname_r(&workdir_buf, repo->path_repository);
+	git_path_to_dir(&workdir_buf);
 
-		repo->workdir = git__strdup(workdir_buf);
-		if (repo->workdir == NULL)
-			return GIT_ENOMEM;
-	}
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(&workdir_buf)) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		repo->workdir = git_buf_detach(&workdir_buf);
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf_free(&workdir_buf);
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_repository_open(git_repository **repo_out, const char *path)
 {
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
-	char path_buf[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	size_t path_len;
+	git_buf path_buf = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_repository *repo = NULL;
 
-	error = git_path_prettify_dir(path_buf, path, NULL);
+	error = git_path_prettify_dir(&path_buf, path, NULL);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to open repository");
-
-	path_len = strlen(path_buf);
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/**
 	 * Check if the path we've been given is actually the path
 	 * of the working dir, by testing if it contains a `.git`
 	 * folder inside of it.
 	 */
-	git_path_join(path_buf, path_buf, DOT_GIT);
-	if (git_futils_isdir(path_buf) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		path_buf[path_len] = 0;
-	}
+	git_futils_contains_dir(&path_buf, DOT_GIT, 1); /* append on success */
+	/* ignore error, since it just means `path/.git` doesn't exist */
 
-	if (quickcheck_repository_dir(path_buf) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
+	if (quickcheck_repository_dir(&path_buf) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
 			"The given path is not a valid Git repository");
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
 
 	repo = repository_alloc();
-	if (repo == NULL)
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+	if (repo == NULL) {
+		error = GIT_ENOMEM;
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
 
-	repo->path_repository = git__strdup(path_buf);
+	repo->path_repository = git_buf_detach(&path_buf);
 	if (repo->path_repository == NULL) {
-		git_repository_free(repo);
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+		error = GIT_ENOMEM;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	error = load_config_data(repo);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_repository_free(repo);
-		return error;
-	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	error = load_workdir(repo);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_repository_free(repo);
-		return error;
-	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	*repo_out = repo;
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+
+ cleanup:
+	git_repository_free(repo);
+	git_buf_free(&path_buf);
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int load_config(
@@ -211,7 +207,7 @@ static int load_config(
 		const char *global_config_path,
 		const char *system_config_path)
 {
-	char config_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf config_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	int error;
 	git_config *cfg = NULL;
 
@@ -221,8 +217,13 @@ static int load_config(
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return error;
 
-	git_path_join(config_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_INREPO);
-	error = git_config_add_file_ondisk(cfg, config_path, 3);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&config_path, repo->path_repository,
+							 GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_INREPO);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	error = git_config_add_file_ondisk(cfg, config_path.ptr, 3);
+	git_buf_free(&config_path); /* done with config_path now */
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
@@ -251,19 +252,22 @@ int git_repository_config__weakptr(git_config **out, git_repository *repo)
 {
 	if (repo->_config == NULL) {
 		int error;
-
-		char buf_global[GIT_PATH_MAX], buf_system[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+		git_buf global_buf = GIT_BUF_INIT, system_buf = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 		const char *global_config_path = NULL;
 		const char *system_config_path = NULL;
 
-		if (git_config_find_global(buf_global) == GIT_SUCCESS)
-			global_config_path = buf_global;
+		if (git_config_find_global_r(&global_buf) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+			global_config_path = global_buf.ptr;
 
-		if (git_config_find_system(buf_system) == GIT_SUCCESS)
-			system_config_path = buf_system;
+		if (git_config_find_system_r(&system_buf) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+			system_config_path = system_buf.ptr;
 
 		error = load_config(&repo->_config, repo, global_config_path, system_config_path);
+
+		git_buf_free(&global_buf);
+		git_buf_free(&system_buf);
+
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			return error;
 
@@ -301,11 +305,14 @@ int git_repository_odb__weakptr(git_odb **out, git_repository *repo)
 
 	if (repo->_odb == NULL) {
 		int error;
-		char odb_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+		git_buf odb_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-		git_path_join(odb_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_OBJECTS_DIR);
+		error = git_buf_joinpath(&odb_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_OBJECTS_DIR);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return error;
 
-		error = git_odb_open(&repo->_odb, odb_path);
+		error = git_odb_open(&repo->_odb, odb_path.ptr);
+		git_buf_free(&odb_path); /* done with path */
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			return error;
 
@@ -346,11 +353,14 @@ int git_repository_index__weakptr(git_index **out, git_repository *repo)
 
 	if (repo->_index == NULL) {
 		int error;
-		char index_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+		git_buf index_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-		git_path_join(index_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_INDEX_FILE);
+		error = git_buf_joinpath(&index_path, repo->path_repository, GIT_INDEX_FILE);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return error;
 
-		error = git_index_open(&repo->_index, index_path);
+		error = git_index_open(&repo->_index, index_path.ptr);
+		git_buf_free(&index_path); /* done with path */
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			return error;
 
@@ -397,7 +407,17 @@ static int retrieve_device(dev_t *device_out, const char *path)
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static int retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(const char *path, const char *ceiling_directories)
+/*
+ * This function returns furthest offset into path where a ceiling dir
+ * is found, so we can stop processing the path at that point.
+ *
+ * Note: converting this to use git_bufs instead of GIT_PATH_MAX buffers on
+ * the stack could remove directories name limits, but at the cost of doing
+ * repeated malloc/frees inside the loop below, so let's not do it now.
+ */
+static int retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(
+	const char *path,
+	const char *ceiling_directories)
 {
 	char buf[GIT_PATH_MAX + 1];
 	char buf2[GIT_PATH_MAX + 1];
@@ -416,7 +436,7 @@ static int retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(const char *path, const char *cei
 		for (sep = ceil; *sep && *sep != GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR; sep++);
 		len = sep - ceil;
 
-		if (len == 0 || len > GIT_PATH_MAX || git_path_root(ceil) == -1)
+		if (len == 0 || len >= (int)sizeof(buf) || git_path_root(ceil) == -1)
 			continue;
 
 		strncpy(buf, ceil, len);
@@ -440,45 +460,43 @@ static int retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(const char *path, const char *cei
 	return max_len <= min_len ? min_len : max_len;
 }
 
-static int read_gitfile(char *path_out, const char *file_path, const char *base_path)
+/*
+ * Read the contents of `file_path` and set `path_out` to the repo dir that
+ * it points to.  Before calling, set `path_out` to the base directory that
+ * should be used if the contents of `file_path` are a relative path.
+ */
+static int read_gitfile(git_buf *path_out, const char *file_path, const char *base_path)
 {
 	git_fbuffer file;
 	int error;
-	size_t end_offset;
-	char *data;
 
-	assert(path_out && file_path && base_path);
+	assert(path_out && file_path);
 
 	error = git_futils_readbuffer(&file, file_path);
-
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return error;
 
-	data = (char*)(file.data);
-
-	if (git__prefixcmp(data, GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX)) {
+	if (git__prefixcmp((char *)file.data, GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX)) {
 		git_futils_freebuffer(&file);
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "Invalid gitfile format `%s`", file_path);
 	}
 
-	end_offset = strlen(data) - 1;
+	git_futils_fbuffer_rtrim(&file);
 
-	for (;data[end_offset] == '\r' || data[end_offset] == '\n'; --end_offset);
-	data[end_offset + 1] = '\0';
-
-	if (strlen(GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX) == end_offset + 1) {
+	if (strlen(GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX) == file.len) {
 		git_futils_freebuffer(&file);
 		return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND, "No path in git file `%s`", file_path);
 	}
 
-	data = data + strlen(GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX);
-	error = git_path_prettify_dir(path_out, data, base_path);
+	error = git_path_prettify_dir(path_out,
+		((char *)file.data) + strlen(GIT_FILE_CONTENT_PREFIX), base_path);
+
 	git_futils_freebuffer(&file);
 
-	if (error == 0 && git_futils_exists(path_out) == 0)
+	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS && git_futils_exists(path_out->ptr) == 0)
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;
 
-	return git__throw(GIT_EOBJCORRUPTED, "The `.git` file points to an inexisting path");
+	return git__throw(GIT_EOBJCORRUPTED, "The `.git` file points to a nonexistent path");
 }
 
 int git_repository_discover(
@@ -489,54 +507,62 @@ int git_repository_discover(
 	const char *ceiling_dirs)
 {
 	int error, ceiling_offset;
-	char bare_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	char normal_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	char *found_path;
+	git_buf bare_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	git_buf normal_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	git_buf *found_path = NULL;
 	dev_t current_device = 0;
 
 	assert(start_path && repository_path);
 
-	error = git_path_prettify_dir(bare_path, start_path, NULL);
+	*repository_path = '\0';
+
+	error = git_path_prettify_dir(&bare_path, start_path, NULL);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return error;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	if (!across_fs) {
-		error = retrieve_device(&current_device, bare_path);
+		error = retrieve_device(&current_device, bare_path.ptr);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return error;
+			goto cleanup;
 	}
 
-	ceiling_offset = retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(bare_path, ceiling_dirs);
-	git_path_join(normal_path, bare_path, DOT_GIT);
+	ceiling_offset = retrieve_ceiling_directories_offset(bare_path.ptr, ceiling_dirs);
 
 	while(1) {
+		error = git_buf_joinpath(&normal_path, bare_path.ptr, DOT_GIT);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			break;
+
 		/**
 		 * If the `.git` file is regular instead of
 		 * a directory, it should contain the path of the actual git repository
 		 */
-		if (git_futils_isfile(normal_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			error = read_gitfile(repository_path, normal_path, bare_path);
-
-			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-				return git__rethrow(error,
-					"Unable to read git file `%s`", normal_path);
+		if (git_futils_isfile(normal_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			git_buf gitfile_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-			error = quickcheck_repository_dir(repository_path);
+			error = read_gitfile(&gitfile_path, normal_path.ptr, bare_path.ptr);
 			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-				return git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND,
-					"The `.git` file found at '%s' points"
-					"to an inexisting Git folder", normal_path);
+				git__rethrow(error, "Unable to read git file `%s`", normal_path.ptr);
+			else if ((error = quickcheck_repository_dir(&gitfile_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+				git__throw(GIT_ENOTFOUND,
+					"The `.git` file found at '%s' points "
+					"to a nonexistent git folder", normal_path.ptr);
+			else {
+				git_buf_swap(&normal_path, &gitfile_path);
+				found_path = &normal_path;
+			}
 
-			return GIT_SUCCESS;
+			git_buf_free(&gitfile_path);
+			break;
 		}
 
 		/**
 		 * If the `.git` file is a folder, we check inside of it
 		 */
-		if (git_futils_isdir(normal_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			error = quickcheck_repository_dir(normal_path);
+		if (git_futils_isdir(normal_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			error = quickcheck_repository_dir(&normal_path);
 			if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-				found_path = normal_path;
+				found_path = &normal_path;
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -545,44 +571,63 @@ int git_repository_discover(
 		 * Otherwise, the repository may be bare, let's check
 		 * the root anyway
 		 */
-		error = quickcheck_repository_dir(bare_path);
+		error = quickcheck_repository_dir(&bare_path);
 		if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			found_path = bare_path;
+			found_path = &bare_path;
 			break;
 		}
 
-		if (git_path_dirname_r(normal_path, sizeof(normal_path), bare_path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to dirname '%s'", bare_path);
+		/**
+		 * If we didn't find it, walk up the tree
+		 */
+		error = git_path_dirname_r(&normal_path, bare_path.ptr);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			git__rethrow(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to dirname '%s'", bare_path.ptr);
+			break;
+		}
+
+		git_buf_swap(&bare_path, &normal_path);
 
 		if (!across_fs) {
 			dev_t new_device;
-			error = retrieve_device(&new_device, normal_path);
+			error = retrieve_device(&new_device, bare_path.ptr);
 
 			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS || current_device != new_device) {
-				return git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
+				error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
 					"Not a git repository (or any parent up to mount parent %s)\n"
-					"Stopping at filesystem boundary.", bare_path);
+					"Stopping at filesystem boundary.", normal_path.ptr);
+				break;
 			}
 			current_device = new_device;
 		}
 
-		strcpy(bare_path, normal_path);
-		git_path_join(normal_path, bare_path, DOT_GIT);
-
-		// nothing has been found, lets try the parent directory
-		if (bare_path[ceiling_offset] == '\0') {
-			return git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
+		/* nothing has been found, lets try the parent directory
+		 * but stop if we hit one of the ceiling directories
+		 */
+		if (bare_path.ptr[ceiling_offset] == '\0') {
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTAREPO,
 				"Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): %s", start_path);
+			break;
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (size < strlen(found_path) + 2) {
-		return git__throw(GIT_ESHORTBUFFER,
-			"The repository buffer is not long enough to handle the repository path `%s`", found_path);
+	assert(found_path || error != GIT_SUCCESS);
+
+	if (found_path) {
+		if ((error = git_path_to_dir(found_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			git__rethrow(error, "Could not convert git repository to directory");
+		else if (size < (size_t)(found_path->size + 1))
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ESHORTBUFFER,
+				"The repository buffer is not long enough to "
+				"handle the repository path `%s`", found_path->ptr);
+		else
+			git_buf_copy_cstr(repository_path, size, found_path);
 	}
 
-	git_path_join(repository_path, found_path, "");
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&bare_path);
+	git_buf_free(&normal_path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int repo_init_reinit(const char *repository_path, int is_bare)
@@ -596,21 +641,23 @@ static int repo_init_reinit(const char *repository_path, int is_bare)
 
 static int repo_init_createhead(const char *git_dir)
 {
-	char ref_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error;
+	git_buf ref_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	git_filebuf ref = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
 
-	git_path_join(ref_path, git_dir, GIT_HEAD_FILE);
-
-	git_filebuf_open(&ref, ref_path, 0);
-	git_filebuf_printf(&ref, "ref: refs/heads/master\n");
+	if (!(error = git_buf_joinpath(&ref_path, git_dir, GIT_HEAD_FILE)) &&
+		!(error = git_filebuf_open(&ref, ref_path.ptr, 0)) &&
+		!(error = git_filebuf_printf(&ref, "ref: refs/heads/master\n")))
+		error = git_filebuf_commit(&ref, GIT_REFS_FILE_MODE);
 
-	return git_filebuf_commit(&ref, GIT_REFS_FILE_MODE);
+	git_buf_free(&ref_path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int repo_init_config(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 {
-	char cfg_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	git_config *config;
+	git_buf cfg_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	git_config *config = NULL;
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 #define SET_REPO_CONFIG(type, name, val) {\
@@ -619,29 +666,40 @@ static int repo_init_config(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 		goto cleanup;\
 }
 
-	git_path_join(cfg_path, git_dir, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_INREPO);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&cfg_path, git_dir, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_INREPO);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	error = git_config_open_ondisk(&config, cfg_path);
+	error = git_config_open_ondisk(&config, cfg_path.ptr);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return error;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	SET_REPO_CONFIG(bool, "core.bare", is_bare);
 	SET_REPO_CONFIG(int32, "core.repositoryformatversion", 0);
 	/* TODO: what other defaults? */
 
 cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&cfg_path);
 	git_config_free(config);
 	return error;
 }
 
 static int repo_init_structure(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 {
-	int error;
-
-	char temp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-
-	if (git_futils_mkdir_r(git_dir, is_bare ? GIT_BARE_DIR_MODE : GIT_DIR_MODE))
-		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to initialize repository structure. Could not mkdir");
+	int error, i;
+	struct { const char *dir; mode_t mode; } dirs[] = {
+		{ GIT_OBJECTS_INFO_DIR, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE }, /* '/objects/info/' */
+		{ GIT_OBJECTS_PACK_DIR, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE }, /* '/objects/pack/' */
+		{ GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE },     /* '/refs/heads/' */
+		{ GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE },      /* '/refs/tags/' */
+		{ NULL, 0 }
+	};
+
+	/* Make the base directory */
+	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(git_dir, NULL, is_bare ?
+							   GIT_BARE_DIR_MODE : GIT_DIR_MODE);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize repository structure. Could not mkdir");
 
 	/* Hides the ".git" directory */
 	if (!is_bare) {
@@ -652,67 +710,52 @@ static int repo_init_structure(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 #endif
 	}
 
-	/* Creates the '/objects/info/' directory */
-	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_OBJECTS_INFO_DIR);
-	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize repository structure");
-
-	/* Creates the '/objects/pack/' directory */
-	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_OBJECTS_PACK_DIR);
-	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__throw(error, "Unable to create `%s` folder", temp_path);
-
-	/* Creates the '/refs/heads/' directory */
-	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR);
-	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize repository structure");
-
-	/* Creates the '/refs/tags/' directory */
-	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR);
-	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__throw(error, "Unable to create `%s` folder", temp_path);
+	/* Make subdirectories as needed */
+	for (i = 0; dirs[i].dir != NULL; ++i) {
+		error = git_futils_mkdir_r(dirs[i].dir, git_dir, dirs[i].mode);
+		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			return git__rethrow(error,
+				"Failed to create repository folder `%s`", dirs[i].dir);
+	}
 
 	/* TODO: what's left? templates? */
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_repository_init(git_repository **repo_out, const char *path, unsigned is_bare)
 {
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	git_repository *repo = NULL;
-	char repository_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf repository_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	assert(repo_out && path);
 
-	git_path_join(repository_path, path, is_bare ? "" : GIT_DIR);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&repository_path, path, is_bare ? "" : GIT_DIR);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return error;
 
-	if (git_futils_isdir(repository_path)) {
-		if (quickcheck_repository_dir(repository_path) == GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return repo_init_reinit(repository_path, is_bare);
+	if (git_futils_isdir(repository_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if (quickcheck_repository_dir(&repository_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			error = repo_init_reinit(repository_path.ptr, is_bare);
+			git_buf_free(&repository_path);
+			return error;
+		}
 	}
 
-	error = repo_init_structure(repository_path, is_bare);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		goto cleanup;
-
-	error = repo_init_config(repository_path, is_bare);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		goto cleanup;
+	if (!(error = repo_init_structure(repository_path.ptr, is_bare)) &&
+		!(error = repo_init_config(repository_path.ptr, is_bare)) &&
+		!(error = repo_init_createhead(repository_path.ptr)))
+		error = git_repository_open(repo_out, repository_path.ptr);
+	else
+		git_repository_free(repo);
 
-	error = repo_init_createhead(repository_path);
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		goto cleanup;
+	git_buf_free(&repository_path);
 
-	return git_repository_open(repo_out, repository_path);
+	if (error != GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "Failed to (re)init the repository `%s`", path);
 
-cleanup:
-	git_repository_free(repo);
-	return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to (re)init the repository `%s`", path);
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_repository_head_detached(git_repository *repo)
diff --git a/src/signature.c b/src/signature.c
index 832d6439c..fb2bb3cce 100644
--- a/src/signature.c
+++ b/src/signature.c
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ void git_signature_free(git_signature *sig)
 		return;
 
 	git__free(sig->name);
+	sig->name = NULL;
 	git__free(sig->email);
+	sig->email = NULL;
 	git__free(sig);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/status.c b/src/status.c
index 26dd11ea8..05e07be0a 100644
--- a/src/status.c
+++ b/src/status.c
@@ -28,12 +28,10 @@ struct status_entry {
 
 static struct status_entry *status_entry_new(git_vector *entries, const char *path)
 {
-	struct status_entry *e = git__malloc(sizeof(*e) + strlen(path) + 1);
+	struct status_entry *e = git__calloc(sizeof(*e) + strlen(path) + 1, 1);
 	if (e == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	memset(e, 0x0, sizeof(*e));
-
 	if (entries != NULL)
 		git_vector_insert(entries, e);
 
@@ -73,7 +71,7 @@ static void status_entry_update_from_index(struct status_entry *e, git_index *in
 	status_entry_update_from_index_entry(e, index_entry);
 }
 
-static int status_entry_update_from_workdir(struct status_entry *e, char* full_path)
+static int status_entry_update_from_workdir(struct status_entry *e, const char* full_path)
 {
 	struct stat filest;
 
@@ -125,7 +123,7 @@ struct status_st {
 	git_tree *tree;
 
 	int workdir_path_len;
-	char* head_tree_relative_path;
+	git_buf head_tree_relative_path;
 	int head_tree_relative_path_len;
 	unsigned int tree_position;
 	unsigned int index_position;
@@ -155,6 +153,7 @@ static int retrieve_head_tree(git_tree **tree_out, git_repository *repo)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "The tip of HEAD can't be retrieved");
 
 	git_reference_free(resolved_head_ref);
+
 	if ((error = git_commit_tree(&tree, head_commit)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		error = git__rethrow(error, "The tree of HEAD can't be retrieved");
 		goto exit;
@@ -174,12 +173,15 @@ enum path_type {
 	GIT_STATUS_PATH_FOLDER,
 };
 
-static int dirent_cb(void *state, char *full_path);
+static int dirent_cb(void *state, git_buf *full_path);
 static int alphasorted_futils_direach(
-	char *path, size_t path_sz,
-	int (*fn)(void *, char *), void *arg);
+	git_buf *path, int (*fn)(void *, git_buf *), void *arg);
 
-static int process_folder(struct status_st *st, const git_tree_entry *tree_entry, char *full_path, enum path_type path_type)
+static int process_folder(
+	struct status_st *st,
+	const git_tree_entry *tree_entry,
+	git_buf *full_path,
+	enum path_type path_type)
 {
 	git_object *subtree = NULL;
 	git_tree *pushed_tree = NULL;
@@ -209,10 +211,9 @@ static int process_folder(struct status_st *st, const git_tree_entry *tree_entry
 	}
 
 	if (full_path != NULL && path_type == GIT_STATUS_PATH_FOLDER)
-		error = alphasorted_futils_direach(full_path, GIT_PATH_MAX, dirent_cb, st);
-	else {
+		error = alphasorted_futils_direach(full_path, dirent_cb, st);
+	else
 		error = dirent_cb(st, NULL);
-	}
 
 	if (tree_entry_type == GIT_OBJ_TREE) {
 		git_object_free(subtree);
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ static int store_if_changed(struct status_st *st, struct status_entry *e)
 {
 	int error;
 	if ((error = status_entry_update_flags(e)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__throw(error, "Failed to process the file '%s'. It doesn't exist in the workdir, in the HEAD nor in the index", e->path);
+		return git__throw(error, "Failed to process the file '%s'. It doesn't exist in the workdir, in the HEAD nor in the index", e->path);
 
 	if (e->status_flags == GIT_STATUS_CURRENT) {
 		git__free(e);
@@ -243,7 +244,7 @@ static int determine_status(struct status_st *st,
 	int in_head, int in_index, int in_workdir,
 	const git_tree_entry *tree_entry,
 	const git_index_entry *index_entry,
-	char *full_path,
+	git_buf *full_path,
 	const char *status_path,
 	enum path_type path_type)
 {
@@ -273,7 +274,8 @@ static int determine_status(struct status_st *st,
 		}
 
 		if (in_workdir)
-			if ((error = status_entry_update_from_workdir(e, full_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			if ((error = status_entry_update_from_workdir(e, full_path->ptr
+)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 				return error;	/* The callee has already set the error message */
 
 		return store_if_changed(st, e);
@@ -284,7 +286,7 @@ static int determine_status(struct status_st *st,
 	return process_folder(st, tree_entry, full_path, path_type);
 }
 
-static int path_type_from(char *full_path, int is_dir)
+static int path_type_from(git_buf *full_path, int is_dir)
 {
 	if (full_path == NULL)
 		return GIT_STATUS_PATH_NULL;
@@ -292,7 +294,7 @@ static int path_type_from(char *full_path, int is_dir)
 	if (!is_dir)
 		return GIT_STATUS_PATH_FILE;
 
-	if (!git__suffixcmp(full_path, "/" DOT_GIT "/"))
+	if (!git__suffixcmp(full_path->ptr, "/" DOT_GIT "/"))
 		return GIT_STATUS_PATH_IGNORE;
 
 	return GIT_STATUS_PATH_FOLDER;
@@ -330,7 +332,7 @@ static int compare(const char *left, const char *right)
 /* Greatly inspired from JGit IndexTreeWalker */
 /* https://github.com/spearce/jgit/blob/ed47e29c777accfa78c6f50685a5df2b8f5b8ff5/org.spearce.jgit/src/org/spearce/jgit/lib/IndexTreeWalker.java#L88 */
 
-static int dirent_cb(void *state, char *a)
+static int dirent_cb(void *state, git_buf *a)
 {
 	const git_tree_entry *m;
 	const git_index_entry *entry;
@@ -346,7 +348,7 @@ static int dirent_cb(void *state, char *a)
 	if (path_type == GIT_STATUS_PATH_IGNORE)
 		return GIT_SUCCESS;	/* Let's skip the ".git" directory */
 
-	a_name = (path_type != GIT_STATUS_PATH_NULL) ? a + st->workdir_path_len : NULL;
+	a_name = (path_type != GIT_STATUS_PATH_NULL) ? a->ptr + st->workdir_path_len : NULL;
 
 	while (1) {
 		if (st->tree == NULL)
@@ -360,15 +362,18 @@ static int dirent_cb(void *state, char *a)
 			return GIT_SUCCESS;
 
 		if (m != NULL) {
-			st->head_tree_relative_path[st->head_tree_relative_path_len] = '\0';
-
+			git_buf_truncate(&st->head_tree_relative_path,
+							 st->head_tree_relative_path_len);
+			git_buf_joinpath(&st->head_tree_relative_path,
+							 st->head_tree_relative_path.ptr, m->filename);
 			/* When the tree entry is a folder, append a forward slash to its name */
 			if (git_tree_entry_type(m) == GIT_OBJ_TREE)
-				git_path_join_n(st->head_tree_relative_path, 3, st->head_tree_relative_path, m->filename, "");
-			else
-				git_path_join(st->head_tree_relative_path, st->head_tree_relative_path, m->filename);
-		
-			m_name = st->head_tree_relative_path;
+				git_path_to_dir(&st->head_tree_relative_path);
+
+			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+				return git__rethrow(error, "An error occured while determining the status of '%s'", a->ptr);
+
+			m_name = st->head_tree_relative_path.ptr;
 		} else
 			m_name = NULL;
 
@@ -383,7 +388,7 @@ static int dirent_cb(void *state, char *a)
 		pi = ((cmpmi >= 0) && (cmpai >= 0)) ? i_name : NULL;
 
 		if((error = determine_status(st, pm != NULL, pi != NULL, pa != NULL, m, entry, a, status_path(pm, pi, pa), path_type)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			return git__rethrow(error, "An error occured while determining the status of '%s'", a);
+			return git__rethrow(error, "An error occured while determining the status of '%s'", a->ptr);
 
 		if ((pa != NULL) || (path_type == GIT_STATUS_PATH_FOLDER))
 			return GIT_SUCCESS;
@@ -404,9 +409,8 @@ int git_status_foreach(git_repository *repo, int (*callback)(const char *, unsig
 {
 	git_vector entries;
 	git_index *index = NULL;
-	char temp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	char tree_path[GIT_PATH_MAX] = "";
-	struct status_st dirent_st;
+	git_buf temp_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	struct status_st dirent_st = {0};
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	unsigned int i;
 	git_tree *tree;
@@ -435,23 +439,21 @@ int git_status_foreach(git_repository *repo, int (*callback)(const char *, unsig
 	dirent_st.tree = tree;
 	dirent_st.index = index;
 	dirent_st.vector = &entries;
-	dirent_st.head_tree_relative_path = tree_path;
+	git_buf_init(&dirent_st.head_tree_relative_path, 0);
 	dirent_st.head_tree_relative_path_len = 0;
 	dirent_st.is_dir = 1;
 
-	strcpy(temp_path, workdir);
-
-	if (git_futils_isdir(temp_path)) {
+	if (git_futils_isdir(workdir)) {
 		error = git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDPATH,
 			"Failed to determine status of file '%s'. "
-			"The given path doesn't lead to a folder", temp_path);
+			"The given path doesn't lead to a folder", workdir);
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
+	git_buf_sets(&temp_path, workdir);
+
 	error = alphasorted_futils_direach(
-		temp_path, sizeof(temp_path),
-		dirent_cb, &dirent_st
-	);
+		&temp_path, dirent_cb, &dirent_st);
 
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		error = git__rethrow(error,
@@ -477,6 +479,8 @@ int git_status_foreach(git_repository *repo, int (*callback)(const char *, unsig
 	}
 
 exit:
+	git_buf_free(&dirent_st.head_tree_relative_path);
+	git_buf_free(&temp_path);
 	git_vector_free(&entries);
 	git_tree_free(tree);
 	return error;
@@ -521,7 +525,7 @@ int git_status_file(unsigned int *status_flags, git_repository *repo, const char
 {
 	struct status_entry *e;
 	git_index *index = NULL;
-	char temp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	git_buf temp_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	git_tree *tree = NULL;
 	const char *workdir;
@@ -532,60 +536,72 @@ int git_status_file(unsigned int *status_flags, git_repository *repo, const char
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR,
 			"Cannot retrieve status on a bare repository");
 
-	git_path_join(temp_path, workdir, path);
-	if (git_futils_isdir(temp_path) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(&temp_path, workdir, path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error,
+			"Failed to determine status of file '%s'", path);
+
+	if (git_futils_isdir(temp_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		git_buf_free(&temp_path);
 		return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDPATH,
 			"Failed to determine status of file '%s'. "
 			"Given path leads to a folder, not a file", path);
+	}
 
 	e = status_entry_new(NULL, path);
-	if (e == NULL)
+	if (e == NULL) {
+		git_buf_free(&temp_path);
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
+	}
 
 	/* Find file in Workdir */
-	if (git_futils_exists(temp_path) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		if ((error = status_entry_update_from_workdir(e, temp_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-			goto exit;	/* The callee has already set the error message */
+	if (git_futils_exists(temp_path.ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS) {
+		if ((error = status_entry_update_from_workdir(e, temp_path.ptr)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			goto cleanup;	/* The callee has already set the error message */
 	}
 
 	/* Find file in Index */
 	if ((error = git_repository_index__weakptr(&index, repo)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		error = git__rethrow(error,
+		git__rethrow(error,
 			"Failed to determine status of file '%s'."
 			"Index can't be opened", path);
-		goto exit;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	status_entry_update_from_index(e, index);
 
 	if ((error = retrieve_head_tree(&tree, repo)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		error = git__rethrow(error,
+		git__rethrow(error,
 			"Failed to determine status of file '%s'", path);
-		goto exit;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/* If the repository is not empty, try and locate the file in HEAD */
 	if (tree != NULL) {
-		strcpy(temp_path, path);
+		if ((error = git_buf_sets(&temp_path, path)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
+			git__rethrow(error,
+				"Failed to determine status of file '%s'", path);
+			goto cleanup;
+		}
 
-		error = recurse_tree_entry(tree, e, temp_path);
+		error = recurse_tree_entry(tree, e, temp_path.ptr);
 		if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			error = git__rethrow(error,
+			git__rethrow(error,
 				"Failed to determine status of file '%s'. "
 				"An error occured while processing the tree", path);
-			goto exit;
+			goto cleanup;
 		}
 	}
 
 	/* Determine status */
 	if ((error = status_entry_update_flags(e)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		error = git__throw(error, "Nonexistent file");
-		goto exit;
+		git__throw(error, "Nonexistent file");
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	*status_flags = e->status_flags;
 
-exit:
+cleanup:
+	git_buf_free(&temp_path);
 	git_tree_free(tree);
 	git__free(e);
 	return error;
@@ -600,37 +616,34 @@ exit:
 
 struct alphasorted_dirent_info {
 	int is_dir;
-
 	char path[GIT_FLEX_ARRAY]; /* more */
 };
 
-static struct alphasorted_dirent_info *alphasorted_dirent_info_new(const char *path)
+static struct alphasorted_dirent_info *alphasorted_dirent_info_new(const git_buf *path)
 {
 	int is_dir, size;
 	struct alphasorted_dirent_info *di;
 
-	is_dir = git_futils_isdir(path) == GIT_SUCCESS ? 1 : 0;
-	size = sizeof(*di) + (is_dir ? GIT_PATH_MAX : strlen(path)) + 2;
+	is_dir = git_futils_isdir(path->ptr) == GIT_SUCCESS ? 1 : 0;
+	size   = sizeof(*di) + path->size + is_dir + 1;
 
-	di = git__malloc(size);
+	di = git__calloc(size, 1);
 	if (di == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	memset(di, 0x0, size);
-
-	strcpy(di->path, path);
+	git_buf_copy_cstr(di->path, path->size + 1, path);
 
 	if (is_dir) {
 		di->is_dir = 1;
 
-		/* 
-		 * Append a forward slash to the name to force folders 
+		/*
+		 * Append a forward slash to the name to force folders
 		 * to be ordered in a similar way than in a tree
 		 *
 		 * The file "subdir" should appear before the file "subdir.txt"
 		 * The folder "subdir" should appear after the file "subdir.txt"
 		 */
-		di->path[strlen(path)] = '/';
+		di->path[path->size] = '/';
 	}
 
 	return di;
@@ -644,7 +657,7 @@ static int alphasorted_dirent_info_cmp(const void *a, const void *b)
 	return strcmp(stra->path, strb->path);
 }
 
-static int alphasorted_dirent_cb(void *state, char *full_path)
+static int alphasorted_dirent_cb(void *state, git_buf *full_path)
 {
 	struct alphasorted_dirent_info *entry;
 	git_vector *entry_names;
@@ -664,34 +677,42 @@ static int alphasorted_dirent_cb(void *state, char *full_path)
 }
 
 static int alphasorted_futils_direach(
-	char *path,
-	size_t path_sz,
-	int (*fn)(void *, char *),
+	git_buf *path,
+	int (*fn)(void *, git_buf *),
 	void *arg)
 {
 	struct alphasorted_dirent_info *entry;
 	git_vector entry_names;
 	unsigned int idx;
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf entry_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	if (git_vector_init(&entry_names, 16, alphasorted_dirent_info_cmp) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	error = git_futils_direach(path, path_sz, alphasorted_dirent_cb, &entry_names);
+	error = git_futils_direach(path, alphasorted_dirent_cb, &entry_names);
 
 	git_vector_sort(&entry_names);
 
 	for (idx = 0; idx < entry_names.length; ++idx) {
 		entry = (struct alphasorted_dirent_info *)git_vector_get(&entry_names, idx);
 
+		/* We have to walk the entire vector even if there was an error,
+		 * in order to free up memory, but we stop making callbacks after
+		 * an error.
+		 */
+		if (error == GIT_SUCCESS)
+			error = git_buf_sets(&entry_path, entry->path);
+
 		if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
 			((struct status_st *)arg)->is_dir = entry->is_dir;
-			error = fn(arg, entry->path);
+			error = fn(arg, &entry_path);
 		}
 
 		git__free(entry);
 	}
 
+	git_buf_free(&entry_path);
 	git_vector_free(&entry_names);
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/tag.c b/src/tag.c
index 16d46ce16..31f96b0ea 100644
--- a/src/tag.c
+++ b/src/tag.c
@@ -148,15 +148,22 @@ static int parse_tag_buffer(git_tag *tag, const char *buffer, const char *buffer
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static int retrieve_tag_reference(git_reference **tag_reference_out, char *ref_name_out, git_repository *repo, const char *tag_name)
+static int retrieve_tag_reference(
+	git_reference **tag_reference_out,
+	git_buf *ref_name_out,
+	git_repository *repo,
+	const char *tag_name)
 {
 	git_reference *tag_ref;
 	int error;
 
 	*tag_reference_out = NULL;
 
-	git_path_join(ref_name_out, GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR, tag_name);
-	error = git_reference_lookup(&tag_ref, repo, ref_name_out);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(ref_name_out, GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR, tag_name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to retrieve tag reference");
+
+	error = git_reference_lookup(&tag_ref, repo, ref_name_out->ptr);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to retrieve tag reference");
 
@@ -184,9 +191,10 @@ static int write_tag_annotation(
 	git_buf_putc(&tag, '\n');
 	git_buf_puts(&tag, message);
 
-	if (git_buf_oom(&tag)) {
+	error = git_buf_lasterror(&tag);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		git_buf_free(&tag);
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOMEM, "Not enough memory to build the tag data");
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Not enough memory to build the tag data");
 	}
 
 	error = git_repository_odb__weakptr(&odb, repo);
@@ -215,56 +223,54 @@ static int git_tag_create__internal(
 		int create_tag_annotation)
 {
 	git_reference *new_ref = NULL;
-	char ref_name[GIT_REFNAME_MAX];
+	git_buf ref_name = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	int error, should_update_ref = 0;
+	const char *errmsg = "Failed to create tag";
 
 	assert(repo && tag_name && target);
 	assert(!create_tag_annotation || (tagger && message));
 
 	if (git_object_owner(target) != repo)
-		return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDARGS, "The given target does not belong to this repository");
-
-	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&new_ref, ref_name, repo, tag_name);
-
-	switch (error) {
-		case GIT_SUCCESS:
-		case GIT_ENOTFOUND:
-			break;
+		return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDARGS,
+			"The given target does not belong to this repository");
 
-		default:
-			git_reference_free(new_ref);
-			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
-	}
+	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&new_ref, &ref_name, repo, tag_name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS && error != GIT_ENOTFOUND)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/** Ensure the tag name doesn't conflict with an already existing
 	 *	reference unless overwriting has explictly been requested **/
 	if (new_ref != NULL) {
 		if (!allow_ref_overwrite) {
 			git_oid_cpy(oid, git_reference_oid(new_ref));
-			git_reference_free(new_ref);
-			return git__throw(GIT_EEXISTS, "Tag already exists");
+			error = GIT_EEXISTS;
+			errmsg = "Tag already exists";
+			goto cleanup;
 		} else {
 			should_update_ref = 1;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (create_tag_annotation) {
-		if ((error = write_tag_annotation(oid, repo, tag_name, target, tagger, message)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-			git_reference_free(new_ref);
-			return error;
-		}
+		if ((error = write_tag_annotation(oid, repo, tag_name, target, tagger, message)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+			goto cleanup;
 	} else
 		git_oid_cpy(oid, git_object_id(target));
 
 	if (!should_update_ref)
-		error = git_reference_create_oid(&new_ref, repo, ref_name, oid, 0);
+		error = git_reference_create_oid(&new_ref, repo, ref_name.ptr, oid, 0);
 	else
 		error = git_reference_set_oid(new_ref, oid);
 
+cleanup:
 	git_reference_free(new_ref);
+	git_buf_free(&ref_name);
+
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "%s", errmsg);
 
-	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_tag_create(
@@ -293,12 +299,13 @@ int git_tag_create_frombuffer(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *bu
 {
 	git_tag tag;
 	int error, should_update_ref = 0;
+	const char *errmsg = "Failed to create tag";
 	git_odb *odb;
 	git_odb_stream *stream;
 	git_odb_object *target_obj;
 
 	git_reference *new_ref = NULL;
-	char ref_name[GIT_REFNAME_MAX];
+	git_buf ref_name = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	assert(oid && buffer);
 
@@ -310,78 +317,77 @@ int git_tag_create_frombuffer(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, const char *bu
 
 	/* validate the buffer */
 	if ((error = parse_tag_buffer(&tag, buffer, buffer + strlen(buffer))) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* validate the target */
 	if ((error = git_odb_read(&target_obj, odb, &tag.target)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
+		goto cleanup;
 
-	if (tag.type != target_obj->raw.type)
-		return git__throw(error, "The type for the given target is invalid");
+	if (tag.type != target_obj->raw.type) {
+		error = GIT_EINVALIDTYPE;
+		errmsg = "The type for the given target is invalid";
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
 
 	git_odb_object_free(target_obj);
 
-	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&new_ref, ref_name, repo, tag.tag_name);
-
-	switch (error) {
-		case GIT_SUCCESS:
-		case GIT_ENOTFOUND:
-			break;
-
-		default:
-			git_reference_free(new_ref);
-			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
-	}
+	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&new_ref, &ref_name, repo, tag.tag_name);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS && error != GIT_ENOTFOUND)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/** Ensure the tag name doesn't conflict with an already existing
 	 *	reference unless overwriting has explictly been requested **/
 	if (new_ref != NULL) {
 		if (!allow_ref_overwrite) {
 			git_oid_cpy(oid, git_reference_oid(new_ref));
-			git_reference_free(new_ref);
-			return git__throw(GIT_EEXISTS, "Tag already exists");
+			error = GIT_EEXISTS;
+			errmsg = "Tag already exists";
+			goto cleanup;
 		} else {
 			should_update_ref = 1;
 		}
 	}
 
 	/* write the buffer */
-	if ((error = git_odb_open_wstream(&stream, odb, strlen(buffer), GIT_OBJ_TAG)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_reference_free(new_ref);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
-	}
+	if ((error = git_odb_open_wstream(&stream, odb, strlen(buffer), GIT_OBJ_TAG)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	stream->write(stream, buffer, strlen(buffer));
 
 	error = stream->finalize_write(oid, stream);
 	stream->free(stream);
 
-	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		git_reference_free(new_ref);
-		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
-	}
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	if (!should_update_ref)
-		error = git_reference_create_oid(&new_ref, repo, ref_name, oid, 0);
+		error = git_reference_create_oid(&new_ref, repo, ref_name.ptr, oid, 0);
 	else
 		error = git_reference_set_oid(new_ref, oid);
 
+cleanup:
 	git_reference_free(new_ref);
-
 	git_signature_free(tag.tagger);
 	git__free(tag.tag_name);
 	git__free(tag.message);
+	git_buf_free(&ref_name);
+
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		git__rethrow(error, "%s", errmsg);
 
-	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to create tag");
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_tag_delete(git_repository *repo, const char *tag_name)
 {
 	int error;
 	git_reference *tag_ref;
-	char ref_name[GIT_REFNAME_MAX];
+	git_buf ref_name = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+
+	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&tag_ref, &ref_name, repo, tag_name);
+
+	git_buf_free(&ref_name);
 
-	error = retrieve_tag_reference(&tag_ref, ref_name, repo, tag_name);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to delete tag");
 
diff --git a/src/transports/git.c b/src/transports/git.c
index bdb94d090..ece4d40a8 100644
--- a/src/transports/git.c
+++ b/src/transports/git.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ static int gen_proto(git_buf *request, const char *cmd, const char *url)
 	git_buf_put(request, url, delim - url);
 	git_buf_putc(request, '\0');
 
-	return git_buf_oom(request);
+	return git_buf_lasterror(request);
 }
 
 static int send_request(GIT_SOCKET s, const char *cmd, const char *url)
diff --git a/src/transports/http.c b/src/transports/http.c
index e463a0f59..48ea78dce 100644
--- a/src/transports/http.c
+++ b/src/transports/http.c
@@ -77,10 +77,7 @@ static int gen_request(git_buf *buf, const char *url, const char *host, const ch
 	}
 	git_buf_puts(buf, "\r\n");
 
-	if (git_buf_oom(buf))
-		return GIT_ENOMEM;
-
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return git_buf_lasterror(buf);
 }
 
 static int do_connect(transport_http *t, const char *host, const char *port)
@@ -608,8 +605,9 @@ static int http_download_pack(char **out, git_transport *transport, git_reposito
 	char buffer[1024];
 	gitno_buffer buf;
 	download_pack_cbdata data;
-	git_filebuf file;
-	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX], suff[] = "/objects/pack/pack-received\0";
+	git_filebuf file = GIT_FILEBUF_INIT;
+	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+	char suff[] = "/objects/pack/pack-received\0";
 
 	/*
 	 * This is part of the previous response, so we don't want to
@@ -625,13 +623,15 @@ static int http_download_pack(char **out, git_transport *transport, git_reposito
 
 	gitno_buffer_setup(&buf, buffer, sizeof(buffer), t->socket);
 
-	git_path_join(path, repo->path_repository, suff);
-
 	if (memcmp(oldbuf->ptr, "PACK", strlen("PACK"))) {
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "The pack doesn't start with the signature");
 	}
 
-	error = git_filebuf_open(&file, path, GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY);
+	error = git_buf_joinpath(&path, repo->path_repository, suff);
+	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	error = git_filebuf_open(&file, path.ptr, GIT_FILEBUF_TEMPORARY);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
@@ -671,6 +671,7 @@ static int http_download_pack(char **out, git_transport *transport, git_reposito
 cleanup:
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&file);
+	git_buf_free(&path);
 
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/tree.c b/src/tree.c
index 702095d14..23efb28e4 100644
--- a/src/tree.c
+++ b/src/tree.c
@@ -577,9 +577,9 @@ int git_treebuilder_write(git_oid *oid, git_repository *repo, git_treebuilder *b
 		git_buf_put(&tree, (char *)entry->oid.id, GIT_OID_RAWSZ);
 	}
 
-	if (git_buf_oom(&tree)) {
+	if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(&tree)) < GIT_SUCCESS) {
 		git_buf_free(&tree);
-		return git__throw(GIT_ENOMEM, "Not enough memory to build the tree data");
+		return git__rethrow(error, "Not enough memory to build the tree data");
 	}
 
 	error = git_repository_odb__weakptr(&odb, repo);
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ void git_treebuilder_free(git_treebuilder *bld)
 static int tree_frompath(
 	git_tree **parent_out,
 	git_tree *root,
-	const char *treeentry_path,
+	git_buf *treeentry_path,
 	int offset)
 {
 	char *slash_pos = NULL;
@@ -639,11 +639,11 @@ static int tree_frompath(
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	git_tree *subtree;
 
-	if (!*(treeentry_path + offset))
+	if (!*(treeentry_path->ptr + offset))
 		return git__rethrow(GIT_EINVALIDPATH,
-			"Invalid relative path to a tree entry '%s'.", treeentry_path);
+			"Invalid relative path to a tree entry '%s'.", treeentry_path->ptr);
 
-	slash_pos = (char *)strchr(treeentry_path + offset, '/');
+	slash_pos = (char *)strchr(treeentry_path->ptr + offset, '/');
 
 	if (slash_pos == NULL)
 		return git_tree_lookup(
@@ -652,13 +652,13 @@ static int tree_frompath(
 			git_object_id((const git_object *)root)
 		);
 
-	if (slash_pos == treeentry_path + offset)
+	if (slash_pos == treeentry_path->ptr + offset)
 		return git__rethrow(GIT_EINVALIDPATH,
-			"Invalid relative path to a tree entry '%s'.", treeentry_path);
+			"Invalid relative path to a tree entry '%s'.", treeentry_path->ptr);
 
 	*slash_pos = '\0';
 
-	entry = git_tree_entry_byname(root, treeentry_path + offset);
+	entry = git_tree_entry_byname(root, treeentry_path->ptr + offset);
 
 	if (slash_pos != NULL)
 		*slash_pos = '/';
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ static int tree_frompath(
 	if (entry == NULL)
 		return git__rethrow(GIT_ENOTFOUND,
 			"No tree entry can be found from "
-			"the given tree and relative path '%s'.", treeentry_path);
+			"the given tree and relative path '%s'.", treeentry_path->ptr);
 
 
 	error = git_tree_lookup(&subtree, root->object.repo, &entry->oid);
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ static int tree_frompath(
 		parent_out,
 		subtree,
 		treeentry_path,
-		slash_pos - treeentry_path + 1
+		(slash_pos - treeentry_path->ptr) + 1
 	);
 
 	git_tree_free(subtree);
@@ -689,70 +689,82 @@ int git_tree_get_subtree(
 	git_tree *root,
 	const char *subtree_path)
 {
-	char buffer[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error;
+	git_buf buffer = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	assert(subtree && root && subtree_path);
 
-	strncpy(buffer, subtree_path, GIT_PATH_MAX);
-	return tree_frompath(subtree, root, buffer, 0);
+	if ((error = git_buf_sets(&buffer, subtree_path)) == GIT_SUCCESS)
+		error = tree_frompath(subtree, root, &buffer, 0);
+
+	git_buf_free(&buffer);
+
+	return error;
 }
 
 static int tree_walk_post(
 	git_tree *tree,
 	git_treewalk_cb callback,
-	char *root,
-	size_t root_len,
+	git_buf *path,
 	void *payload)
 {
-	int error;
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	unsigned int i;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < tree->entries.length; ++i) {
 		git_tree_entry *entry = tree->entries.contents[i];
 
-		root[root_len] = '\0';
-
-		if (callback(root, entry, payload) < 0)
+		if (callback(path->ptr, entry, payload) < 0)
 			continue;
 
 		if (ENTRY_IS_TREE(entry)) {
 			git_tree *subtree;
+			size_t path_len = path->size;
 
 			if ((error = git_tree_lookup(
 				&subtree, tree->object.repo, &entry->oid)) < 0)
-				return error;
+				break;
 
-			strcpy(root + root_len, entry->filename);
-			root[root_len + entry->filename_len] = '/';
+			/* append the next entry to the path */
+			git_buf_puts(path, entry->filename);
+			git_buf_putc(path, '/');
+			if ((error = git_buf_lasterror(path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+				break;
 
-			tree_walk_post(subtree,
-				callback, root,
-				root_len + entry->filename_len + 1,
-				payload
-			);
+			error = tree_walk_post(subtree, callback, path, payload);
+			if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
+				break;
 
+			git_buf_truncate(path, path_len);
 			git_tree_free(subtree);
 		}
 	}
 
-	return GIT_SUCCESS;
+	return error;
 }
 
 int git_tree_walk(git_tree *tree, git_treewalk_cb callback, int mode, void *payload)
 {
-	char root_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
+	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
+	git_buf root_path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
-	root_path[0] = '\0';
 	switch (mode) {
 		case GIT_TREEWALK_POST:
-			return tree_walk_post(tree, callback, root_path, 0, payload);
+			error = tree_walk_post(tree, callback, &root_path, payload);
+			break;
 
 		case GIT_TREEWALK_PRE:
-			return git__throw(GIT_ENOTIMPLEMENTED,
+			error = git__throw(GIT_ENOTIMPLEMENTED,
 				"Preorder tree walking is still not implemented");
+			break;
 
 		default:
-			return git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDARGS,
+			error = git__throw(GIT_EINVALIDARGS,
 				"Invalid walking mode for tree walk");
+			break;
 	}
+
+	git_buf_free(&root_path);
+
+	return error;
 }
diff --git a/src/win32/posix_w32.c b/src/win32/posix_w32.c
index 6f722581e..e406a8f6c 100644
--- a/src/win32/posix_w32.c
+++ b/src/win32/posix_w32.c
@@ -304,32 +304,37 @@ int p_hide_directory__w32(const char *path)
 
 char *p_realpath(const char *orig_path, char *buffer)
 {
-	int ret, alloc = 0;
+	int ret;
 	wchar_t* orig_path_w = gitwin_to_utf16(orig_path);
 	wchar_t* buffer_w = (wchar_t*)git__malloc(GIT_PATH_MAX * sizeof(wchar_t));
 
-	if (buffer == NULL) {
-		buffer = (char *)git__malloc(GIT_PATH_MAX);
-		alloc = 1;
-	}
-
 	ret = GetFullPathNameW(orig_path_w, GIT_PATH_MAX, buffer_w, NULL);
 	git__free(orig_path_w);
 
 	if (!ret || ret > GIT_PATH_MAX) {
-		git__free(buffer_w);
-		if (alloc) git__free(buffer);
-
-		return NULL;
+		buffer = NULL;
+		goto done;
 	}
 
-	if (!WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, buffer_w, -1, buffer, GIT_PATH_MAX, NULL, NULL)) {
-		git__free(buffer_w);
-		if (alloc) git__free(buffer);
+	if (buffer == NULL) {
+		int buffer_sz = WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, buffer_w, -1, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL);
+
+		if (!buffer_sz ||
+			!(buffer = (char *)git__malloc(buffer_sz)) ||
+			!WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, buffer_w, -1, buffer, buffer_sz, NULL, NULL))
+		{
+			git__free(buffer);
+			buffer = NULL;
+		}
+	} else {
+		if (!WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, buffer_w, -1, buffer, GIT_PATH_MAX, NULL, NULL))
+			buffer = NULL;
 	}
-	
+
+done:
 	git__free(buffer_w);
-	git_path_mkposix(buffer);
+	if (buffer)
+		git_path_mkposix(buffer);
 	return buffer;
 }