diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/common/preset_registry.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/common/preset_registry.cpp
index 13c525139381..d11261160e6a 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/common/preset_registry.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/common/preset_registry.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "common/preset_registry.hpp"
 
 #include "common/env_vars.hpp"
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 #include "embedded_presets.hpp"
 
 #include <spdlog/fmt/fmt.h>
@@ -28,21 +29,21 @@ find_preset_directory()
     if(preset_dir_env && std::strlen(preset_dir_env) > 0)
     {
         auto dir = std::string{ preset_dir_env };
-        if(common::path::exists(dir)) return dir;
+        if(path::is_directory(dir)) return dir;
     }
 
     auto root = common::path::get_rocprofsys_root();
     if(!root.empty())
     {
         auto candidate = fmt::format("{}/share/rocprofiler-systems/presets", root);
-        if(common::path::exists(candidate)) return candidate;
+        if(path::is_directory(candidate)) return candidate;
     }
 
     const auto* rocm_path = std::getenv("ROCM_PATH");
     if(rocm_path && std::strlen(rocm_path) > 0)
     {
         auto candidate = fmt::format("{}/share/rocprofiler-systems/presets", rocm_path);
-        if(common::path::exists(candidate)) return candidate;
+        if(path::is_directory(candidate)) return candidate;
     }
 
     return {};
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.cpp
index 27f3bf087673..339b397a1c18 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #include <array>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unordered_map>
 
 using settings = ::tim::settings;
@@ -407,17 +406,6 @@ remove(std::string inp, const std::set<std::string>& entries)
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
 
-bool
-file_exists(const std::string& _fname)
-{
-    struct stat _buffer;
-    if(stat(_fname.c_str(), &_buffer) == 0)
-        return (S_ISREG(_buffer.st_mode) != 0 || S_ISLNK(_buffer.st_mode) != 0);
-    return false;
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
-
 namespace
 {
 constexpr std::string_view _rocm_op_prefix = "ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_";
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.hpp
index 951b2a1215a1..067a8f35084b 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/common.hpp
@@ -129,9 +129,6 @@ dump_log_abort(int _v);
 std::string
 remove(std::string inp, const std::set<std::string>& entries);
 
-bool
-file_exists(const std::string&);
-
 // ROCm operation-list settings follow the env-var shape
 // ROCPROFSYS_ROCM_<DOMAIN>_OPERATIONS. These helpers are the single source of
 // truth for that mapping; do not reconstruct the prefix/suffix elsewhere.
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/generate_config.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/generate_config.cpp
index f30502494659..fe3b2b5874fc 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/generate_config.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-avail/generate_config.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "common/env_vars.hpp"
 #include "common/environment.hpp"
 #include "common/json_config.hpp"
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 #include <spdlog/fmt/fmt.h>
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ generate_config(std::string _config_file, const std::set<std::string>& _config_f
     auto _open = [&_nout, &fmt_opts](std::ofstream& _ofs, const std::string& _fname,
                                      const std::string& _type) -> std::ofstream& {
         ++_nout;
-        if(file_exists(_fname))
+        if(rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(_fname))
         {
             if(fmt_opts.force_config)
             {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-causal/impl.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-causal/impl.cpp
index 2d3e4cfcf8a4..1c7ab431eeb9 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-causal/impl.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-causal/impl.cpp
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ parse_args(int argc, char** argv, std::vector<std::string>& _env,
             _generate_configs = true;
             auto _dir         = p.get<std::string>("generate-configs");
             if(!_dir.empty()) _config_folder = std::move(_dir);
-            if(!filepath::exists(_config_folder)) filepath::makedir(_config_folder);
+            if(!path::is_directory(_config_folder)) filepath::makedir(_config_folder);
         });
     parser
         .add_argument({ "--no-defaults" },
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/internal_libs.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/internal_libs.cpp
index 493ff8a82ecb..1e8890e4a2a8 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/internal_libs.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/internal_libs.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <timemory/components/timing/wall_clock.hpp>
 #include <timemory/environment/types.hpp>
 #include <timemory/log/macros.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/types.hpp>
 
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@
 
 namespace
 {
-namespace filepath = ::tim::filepath;
 using rocprofsys::get_env;
 using strview_init_t   = std::initializer_list<std::string_view>;
 using strview_set_t    = std::set<std::string_view>;
@@ -415,15 +413,16 @@ get_internal_libs_data_impl()
             { "librocprof-sys-dl.so", "librocprof-sys-user.so", "librocprof-sys-rt.so" })
         {
             auto libpath = fmt::format("{}/{}/{}", rocprofsys_root, lib_dir, lib_fname);
-            if(filepath::exists(libpath))
+            if(rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(libpath))
             {
                 _libs.emplace_back(rocprofsys::path::realpath(libpath));
             }
         }
     }
 
-    rocprofsys::utility::filter_sort_unique(
-        _libs, [](const auto& itr) { return itr.empty() || !filepath::exists(itr); });
+    rocprofsys::utility::filter_sort_unique(_libs, [](const auto& itr) {
+        return itr.empty() || !rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(itr);
+    });
 
     auto _data = library_module_map_t{};
     for(const auto& itr : _libs)
@@ -527,7 +526,10 @@ find_library(std::string_view _lib_v)
     for(const auto& itr : get_library_search_paths())
     {
         auto _path = fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, _lib_v);
-        if(filepath::exists(_path)) return std::optional<std::string>{ _path };
+        if(rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(_path))
+        {
+            return std::optional<std::string>{ _path };
+        }
     }
 
     return std::optional<std::string>{};
@@ -544,7 +546,10 @@ find_libraries(std::string_view _lib_v)
     for(const auto& itr : get_library_search_paths())
     {
         auto _path = fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, _lib_v);
-        if(filepath::exists(_path)) _libs.emplace_back(_path);
+        if(rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(_path))
+        {
+            _libs.emplace_back(_path);
+        }
     }
 
     return _libs;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.cpp
index 2af18d15e8d0..37f63a7e3eb6 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.cpp
@@ -212,11 +212,8 @@ get_absolute_exe_filepath(std::string exe_name);
 std::string
 get_absolute_lib_filepath(std::string lib_name);
 
-bool
-exists(const std::string& name);
-
-bool
-is_file(std::string _name);
+std::string
+absolute(std::string _path);
 
 std::string
 get_cwd();
@@ -292,7 +289,8 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
     auto rocprofsys_root_from_env = rocprofsys::get_env<std::string>(
         "rocprofiler_systems_ROOT",
         rocprofsys::get_env<std::string>(rocprofsys::env_vars::ROOT, ""));
-    if(!rocprofsys_root_from_env.empty() && exists(rocprofsys_root_from_env))
+    if(!rocprofsys_root_from_env.empty() &&
+       path::is_directory(absolute(rocprofsys_root_from_env)))
     {
         bin_search_paths.emplace_back(rocprofsys_root_from_env + "/bin");
         bin_search_paths.emplace_back(rocprofsys_root_from_env +
@@ -312,7 +310,7 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
     }
 
     auto _rocprofsys_exe_filepath = path::realpath(get_absolute_exe_filepath(argv[0]));
-    if(!exists(_rocprofsys_exe_filepath))
+    if(!path::is_regular_file(absolute(_rocprofsys_exe_filepath)))
         _rocprofsys_exe_filepath =
             path::realpath(get_absolute_exe_filepath(rocprofsys_get_exe_realpath()));
     bin_search_paths.emplace_back(path::parent_path(_rocprofsys_exe_filepath));
@@ -2765,12 +2763,15 @@ absolute(std::string _path)
 std::string
 get_absolute_filepath(std::string _name, const strvec_t& _search_paths)
 {
-    if(!_name.empty() && (!exists(_name) || !is_file(_name)))
+    if(!_name.empty() && !path::is_regular_file(absolute(_name)))
     {
         auto _orig = _name;
         for(auto itr : _search_paths)
         {
-            if(!path::is_directory(itr) || is_file(itr)) itr = path::parent_path(itr);
+            if(!path::is_directory(itr))
+            {
+                itr = path::parent_path(itr);
+            }
 
             auto _exists = false;
             ROCPROFSYS_ADD_LOG_ENTRY("searching", itr, "for", _name);
@@ -2778,7 +2779,7 @@ get_absolute_filepath(std::string _name, const strvec_t& _search_paths)
                 { absolute(fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, _name)),
                   absolute(fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, path::filename(_name))) })
             {
-                _exists = exists(pitr) && is_file(pitr);
+                _exists = path::is_regular_file(pitr);
                 if(_exists)
                 {
                     _name = pitr;
@@ -2790,7 +2791,7 @@ get_absolute_filepath(std::string _name, const strvec_t& _search_paths)
             if(_exists) break;
         }
 
-        if(!exists(_name))
+        if(!path::is_regular_file(absolute(_name)))
         {
             auto _search_paths_v = fmt::format("{}", fmt::join(bin_search_paths, ", "));
             verbprintf(
@@ -2843,7 +2844,7 @@ get_absolute_lib_filepath(std::string lib_name)
 {
     auto _orig_name = lib_name;
     lib_name        = get_absolute_filepath(std::move(lib_name), lib_search_paths);
-    if(_orig_name == lib_name && !exists(lib_name) &&
+    if(_orig_name == lib_name && !path::is_regular_file(absolute(lib_name)) &&
        lib_name.find(".so") == std::string::npos &&
        lib_name.find(".a") == std::string::npos)
     {
@@ -2852,20 +2853,6 @@ get_absolute_lib_filepath(std::string lib_name)
     return lib_name;
 }
 
-bool
-exists(const std::string& name)
-{
-    return filepath::exists(absolute(name));
-}
-
-bool
-is_file(std::string _name)
-{
-    _name = path::realpath(_name);
-    struct stat buffer;
-    return (stat(_name.c_str(), &buffer) == 0 && S_ISREG(buffer.st_mode) != 0);
-}
-
 std::string
 get_cwd()
 {
@@ -2895,10 +2882,10 @@ find_dyn_api_rt()
         rocprofsys::get_env<std::string>("DYNINSTAPI_RT_LIB", _dyn_api_rt_base + ".so");
     auto _dyn_api_rt_abs = get_absolute_lib_filepath(_dyn_api_rt_env);
 
-    if(!exists(_dyn_api_rt_abs))
+    if(!path::is_regular_file(absolute(_dyn_api_rt_abs)))
         _dyn_api_rt_abs = get_absolute_lib_filepath(_dyn_api_rt_base + ".a");
 
-    if(exists(_dyn_api_rt_abs))
+    if(path::is_regular_file(absolute(_dyn_api_rt_abs)))
     {
         rocprofsys::set_env<string_t>("DYNINSTAPI_RT_LIB", _dyn_api_rt_abs, 1);
         rocprofsys::set_env<string_t>("DYNINST_REWRITER_PATHS",
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.hpp
index 56c309045967..e950ac76a370 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/bin/rocprof-sys-instrument/rocprof-sys-instrument.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 #include "core/common_types.hpp"
 #include "core/demangler.hpp"
 #include "function_signature.hpp"
@@ -12,7 +13,6 @@
 #include "module_function.hpp"
 
 #include <spdlog/fmt/ranges.h>
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
 
 #include <dlfcn.h>
 #include <string>
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ struct rocprofsys_snippet_vec
 //======================================================================================//
 //
 static inline bool
-rocprofsys_get_is_executable(std::string_view _cmd, bool _default_v)
+rocprofsys_get_is_executable(const std::string& _cmd, bool _default_v)
 {
     bool _is_executable = _default_v;
 
-    if(_cmd.empty())
+    if(!_cmd.empty())
     {
-        if(!tim::filepath::exists(std::string{ _cmd }))
+        if(!rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(_cmd))
         {
             verbprintf(
                 0,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
index e54e782b93fd..ea27ca1d8c1f 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/binary/analysis.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include <timemory/unwind/bfd.hpp>
 #include <timemory/unwind/dlinfo.hpp>
 #include <timemory/unwind/types.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
 #include <timemory/utility/procfs/maps.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
@@ -138,7 +137,7 @@ get_binary_info(const std::vector<std::string>&  _files,
     auto _filter = [&_satisfies_binary_filter](const procfs::maps& _v) {
         if(_v.pathname.empty()) return false;
         auto _path = path::realpath(_v.pathname);
-        return (filepath::exists(_path) && _satisfies_binary_filter(_path));
+        return (path::is_regular_file(_path) && _satisfies_binary_filter(_path));
     };
 
     auto _data = std::vector<binary_info>{};
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ get_binary_info(const std::vector<std::string>&  _files,
         for(const auto& itr : _files)
         {
             auto _filename = path::realpath(itr);
-            if(filepath::exists(_filename) && _satisfies_binary_filter(_filename) &&
+            if(path::is_regular_file(_filename) && _satisfies_binary_filter(_filename) &&
                _exists.find(_filename) == _exists.end())
             {
                 _data.emplace_back(parse_line_info(_filename, _process_dwarf,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/environment.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/environment.hpp
index 817caf9697a7..02aa28bdae03 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/environment.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/environment.hpp
@@ -9,14 +9,13 @@
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 #include <spdlog/fmt/fmt.h>
 
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
-
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <cctype>
 #include <charconv>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
+#include <optional>
 #include <set>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
@@ -484,7 +483,7 @@ discover_llvm_libdir_for_ompt()
 
     auto has_libomptarget = [](const std::string& dir) {
         const std::string so = dir + "/libomptarget.so";
-        return ::tim::filepath::exists(so);
+        return path::is_regular_file(so);
     };
 
     // Pick the first candidate that contains libomptarget.so
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/path.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/path.hpp
index 00350264eb36..adc6e39c99f6 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/path.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/path.hpp
@@ -79,12 +79,9 @@ inline std::string
 get_origin(const std::string&,
            std::vector<int>&& = { (RTLD_LAZY | RTLD_NOLOAD) }) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
 
-inline bool
-exists(const std::string& _fname) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
-
 inline std::string
-find_path(const std::string& _path, int _verbose,
-          const std::string& _search_paths) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
+find_library(const std::string& _path, int _verbose,
+             const std::string& _search_paths) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
 
 [[nodiscard]] inline std::string
 parent_path(std::string_view fpath, std::uint16_t levels = 1) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
@@ -104,6 +101,9 @@ read_symlink(const std::string& path) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
 [[nodiscard]] inline bool
 is_directory(std::string_view path) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
 
+[[nodiscard]] inline bool
+is_regular_file(std::string_view path) ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
+
 inline std::string
 get_rocprofsys_root() ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API;
 
@@ -160,20 +160,13 @@ path_type::path_type(const std::string& _fname)
     }
 }
 
-bool
-exists(const std::string& _fname)
-{
-    struct stat _buffer;
-    if(lstat(_fname.c_str(), &_buffer) == 0)
-        return (S_ISDIR(_buffer.st_mode) != 0 || S_ISREG(_buffer.st_mode) != 0 ||
-                S_ISLNK(_buffer.st_mode) != 0);
-    return false;
-}
-
 std::string
-find_path(const std::string& _path, int _verbose, const std::string& _search_paths)
+find_library(const std::string& _path, int _verbose, const std::string& _search_paths)
 {
-    if(exists(_path) && !_path.empty() && _path.at(0) == '/') return _path;
+    if(!_path.empty() && _path.at(0) == '/' && is_regular_file(_path))
+    {
+        return _path;
+    }
 
     auto _paths = delimit(_search_paths, ":");
 
@@ -184,7 +177,7 @@ find_path(const std::string& _path, int _verbose, const std::string& _search_pat
         ROCPROFSYS_PATH_LOG(_verbose >= _verbose_lvl + 1,
                             "searching for '%s' in '%s' ...\n", _path.c_str(),
                             itr.c_str());
-        if(exists(_f))
+        if(is_regular_file(_f))
         {
             ROCPROFSYS_PATH_LOG(_verbose >= _verbose_lvl, "found '%s' in '%s' ...\n",
                                 _path.c_str(), itr.c_str());
@@ -203,7 +196,7 @@ find_path(const std::string& _path, int _verbose, const std::string& _search_pat
                 ROCPROFSYS_PATH_LOG(_verbose >= _verbose_lvl + 1,
                                     "searching for '%s' in '%s' ...\n", _path.c_str(),
                                     fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, sitr).c_str());
-                if(exists(_f))
+                if(is_regular_file(_f))
                 {
                     ROCPROFSYS_PATH_LOG(_verbose >= _verbose_lvl,
                                         "found '%s' in '%s' ...\n", _path.c_str(),
@@ -284,6 +277,24 @@ is_directory(std::string_view path)
     return std::filesystem::is_directory(path, unused_error_code);
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Check whether a path exists and is a regular file.
+ *
+ * Follows symbolic links: a link that resolves to a regular file returns true,
+ * a broken link returns false. Directories, device nodes, FIFOs and sockets are
+ * not regular files and yield false. Never throws; any filesystem error
+ * (missing path, permission failure) yields false.
+ *
+ * @param path Filesystem path to test.
+ * @return true if @p path resolves to a regular file, false otherwise.
+ */
+[[nodiscard]] bool
+is_regular_file(std::string_view path)
+{
+    std::error_code unused_error_code;
+    return std::filesystem::is_regular_file(path, unused_error_code);
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve @p path to its canonical absolute form.
  * Filesystem operation: follows symlinks and collapses '.'/'..'; the path
@@ -391,7 +402,7 @@ get_origin(const std::string& _filename, std::vector<int>&& _open_modes)
         if(dlinfo(_handle, RTLD_DI_ORIGIN, &_buffer) == 0)
         {
             auto _origin = std::string{ _buffer };
-            if(exists(_origin)) return _origin;
+            if(is_directory(_origin)) return _origin;
         }
 
         if(_noload == false) dlclose(_handle);
@@ -414,7 +425,7 @@ get_internal_libpath(const std::string& _lib)
     for(const auto* libdir : { "lib", "lib64" })
     {
         auto _candidate = fmt::format("{}/{}/{}", _root, libdir, _lib);
-        if(exists(_candidate)) return _candidate;
+        if(is_regular_file(_candidate)) return _candidate;
     }
     return fmt::format("{}/lib/{}", _root, _lib);
 }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/setup.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/setup.hpp
index 7fc7784601b1..9a1f183eff5e 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/setup.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/setup.hpp
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ get_environ(int _verbose, std::string _search_paths = {},
         _search_paths = get_default_lib_search_paths();
     }
 
-    _omnilib    = common::path::find_path(_omnilib, _verbose, _search_paths);
-    _omnilib_dl = common::path::find_path(_omnilib_dl, _verbose, _search_paths);
+    _omnilib    = common::path::find_library(_omnilib, _verbose, _search_paths);
+    _omnilib_dl = common::path::find_library(_omnilib_dl, _verbose, _search_paths);
 
     return _data;
 }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/tests/test_path.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/tests/test_path.cpp
index 4180f13836cf..6e9f4e44ceee 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/tests/test_path.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/common/tests/test_path.cpp
@@ -85,39 +85,6 @@ TEST_F(PathTest, ParentPath_MultipleSlashes)
     EXPECT_EQ(parent_path("/a/b/c/d/e"), "/a/b/c/d");
 }
 
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_ExistingFile)
-{
-    std::string file_path = create_file("existing_file.txt");
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(file_path));
-}
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_NonexistentFile)
-{
-    EXPECT_FALSE(exists(m_test_dir + "/nonexistent_file.txt"));
-}
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_ExistingDirectory) { EXPECT_TRUE(exists(m_test_dir)); }
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_NonexistentDirectory)
-{
-    EXPECT_FALSE(exists("/nonexistent/path/to/dir"));
-}
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_SymbolicLink)
-{
-    std::string target    = create_file("target.txt");
-    std::string link_path = create_symlink(target, "link_to_target");
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(link_path));
-}
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_BrokenSymlink)
-{
-    std::string link_path = create_symlink("/nonexistent/target", "broken_link");
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(link_path));
-}
-
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_EmptyPath) { EXPECT_FALSE(exists("")); }
-
 TEST_F(PathTest, ReadSymlink_SymbolicLink)
 {
     std::string target    = create_file("read_symlink_target.txt");
@@ -287,6 +254,74 @@ TEST_F(PathTest, IsDirectory_RelativePath)
     ASSERT_EQ(chdir(saved_cwd), 0);
 }
 
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_ExistingFile)
+{
+    std::string file_path = create_file("isregular_file.txt");
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_regular_file(file_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_NonexistentFile)
+{
+    EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file(m_test_dir + "/nonexistent_file.txt"));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_Directory) { EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file(m_test_dir)); }
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_NonexistentPath)
+{
+    EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file("/nonexistent/path"));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_SymlinkToFile)
+{
+    std::string target    = create_file("isregular_target.txt");
+    std::string link_path = create_symlink(target, "isregular_link_to_file");
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_regular_file(link_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_SymlinkToDirectory)
+{
+    std::string subdir    = create_subdir("isregular_target_dir");
+    std::string link_path = create_symlink(subdir, "isregular_link_to_dir");
+    EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file(link_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_BrokenSymlink)
+{
+    std::string link_path =
+        create_symlink("/nonexistent/target", "isregular_broken_link");
+    EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file(link_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_EmptyPath) { EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file("")); }
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_SpecialCharactersInPath)
+{
+    std::string file_path = create_file("isregular file with spaces.txt");
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_regular_file(file_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_Fifo)
+{
+    std::string fifo_path = m_test_dir + "/isregular_fifo";
+    ASSERT_EQ(mkfifo(fifo_path.c_str(), 0644), 0);
+    EXPECT_FALSE(is_regular_file(fifo_path));
+}
+
+TEST_F(PathTest, IsRegularFile_RelativePath)
+{
+    const std::string file_name = "isregular_relative_file.txt";
+    create_file(file_name);
+
+    char saved_cwd[PATH_MAX];
+    ASSERT_NE(getcwd(saved_cwd, sizeof(saved_cwd)), nullptr);
+    ASSERT_EQ(chdir(m_test_dir.c_str()), 0);
+
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_regular_file(file_name));
+
+    ASSERT_EQ(chdir(saved_cwd), 0);
+}
+
 TEST_F(PathTest, GetRocprofsysRoot_ReturnsNonEmptyAbsolute)
 {
     std::string root = get_rocprofsys_root();
@@ -319,24 +354,24 @@ TEST_F(PathTest, GetInternalLibpath_ContainsLib)
     EXPECT_NE(libpath.find("lib"), std::string::npos);
 }
 
-TEST_F(PathTest, FindPath_AbsoluteExisting)
+TEST_F(PathTest, FindLibrary_AbsoluteExisting)
 {
     std::string file_path = create_file("findpath_test.txt");
-    std::string result    = find_path(file_path, 0, "");
+    std::string result    = find_library(file_path, 0, "");
     EXPECT_EQ(result, file_path);
 }
 
-TEST_F(PathTest, FindPath_NonexistentReturnsOriginal)
+TEST_F(PathTest, FindLibrary_NonexistentReturnsOriginal)
 {
     std::string nonexistent = "nonexistent_file_xyz.txt";
-    std::string result      = find_path(nonexistent, 0, m_test_dir);
+    std::string result      = find_library(nonexistent, 0, m_test_dir);
     EXPECT_EQ(result, nonexistent);
 }
 
-TEST_F(PathTest, FindPath_InSearchPath)
+TEST_F(PathTest, FindLibrary_InSearchPath)
 {
     std::string file_path = create_file("searchable.txt");
-    std::string result    = find_path("searchable.txt", 0, m_test_dir);
+    std::string result    = find_library("searchable.txt", 0, m_test_dir);
     EXPECT_EQ(result, file_path);
 }
 
@@ -362,12 +397,6 @@ TEST_F(PathTest, ChainedSymlinks)
     EXPECT_EQ(resolved, target);
 }
 
-TEST_F(PathTest, Exists_SpecialCharactersInPath)
-{
-    std::string file_path = create_file("file with spaces.txt");
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(file_path));
-}
-
 TEST_F(PathTest, ParentPath_RocprofsysTypicalPath)
 {
     std::string path   = "/opt/rocm-6.0.0/lib/rocprofiler-systems/librocprof-sys-dl.so";
@@ -383,9 +412,9 @@ TEST_F(PathTest, NestedDirectories)
     std::string subdir3 = subdir2 + "/level3";
     mkdir(subdir3.c_str(), 0755);
 
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(subdir1));
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(subdir2));
-    EXPECT_TRUE(exists(subdir3));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_directory(subdir1));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_directory(subdir2));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(is_directory(subdir3));
 
     EXPECT_EQ(parent_path(subdir3), subdir2);
     EXPECT_EQ(parent_path(subdir2), subdir1);
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
index b7d7c1b56e5d..92817fa835c2 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/argparse.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <cstdint>
 
 #include <timemory/settings/types.hpp>
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
 
@@ -25,10 +24,6 @@ namespace argparse
 {
 namespace
 {
-namespace filepath = ::tim::filepath;
-namespace path     = rocprofsys::common::path;
-using rocprofsys::common::remove_env;
-
 auto
 get_clock_id_choices()
 {
@@ -133,8 +128,10 @@ parser_data&
 add_ld_library_path(parser_data& _data)
 {
     auto libdir = path::parent_path(_data.env.dl_libpath);
-    if(filepath::exists(libdir))
+    if(path::is_directory(libdir))
+    {
         update_env(_data, "LD_LIBRARY_PATH", libdir, update_mode::APPEND);
+    }
     return _data;
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
index f76d0fbab75a..f4848e295fef 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/config.cpp
@@ -1407,7 +1407,8 @@ configure_settings(bool _init)
         // Prevent Timemory's read() silently dropping JSON config files without proper
         // root. Non-existing JSONs should not throw: default ROCPROFSYS_CONFIG_FILE
         // includes '~/.rocprofiler-systems.json' that can be missing
-        if(expanded_filename.ends_with(".json") && filepath::exists(expanded_filename) &&
+        if(expanded_filename.ends_with(".json") &&
+           path::is_regular_file(expanded_filename) &&
            !json_has_project_name_root(expanded_filename))
         {
             throw std::runtime_error(
@@ -3337,7 +3338,7 @@ tmp_file::~tmp_file()
 void
 tmp_file::touch() const
 {
-    if(!filepath::exists(filename))
+    if(!path::is_regular_file(filename))
     {
         // if the filepath does not exist, open in out mode to create it
         auto _ofs = std::ofstream{};
@@ -3462,7 +3463,7 @@ tmp_file::remove()
     if(m_pid != getpid()) return false;
 
     close();
-    if(filepath::exists(filename))
+    if(path::is_regular_file(filename))
     {
         LOG_DEBUG("Removing temporary file '{}'...", filename);
         auto _ret = ::remove(filename.c_str());
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
index 5f23d2a8b609..00d6db097580 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/dynamic_library.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "common/delimit.hpp"
 #include "common/environment.hpp"
-#include <timemory/utility/filepath.hpp>
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 #include <timemory/utility/procfs/maps.hpp>
 
 #include "logger/debug.hpp"
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ find_library_path(const std::string& _name, const std::vector<std::string>& _env
     for(const auto& itr : procfs::get_maps(process::get_id(), true))
     {
         auto&& _path = itr.pathname;
-        if(_path.find(_name) != std::string::npos && filepath::exists(_path))
+        if(_path.find(_name) != std::string::npos && path::is_regular_file(_path))
+        {
             return _path;
+        }
     }
 
     auto _paths = std::vector<std::string>{};
@@ -48,11 +50,11 @@ find_library_path(const std::string& _name, const std::vector<std::string>& _env
     for(auto& itr : _paths)
     {
         auto _v = fmt::format("{}/{}", itr, _name);
-        if(filepath::exists(_v)) return _v;
+        if(path::is_regular_file(_v)) return _v;
         for(const auto& litr : _path_suffixes)
         {
             _v = fmt::format("{}/{}/{}", itr, litr, _name);
-            if(filepath::exists(_v)) return _v;
+            if(path::is_regular_file(_v)) return _v;
         }
     }
 
@@ -75,17 +77,17 @@ dynamic_library::dynamic_library(std::string _env, std::string _fname, int _flag
         // override with value
         if(!_env_val.empty())
         {
-            if(_env_val.find('/') == 0 && filepath::exists(_env_val))
+            if(_env_val.starts_with('/') && path::is_regular_file(_env_val))
             {
                 filename = _env_val;
             }
-            else if(_env_val.find('/') == 0)
+            else if(_env_val.starts_with('/'))
             {
                 LOG_WARNING("Ignoring environment variable {}=\"{}\" because the "
                             "filepath does not exist. Using \"{}\" instead...",
                             envname, _env_val, filename);
             }
-            else if(_env_val.find('/') != 0 && filename.find('/') == 0)
+            else if(!_env_val.starts_with('/') && filename.starts_with('/'))
             {
                 LOG_WARNING("Ignoring environment variable {}=\"{}\" because the "
                             "filepath is relative. Using absolute path \"{}\" instead...",
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
index 99351d852f3f..8c2cf176c2a5 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/perfetto.cpp
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ post_process(tim::manager* _timemory_manager, bool& _perfetto_output_error,
         }
 
         // Test that the script exists
-        if(!filepath::exists(_script_path))
+        if(!path::is_regular_file(_script_path))
         {
             LOG_WARNING("Script not found: {}", _script_path);
         }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/discovery.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/discovery.cpp
index 3a273b5ea6af..e2a9186bcfb0 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/discovery.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/core/trace_cache/discovery.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ merge_perfetto_files()
     if(!_script_dir.empty())
         _script_path = fmt::format("{}/{}", _script_dir, _script_path);
 
-    if(!tim::filepath::exists(_script_path))
+    if(!path::is_regular_file(_script_path))
     {
         LOG_WARNING("Merge script not found: {}", _script_path);
         return;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys-dl/dl.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys-dl/dl.cpp
index a1732082457a..3f0a6589d035 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys-dl/dl.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys-dl/dl.cpp
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@ struct ROCPROFSYS_INTERNAL_API indirect
      */
     ROCPROFSYS_INLINE indirect(const std::string& _omnilib, const std::string& _userlib,
                                const std::string& _dllib, const std::string& _lib_paths)
-    : m_omnilib{ common::path::find_path(_omnilib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
-    , m_dllib{ common::path::find_path(_dllib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
-    , m_userlib{ common::path::find_path(_userlib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
+    : m_omnilib{ path::find_library(_omnilib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
+    , m_dllib{ path::find_library(_dllib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
+    , m_userlib{ path::find_library(_userlib, _rocprofsys_dl_verbose, _lib_paths) }
     {
         if(_rocprofsys_dl_verbose >= 1)
         {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
index 0cb953a52525..a30cf95b169a 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "common/defines.h"
 #include "common/delimit.hpp"
 #include "common/env_vars.hpp"
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 #include "common/setup.hpp"
 #include "common/static_object.hpp"
 #include "core/agent.hpp"
@@ -1214,7 +1215,7 @@ rocprofsys_finalize_hidden(void)
             for(auto& itr : _maps)
             {
                 auto&& _path = itr.pathname;
-                if(!_path.empty() && _path.at(0) != '[' && filepath::exists(_path))
+                if(!_path.empty() && _path.at(0) != '[' && path::is_regular_file(_path))
                     _libs.emplace(_path);
             }
             ar(tim::cereal::make_nvp("memory_maps_files", _libs),
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
index 2d2ce9ed543e..75d853d5e316 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-systems/source/lib/rocprof-sys/library/kokkosp.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "api.hpp"
 #include "common/defines.h"
 #include "common/env_vars.hpp"
+#include "common/path.hpp"
 #include "core/agent_manager.hpp"
 #include "core/components/fwd.hpp"
 #include "core/config.hpp"
@@ -296,7 +297,7 @@ extern "C"
                 {
                     auto&& _path = itr.pathname;
                     if(!_path.empty() && _path.at(0) != '[' &&
-                       rocprofsys::filepath::exists(_path))
+                       rocprofsys::path::is_regular_file(_path))
                         _libs.emplace(_path);
                 }
                 for(const auto& itr : _libs)