diff --git a/lib/filefct.sh b/lib/filefct.sh
index effefb8..ce8e9a3 100644
--- a/lib/filefct.sh
+++ b/lib/filefct.sh
@@ -108,4 +108,30 @@ installfile()
 }
 export -f installfile
 
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# determine if a directory is empty
+isdirempty()
+{
+    dir=$1
+
+    if [[ ! -d $dir ]]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    nbfiles=$(ls -a1 $dir | egrep -v '^.$|^..$' | wc -l)
+    if [[ $nbfiles -eq 0 ]]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# patch a file replacing all @var@ by the corresponding value in environment
+patchfile()
+{
+        : # todo
+}
+
 # EOF