diff --git a/forc-util/src/lib.rs b/forc-util/src/lib.rs
index bc85e9c92fd..72f21086e8f 100644
--- a/forc-util/src/lib.rs
+++ b/forc-util/src/lib.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ use sway_utils::constants;
 pub mod bytecode;
 pub mod fs_locking;
 pub mod restricted;
+pub mod workspace;
 
 #[macro_use]
 pub mod cli;
diff --git a/forc-util/src/workspace.rs b/forc-util/src/workspace.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..727d30abd56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/forc-util/src/workspace.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+use std::{
+    env,
+    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+};
+
+pub fn check_workspace_membership(path: &str, name: &str) {}
+
+pub fn root_manifest(manifest_path: Option<&Path>, cwd: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, anyhow::Error> {
+    if let Some(manifest_path) = manifest_path {
+        let path = cwd.join(manifest_path);
+
+        if !path.ends_with("Forc.toml") && !path.is_file() {
+            anyhow::bail!("the manifest-path must be a path to a Forc.toml file")
+        }
+
+        if !path.exists() {
+            anyhow::bail!("manifest path `{}` does not exist", manifest_path.display())
+        }
+
+        if path.is_dir() {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "manifest path `{}` is a directory but expected a file",
+                manifest_path.display()
+            )
+        }
+
+        Ok(path)
+    } else {
+        find_root_manifest_for_wd(cwd)
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn find_root_manifest_for_wd(cwd: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, anyhow::Error> {
+    let valid_forc_toml_file_name = "Forc.toml";
+    let invalid_forc_toml_file_name = "forc.toml";
+    let mut invalid_forc_toml_path_exists = false;
+
+    for current in ancestors(cwd, None) {
+        let manifest = current.join(valid_forc_toml_file_name);
+        if manifest.exists() {
+            return Ok(manifest);
+        }
+        if current.join(invalid_forc_toml_file_name).exists() {
+            invalid_forc_toml_path_exists = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if invalid_forc_toml_path_exists {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+        "could not find `{}` in `{}` or any parent directory, but found forc.toml please try to rename it to Forc.toml",
+        valid_forc_toml_file_name,
+        cwd.display()
+    )
+    } else {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+            "could not find `{}` in `{}` or any parent directory",
+            valid_forc_toml_file_name,
+            cwd.display()
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn ancestors<'a>(path: &'a Path, stop_root_at: Option<&Path>) -> PathAncestors<'a> {
+    PathAncestors::new(path, stop_root_at)
+}
+
+pub struct PathAncestors<'a> {
+    current: Option<&'a Path>,
+    stop_at: Option<PathBuf>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> PathAncestors<'a> {
+    fn new(path: &'a Path, stop_at: Option<&Path>) -> PathAncestors<'a> {
+        let stop_at = stop_at.and_then(|p| {
+            if p.is_absolute() {
+                Some(p.to_path_buf())
+            } else {
+                env::current_dir().ok().map(|cwd| cwd.join(p))
+            }
+        });
+        PathAncestors {
+            current: Some(path),
+            stop_at,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for PathAncestors<'a> {
+    type Item = &'a Path;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<&'a Path> {
+        if let Some(path) = self.current {
+            self.current = path.parent();
+
+            if let Some(ref stop_at) = self.stop_at {
+                if path == stop_at {
+                    self.current = None;
+                }
+            }
+
+            Some(path)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/forc/src/utils/mod.rs b/forc/src/utils/mod.rs
index d3a2b9ac481..2c1aaff0b78 100644
--- a/forc/src/utils/mod.rs
+++ b/forc/src/utils/mod.rs
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 pub mod defaults;
-pub mod program_type;
+pub mod program_type;
\ No newline at end of file