diff --git a/src/context.cc b/src/context.cc
index 354195fa..8d7b903c 100644
--- a/src/context.cc
+++ b/src/context.cc
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <boost/foreach.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 using namespace boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::vector<const Context*> Context::ctx_stack;
 
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ AbstractNode *Context::evaluate_module(const ModuleInstantiation &inst) const
 std::string Context::getAbsolutePath(const std::string &filename) const
 {
 	if (!filename.empty()) {
-		return absolute(path(this->document_path) / filename).string();
+		return boosty::absolute(path(this->document_path) / filename).string();
 	}
 	else {
 		return filename;
diff --git a/src/handle_dep.cc b/src/handle_dep.cc
index d6425550..cbf7157d 100644
--- a/src/handle_dep.cc
+++ b/src/handle_dep.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 using namespace boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 boost::unordered_set<std::string> dependencies;
 const char *make_command = NULL;
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ const char *make_command = NULL;
 void handle_dep(const std::string &filename)
 {
 	path filepath(filename);
-	if (filepath.is_absolute()) {
+	if ( boosty::is_absolute( filepath )) {
 		dependencies.insert(filename);
 	}
 	else {
diff --git a/src/import.cc b/src/import.cc
index 435d06d8..e90965e6 100644
--- a/src/import.cc
+++ b/src/import.cc
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 using namespace boost::filesystem;
 #include <boost/assign/std/vector.hpp>
 using namespace boost::assign; // bring 'operator+=()' into scope
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 class ImportModule : public AbstractModule
 {
@@ -81,7 +82,8 @@ AbstractNode *ImportModule::evaluate(const Context *ctx, const ModuleInstantiati
 	std::string filename = c.getAbsolutePath(v.text);
 	import_type_e actualtype = this->type;
 	if (actualtype == TYPE_UNKNOWN) {
-		std::string ext = boost::algorithm::to_lower_copy(path(filename).extension().string());
+		std::string extraw = boosty::extension_str( path(filename) );
+		std::string ext = boost::algorithm::to_lower_copy( extraw );
 		if (ext == ".stl") actualtype = TYPE_STL;
 		else if (ext == ".off") actualtype = TYPE_OFF;
 		else if (ext == ".dxf") actualtype = TYPE_DXF;
diff --git a/src/lexer.l b/src/lexer.l
index 718874ff..77308a07 100644
--- a/src/lexer.l
+++ b/src/lexer.l
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 //isatty for visual c++ and mingw-cross-env
 #if defined __WIN32__ && ! defined _MSC_VER
@@ -109,13 +110,13 @@ use[ \t\r\n>]*"<"	{ BEGIN(cond_use); }
  ">"		{ 
 	BEGIN(INITIAL); 
         fs::path usepath;
-        if (fs::path(filename).is_absolute()) {
+        if ( boosty::is_absolute( fs::path(filename) ) ) {
           usepath = filename;
         }
         else {
           usepath = fs::path(parser_source_path) / filename;
           if (!fs::exists(usepath)) {
-            usepath = fs::absolute(fs::path(librarydir) / filename);
+            usepath = boosty::absolute(fs::path(librarydir) / filename);
           }
         }
 	handle_dep(usepath.string());
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ void includefile()
 
   fs::path dirinfo = sourcepath();
   if (!filepath.empty()) {
-    if (fs::path(filepath).is_absolute()) {
+    if (boosty::is_absolute( fs::path(filepath) ) ) {
       dirinfo = filepath;
     }
     else {
@@ -214,8 +215,8 @@ void includefile()
   filepath.clear();
   path_stack.push_back(dirinfo);
 
-  handle_dep(fs::absolute(finfo).string());
-  yyin = fopen(fs::absolute(finfo).string().c_str(), "r");
+  handle_dep(boosty::absolute(finfo).string());
+  yyin = fopen(boosty::absolute(finfo).string().c_str(), "r");
   if (!yyin) {
     PRINTF("WARNING: Can't open input file `%s'.", filename.c_str());
     path_stack.pop_back();
diff --git a/src/openscad.cc b/src/openscad.cc
index b29eafdf..b4d1c0f0 100644
--- a/src/openscad.cc
+++ b/src/openscad.cc
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/program_options.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
 #define snprintf _snprintf
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	QDir exdir(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath());
 #ifdef Q_WS_MAC
@@ -273,11 +274,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			}
 			fclose(fp);
 			text << commandline_commands;
-			root_module = parse(text.str().c_str(), fs::absolute(filename).generic_string().c_str(), false);
+			fs::path abspath = boosty::absolute( filename );
+			std::string fname = boosty::stringy( abspath );
+			root_module = parse(text.str().c_str(), fname.c_str(), false);
 			if (!root_module) exit(1);
 		}
 		
-		fs::path fpath = fs::absolute(fs::path(filename));
+		fs::path fpath = boosty::absolute( fs::path(filename) );
 		fs::path fparent = fpath.parent_path();
 		fs::current_path( fparent );
 
@@ -374,7 +377,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif		
 
 		QString qfilename;
-		if (filename) qfilename = QString::fromStdString(fs::absolute(filename).string());
+		fs::path abspath = boosty::absolute( filename );
+		std::string absname = boosty::stringy( abspath );
+		if (filename) qfilename = QString::fromStdString( absname );
 
 #if 0 /*** disabled by clifford wolf: adds rendering artefacts with OpenCSG ***/
 		// turn on anti-aliasing
diff --git a/src/parser.y b/src/parser.y
index 1c4a7843..7e27bfe5 100644
--- a/src/parser.y
+++ b/src/parser.y
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 
 using namespace boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 int parser_error_pos = -1;
 
@@ -641,7 +642,8 @@ Module *Module::compile_library(const std::string &filename)
 	libs_cache[filename] = e;
 
 	Module *backup_mod = module;
-	Module *lib_mod = dynamic_cast<Module*>(parse(text.str().c_str(), path(filename).parent_path().generic_string().c_str(), 0));
+	std::string pathname = boosty::stringy( fs::path(filename).parent_path() );
+	Module *lib_mod = dynamic_cast<Module*>(parse(text.str().c_str(), pathname.c_str(), 0));
 	module = backup_mod;
 
 	if (lib_mod) {
diff --git a/src/parsersettings.cc b/src/parsersettings.cc
index 2d0b1b3e..330e2e25 100644
--- a/src/parsersettings.cc
+++ b/src/parsersettings.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 
 using namespace boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string librarydir;
 
@@ -14,14 +15,14 @@ void parser_init(const std::string &applicationpath)
 	if (!is_directory(libdir / "libraries")) libdir /= "../../..";
 #elif defined(Q_OS_UNIX)
 	if (is_directory(tmpdir = libdir / "../share/openscad/libraries")) {
-		librarydir = tmpdir.generic_string();
+		librarydir = boosty::stringy( tmpdir );
 	} else if (is_directory(tmpdir = libdir / "../../share/openscad/libraries")) {
-		librarydir = tmpdir.generic_string();
+		librarydir = boosty::stringy( tmpdir );
 	} else if (is_directory(tmpdir = libdir / "../../libraries")) {
-		librarydir = tmpdir.generic_string();
+		librarydir = boosty::stringy( tmpdir );
 	} else
 #endif
-			if (is_directory(tmpdir = libdir / "libraries")) {
-			librarydir = tmpdir.generic_string();
+		if (is_directory(tmpdir = libdir / "libraries")) {
+			librarydir = boosty::stringy( tmpdir );
 		}
 }
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 9d5e24e7..66958a8f 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -125,10 +125,7 @@ if (NOT $ENV{BOOSTDIR} STREQUAL "")
   message(STATUS "BOOST_ROOT: " ${BOOST_ROOT})
 endif()
 
-find_package( Boost 1.44.0 COMPONENTS thread program_options filesystem system regex REQUIRED)
-if ( ${Boost_VERSION} VERSION_LESS "104601" )
-  add_definitions( -DBOOST_FILESYSTEM_VERSION=3 )
-endif()
+find_package( Boost 1.42.0 COMPONENTS thread program_options filesystem system regex REQUIRED)
 message(STATUS "Boost includes found: " ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 message(STATUS "Boost libraries found:")
 foreach(boostlib ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
diff --git a/tests/cgalcachetest.cc b/tests/cgalcachetest.cc
index ad856d25..1680c6e5 100644
--- a/tests/cgalcachetest.cc
+++ b/tests/cgalcachetest.cc
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
 
 #include <boost/program_options.hpp>
 namespace po = boost::program_options;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/cgalpngtest.cc b/tests/cgalpngtest.cc
index ca375725..9002f3b1 100644
--- a/tests/cgalpngtest.cc
+++ b/tests/cgalpngtest.cc
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/cgalstlsanitytest.cc b/tests/cgalstlsanitytest.cc
index e537b4ad..548ab448 100644
--- a/tests/cgalstlsanitytest.cc
+++ b/tests/cgalstlsanitytest.cc
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/cgaltest.cc b/tests/cgaltest.cc
index 956bf437..4c23ee12 100644
--- a/tests/cgaltest.cc
+++ b/tests/cgaltest.cc
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/csgtermtest.cc b/tests/csgtermtest.cc
index 016285e9..a7369e88 100644
--- a/tests/csgtermtest.cc
+++ b/tests/csgtermtest.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/csgtestcore.cc b/tests/csgtestcore.cc
index 65e9127c..b5a62240 100644
--- a/tests/csgtestcore.cc
+++ b/tests/csgtestcore.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
 namespace po = boost::program_options;
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 using std::string;
 using std::vector;
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ int csgtestcore(int argc, char *argv[], test_type_e test_type)
 
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	std::string currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	std::string currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/csgtexttest.cc b/tests/csgtexttest.cc
index daed4e41..4a1c9c6b 100644
--- a/tests/csgtexttest.cc
+++ b/tests/csgtexttest.cc
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/dumptest.cc b/tests/dumptest.cc
index 6dd65a44..8353f26f 100644
--- a/tests/dumptest.cc
+++ b/tests/dumptest.cc
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());
 
diff --git a/tests/echotest.cc b/tests/echotest.cc
index 7abfd78a..b8815037 100644
--- a/tests/echotest.cc
+++ b/tests/echotest.cc
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#include "boosty.h"
 
 std::string commandline_commands;
 std::string currentdir;
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	QApplication app(argc, argv, false);
 	fs::path original_path = fs::current_path();
 
-	currentdir = fs::current_path().generic_string();
+	currentdir = boosty::stringy( fs::current_path() );
 
 	parser_init(QApplication::instance()->applicationDirPath().toStdString());