diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strlist.c b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..025a78e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+/*
+ * (c) 2009 Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
+ *
+ * Licensed under the GPLv2.
+ */
+
+#include "strlist.h"
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+static struct str_node *str_node__new(const char *s, bool dupstr)
+{
+	struct str_node *self = malloc(sizeof(*self));
+
+	if (self != NULL) {
+		if (dupstr) {
+			s = strdup(s);
+			if (s == NULL)
+				goto out_delete;
+		}
+		self->s = s;
+	}
+
+	return self;
+
+out_delete:
+	free(self);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void str_node__delete(struct str_node *self, bool dupstr)
+{
+	if (dupstr)
+		free((void *)self->s);
+	free(self);
+}
+
+int strlist__add(struct strlist *self, const char *new_entry)
+{
+	struct rb_node **p = &self->entries.rb_node;
+	struct rb_node *parent = NULL;
+	struct str_node *sn;
+
+	while (*p != NULL) {
+		int rc;
+
+		parent = *p;
+		sn = rb_entry(parent, struct str_node, rb_node);
+		rc = strcmp(sn->s, new_entry);
+
+		if (rc > 0)
+			p = &(*p)->rb_left;
+		else if (rc < 0)
+			p = &(*p)->rb_right;
+		else
+			return -EEXIST;
+	}
+
+	sn = str_node__new(new_entry, self->dupstr);
+	if (sn == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	rb_link_node(&sn->rb_node, parent, p);
+	rb_insert_color(&sn->rb_node, &self->entries);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int strlist__load(struct strlist *self, const char *filename)
+{
+	char entry[1024];
+	int err;
+	FILE *fp = fopen(filename, "r");
+
+	if (fp == NULL)
+		return errno;
+
+	while (fgets(entry, sizeof(entry), fp) != NULL) {
+		const size_t len = strlen(entry);
+
+		if (len == 0)
+			continue;
+		entry[len - 1] = '\0';
+
+		err = strlist__add(self, entry);
+		if (err != 0)
+			goto out;
+	}
+
+	err = 0;
+out:
+	fclose(fp);
+	return err;
+}
+
+void strlist__remove(struct strlist *self, struct str_node *sn)
+{
+	rb_erase(&sn->rb_node, &self->entries);
+	str_node__delete(sn, self->dupstr);
+}
+
+bool strlist__has_entry(struct strlist *self, const char *entry)
+{
+	struct rb_node **p = &self->entries.rb_node;
+	struct rb_node *parent = NULL;
+
+	while (*p != NULL) {
+		struct str_node *sn;
+		int rc;
+
+		parent = *p;
+		sn = rb_entry(parent, struct str_node, rb_node);
+		rc = strcmp(sn->s, entry);
+
+		if (rc > 0)
+			p = &(*p)->rb_left;
+		else if (rc < 0)
+			p = &(*p)->rb_right;
+		else
+			return true;
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+static int strlist__parse_list_entry(struct strlist *self, const char *s)
+{
+	if (strncmp(s, "file://", 7) == 0)
+		return strlist__load(self, s + 7);
+
+	return strlist__add(self, s);
+}
+
+int strlist__parse_list(struct strlist *self, const char *s)
+{
+	char *sep;
+	int err;
+
+	while ((sep = strchr(s, ',')) != NULL) {
+		*sep = '\0';
+		err = strlist__parse_list_entry(self, s);
+		*sep = ',';
+		if (err != 0)
+			return err;
+		s = sep + 1;
+	}
+
+	return *s ? strlist__parse_list_entry(self, s) : 0;
+}
+
+struct strlist *strlist__new(bool dupstr, const char *slist)
+{
+	struct strlist *self = malloc(sizeof(*self));
+
+	if (self != NULL) {
+		self->entries = RB_ROOT;
+		self->dupstr = dupstr;
+		if (slist && strlist__parse_list(self, slist) != 0)
+			goto out_error;
+	}
+
+	return self;
+out_error:
+	free(self);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+void strlist__delete(struct strlist *self)
+{
+	if (self != NULL) {
+		struct str_node *pos;
+		struct rb_node *next = rb_first(&self->entries);
+
+		while (next) {
+			pos = rb_entry(next, struct str_node, rb_node);
+			next = rb_next(&pos->rb_node);
+			strlist__remove(self, pos);
+		}
+		self->entries = RB_ROOT;
+		free(self);
+	}
+}