Add generic conversion traits

This commit:

* Introduces `std::convert`, providing an implementation of
RFC 529.

* Deprecates the `AsPath`, `AsOsStr`, and `IntoBytes` traits, all
in favor of the corresponding generic conversion traits.

  Consequently, various IO APIs now take `AsRef<Path>` rather than
`AsPath`, and so on. Since the types provided by `std` implement both
traits, this should cause relatively little breakage.

* Deprecates many `from_foo` constructors in favor of `from`.

* Changes `PathBuf::new` to take no argument (creating an empty buffer,
  as per convention). The previous behavior is now available as
  `PathBuf::from`.

* De-stabilizes `IntoCow`. It's not clear whether we need this separate trait.

Closes #22751
Closes #14433

[breaking-change]

69 files changed, 666 insertions, 196 deletions

diff --git a/src/compiletest/compiletest.rs b/src/compiletest/compiletest.rs
index 01c4e99b77c..1ee5917ac9c 100644
--- a/src/compiletest/compiletest.rs
+++ b/src/compiletest/compiletest.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 #![feature(std_misc)]
 #![feature(test)]
 #![feature(path_ext)]
+#![feature(convert)]
+#![feature(str_char)]
 
 #![deny(warnings)]
 
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ pub fn parse_config(args: Vec<String> ) -> Config {
 
     fn opt_path(m: &getopts::Matches, nm: &str) -> PathBuf {
         match m.opt_str(nm) {
-            Some(s) => PathBuf::new(&s),
+            Some(s) => PathBuf::from(&s),
             None => panic!("no option (=path) found for {}", nm),
         }
     }
@@ -130,10 +132,10 @@ pub fn parse_config(args: Vec<String> ) -> Config {
         compile_lib_path: matches.opt_str("compile-lib-path").unwrap(),
         run_lib_path: matches.opt_str("run-lib-path").unwrap(),
         rustc_path: opt_path(matches, "rustc-path"),
-        clang_path: matches.opt_str("clang-path").map(|s| PathBuf::new(&s)),
+        clang_path: matches.opt_str("clang-path").map(|s| PathBuf::from(&s)),
         valgrind_path: matches.opt_str("valgrind-path"),
         force_valgrind: matches.opt_present("force-valgrind"),
-        llvm_bin_path: matches.opt_str("llvm-bin-path").map(|s| PathBuf::new(&s)),
+        llvm_bin_path: matches.opt_str("llvm-bin-path").map(|s| PathBuf::from(&s)),
         src_base: opt_path(matches, "src-base"),
         build_base: opt_path(matches, "build-base"),
         aux_base: opt_path(matches, "aux-base"),
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ pub fn parse_config(args: Vec<String> ) -> Config {
         mode: matches.opt_str("mode").unwrap().parse().ok().expect("invalid mode"),
         run_ignored: matches.opt_present("ignored"),
         filter: filter,
-        logfile: matches.opt_str("logfile").map(|s| PathBuf::new(&s)),
+        logfile: matches.opt_str("logfile").map(|s| PathBuf::from(&s)),
         runtool: matches.opt_str("runtool"),
         host_rustcflags: matches.opt_str("host-rustcflags"),
         target_rustcflags: matches.opt_str("target-rustcflags"),
diff --git a/src/compiletest/header.rs b/src/compiletest/header.rs
index 29123173f5b..e1ad66c69e4 100644
--- a/src/compiletest/header.rs
+++ b/src/compiletest/header.rs
@@ -328,10 +328,10 @@ fn parse_exec_env(line: &str) -> Option<(String, String)> {
 
 fn parse_pp_exact(line: &str, testfile: &Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     match parse_name_value_directive(line, "pp-exact") {
-      Some(s) => Some(PathBuf::new(&s)),
+      Some(s) => Some(PathBuf::from(&s)),
       None => {
         if parse_name_directive(line, "pp-exact") {
-            testfile.file_name().map(|s| PathBuf::new(s))
+            testfile.file_name().map(|s| PathBuf::from(s))
         } else {
             None
         }
diff --git a/src/compiletest/runtest.rs b/src/compiletest/runtest.rs
index a754bd950f7..319248cb810 100644
--- a/src/compiletest/runtest.rs
+++ b/src/compiletest/runtest.rs
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ fn aux_output_dir_name(config: &Config, testfile: &Path) -> PathBuf {
 }
 
 fn output_testname(testfile: &Path) -> PathBuf {
-    PathBuf::new(testfile.file_stem().unwrap())
+    PathBuf::from(testfile.file_stem().unwrap())
 }
 
 fn output_base_name(config: &Config, testfile: &Path) -> PathBuf {
diff --git a/src/libcollections/borrow.rs b/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
index 4bedbdeb368..88d59f699d1 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/borrow.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 use core::clone::Clone;
 use core::cmp::{Eq, Ord, Ordering, PartialEq, PartialOrd};
+use core::convert::AsRef;
 use core::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
 use core::marker::Sized;
 use core::ops::Deref;
@@ -291,10 +292,9 @@ impl<'a, B: ?Sized> Hash for Cow<'a, B> where B: Hash + ToOwned
 }
 
 /// Trait for moving into a `Cow`
-#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[unstable(feature = "into_cow", reason = "may be replaced by `convert::Into`")]
 pub trait IntoCow<'a, B: ?Sized> where B: ToOwned {
     /// Moves `self` into `Cow`
-    #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     fn into_cow(self) -> Cow<'a, B>;
 }
 
@@ -304,3 +304,10 @@ impl<'a,  B: ?Sized> IntoCow<'a, B> for Cow<'a, B> where B: ToOwned {
         self
     }
 }
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a, T: Clone> AsRef<T> for Cow<'a, T> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &T {
+        self
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/libcollections/lib.rs b/src/libcollections/lib.rs
index c4a01496763..156c90f1e84 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/lib.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #![feature(unsafe_no_drop_flag)]
 #![feature(step_by)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 #![cfg_attr(test, feature(rand, rustc_private, test))]
 #![cfg_attr(test, allow(deprecated))] // rand
 
diff --git a/src/libcollections/slice.rs b/src/libcollections/slice.rs
index 45864153dd7..0a0307aef32 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/slice.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/slice.rs
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@
 #![stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 
 use alloc::boxed::Box;
+use core::convert::AsRef;
 use core::clone::Clone;
 use core::cmp::Ordering::{self, Greater, Less};
 use core::cmp::{self, Ord, PartialEq};
@@ -1088,23 +1089,23 @@ pub trait SliceConcatExt<T: ?Sized, U> {
     fn connect(&self, sep: &T) -> U;
 }
 
-impl<T: Clone, V: AsSlice<T>> SliceConcatExt<T, Vec<T>> for [V] {
+impl<T: Clone, V: AsRef<[T]>> SliceConcatExt<T, Vec<T>> for [V] {
     fn concat(&self) -> Vec<T> {
-        let size = self.iter().fold(0, |acc, v| acc + v.as_slice().len());
+        let size = self.iter().fold(0, |acc, v| acc + v.as_ref().len());
         let mut result = Vec::with_capacity(size);
         for v in self {
-            result.push_all(v.as_slice())
+            result.push_all(v.as_ref())
         }
         result
     }
 
     fn connect(&self, sep: &T) -> Vec<T> {
-        let size = self.iter().fold(0, |acc, v| acc + v.as_slice().len());
+        let size = self.iter().fold(0, |acc, v| acc + v.as_ref().len());
         let mut result = Vec::with_capacity(size + self.len());
         let mut first = true;
         for v in self {
             if first { first = false } else { result.push(sep.clone()) }
-            result.push_all(v.as_slice())
+            result.push_all(v.as_ref())
         }
         result
     }
diff --git a/src/libcollections/str.rs b/src/libcollections/str.rs
index 3a289e4ef37..c014ddc069d 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/str.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/str.rs
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ use core::iter::AdditiveIterator;
 use core::iter::{Iterator, IteratorExt, Extend};
 use core::option::Option::{self, Some, None};
 use core::result::Result;
-use core::slice::AsSlice;
 use core::str as core_str;
 use unicode::str::{UnicodeStr, Utf16Encoder};
 
+use core::convert::AsRef;
 use vec_deque::VecDeque;
 use borrow::{Borrow, ToOwned};
 use string::String;
@@ -86,51 +86,47 @@ pub use core::str::{Searcher, ReverseSearcher, DoubleEndedSearcher, SearchStep};
 Section: Creating a string
 */
 
-impl<S: Str> SliceConcatExt<str, String> for [S] {
+impl<S: AsRef<str>> SliceConcatExt<str, String> for [S] {
     fn concat(&self) -> String {
-        let s = self.as_slice();
-
-        if s.is_empty() {
+        if self.is_empty() {
             return String::new();
         }
 
         // `len` calculation may overflow but push_str will check boundaries
-        let len = s.iter().map(|s| s.as_slice().len()).sum();
+        let len = self.iter().map(|s| s.as_ref().len()).sum();
         let mut result = String::with_capacity(len);
 
-        for s in s {
-            result.push_str(s.as_slice())
+        for s in self {
+            result.push_str(s.as_ref())
         }
 
         result
     }
 
     fn connect(&self, sep: &str) -> String {
-        let s = self.as_slice();
-
-        if s.is_empty() {
+        if self.is_empty() {
             return String::new();
         }
 
         // concat is faster
         if sep.is_empty() {
-            return s.concat();
+            return self.concat();
         }
 
         // this is wrong without the guarantee that `self` is non-empty
         // `len` calculation may overflow but push_str but will check boundaries
-        let len = sep.len() * (s.len() - 1)
-            + s.iter().map(|s| s.as_slice().len()).sum();
+        let len = sep.len() * (self.len() - 1)
+            + self.iter().map(|s| s.as_ref().len()).sum();
         let mut result = String::with_capacity(len);
         let mut first = true;
 
-        for s in s {
+        for s in self {
             if first {
                 first = false;
             } else {
                 result.push_str(sep);
             }
-            result.push_str(s.as_slice());
+            result.push_str(s.as_ref());
         }
         result
     }
diff --git a/src/libcollections/string.rs b/src/libcollections/string.rs
index cd6f27bf65f..6463949ac8a 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/string.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/string.rs
@@ -814,6 +814,7 @@ impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<Cow<'a, str>> for &'b str {
 }
 
 #[unstable(feature = "collections", reason = "waiting on Str stabilization")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl Str for String {
     #[inline]
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
@@ -974,6 +975,27 @@ impl<T: fmt::Display + ?Sized> ToString for T {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<str> for String {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a str> for String {
+    fn from(s: &'a str) -> String {
+        s.to_string()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl Into<Vec<u8>> for String {
+    fn into(self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        self.into_bytes()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 impl IntoCow<'static, str> for String {
     #[inline]
     fn into_cow(self) -> Cow<'static, str> {
@@ -989,6 +1011,7 @@ impl<'a> IntoCow<'a, str> for &'a str {
     }
 }
 
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a> Str for Cow<'a, str> {
     #[inline]
     fn as_slice<'b>(&'b self) -> &'b str {
diff --git a/src/libcollections/vec.rs b/src/libcollections/vec.rs
index b0e8dc7d0b6..85833c34049 100644
--- a/src/libcollections/vec.rs
+++ b/src/libcollections/vec.rs
@@ -1369,7 +1369,7 @@ impl<T> ops::Index<ops::RangeFull> for Vec<T> {
     type Output = [T];
     #[inline]
     fn index(&self, _index: &ops::RangeFull) -> &[T] {
-        self.as_slice()
+        self
     }
 }
 
@@ -1406,7 +1406,13 @@ impl<T> ops::IndexMut<ops::RangeFull> for Vec<T> {
 impl<T> ops::Deref for Vec<T> {
     type Target = [T];
 
-    fn deref(&self) -> &[T] { self.as_slice() }
+    fn deref(&self) -> &[T] {
+        unsafe {
+            let p = *self.ptr;
+            assume(p != 0 as *mut T);
+            slice::from_raw_parts(p, self.len)
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
@@ -1548,6 +1554,7 @@ impl<T: Ord> Ord for Vec<T> {
     }
 }
 
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<T> AsSlice<T> for Vec<T> {
     /// Returns a slice into `self`.
     ///
@@ -1562,11 +1569,7 @@ impl<T> AsSlice<T> for Vec<T> {
     #[inline]
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     fn as_slice(&self) -> &[T] {
-        unsafe {
-            let p = *self.ptr;
-            assume(p != 0 as *mut T);
-            slice::from_raw_parts(p, self.len)
-        }
+        self
     }
 }
 
@@ -1614,6 +1617,41 @@ impl<T: fmt::Debug> fmt::Debug for Vec<T> {
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<T> AsRef<Vec<T>> for Vec<T> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Vec<T> {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<T> Into<Vec<T>> for Vec<T> {
+    fn into(self) -> Vec<T> {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<T> AsRef<[T]> for Vec<T> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &[T] {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a, T: Clone> From<&'a [T]> for Vec<T> {
+    fn from(s: &'a [T]) -> Vec<T> {
+        s.to_vec()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a str> for Vec<u8> {
+    fn from(s: &'a str) -> Vec<u8> {
+        s.as_bytes().to_vec()
+    }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Clone-on-write
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/libcore/convert.rs b/src/libcore/convert.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..65a226d37cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libcore/convert.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+// Copyright 2014 The Rust Project Developers. See the COPYRIGHT
+// file at the top-level directory of this distribution and at
+// http://rust-lang.org/COPYRIGHT.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 <LICENSE-APACHE or
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0> or the MIT license
+// <LICENSE-MIT or http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>, at your
+// option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
+// except according to those terms.
+
+//! Traits for conversions between types.
+//!
+//! The traits in this module provide a general way to talk about
+//! conversions from one type to another. They follow the standard
+//! Rust conventions of `as`/`to`/`into`/`from`.
+
+#![unstable(feature = "convert",
+            reason = "recently added, experimental traits")]
+
+use marker::Sized;
+
+/// A cheap, reference-to-reference conversion.
+pub trait AsRef<T: ?Sized> {
+    /// Perform the conversion.
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &T;
+}
+
+/// A cheap, mutable reference-to-mutable reference conversion.
+pub trait AsMut<T: ?Sized> {
+    /// Perform the conversion.
+    fn as_mut(&mut self) -> &mut T;
+}
+
+/// A conversion that consumes `self`, which may or may not be
+/// expensive.
+pub trait Into<T>: Sized {
+    /// Perform the conversion.
+    fn into(self) -> T;
+}
+
+/// Construct `Self` via a conversion.
+pub trait From<T> {
+    /// Perform the conversion.
+    fn from(T) -> Self;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// GENERIC IMPLS
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+// As implies Into
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized, U: ?Sized> Into<&'a U> for &'a T where T: AsRef<U> {
+    fn into(self) -> &'a U {
+        self.as_ref()
+    }
+}
+
+// As lifts over &
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized, U: ?Sized> AsRef<U> for &'a T where T: AsRef<U> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &U {
+        <T as AsRef<U>>::as_ref(*self)
+    }
+}
+
+// As lifts over &mut
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized, U: ?Sized> AsRef<U> for &'a mut T where T: AsRef<U> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &U {
+        <T as AsRef<U>>::as_ref(*self)
+    }
+}
+
+// AsMut implies Into
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized, U: ?Sized> Into<&'a mut U> for &'a mut T where T: AsMut<U> {
+    fn into(self) -> &'a mut U {
+        (*self).as_mut()
+    }
+}
+
+// AsMut lifts over &mut
+impl<'a, T: ?Sized, U: ?Sized> AsMut<U> for &'a mut T where T: AsMut<U> {
+    fn as_mut(&mut self) -> &mut U {
+        (*self).as_mut()
+    }
+}
+
+// From implies Into
+impl<T, U> Into<U> for T where U: From<T> {
+    fn into(self) -> U {
+        U::from(self)
+    }
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// CONCRETE IMPLS
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+impl<T> AsRef<[T]> for [T] {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &[T] {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> AsMut<[T]> for [T] {
+    fn as_mut(&mut self) -> &mut [T] {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+impl AsRef<str> for str {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
+        self
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/libcore/lib.rs b/src/libcore/lib.rs
index 29cc11d5a60..e31542c183a 100644
--- a/src/libcore/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/lib.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ pub mod ops;
 pub mod cmp;
 pub mod clone;
 pub mod default;
+pub mod convert;
 
 /* Core types and methods on primitives */
 
diff --git a/src/libcore/option.rs b/src/libcore/option.rs
index 455c68d4319..4a1e24c1f40 100644
--- a/src/libcore/option.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/option.rs
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ use mem;
 use ops::{Deref, FnOnce};
 use result::Result::{Ok, Err};
 use result::Result;
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 use slice::AsSlice;
 use slice;
 
@@ -701,6 +702,19 @@ impl<T> Option<T> {
     pub fn take(&mut self) -> Option<T> {
         mem::replace(self, None)
     }
+
+    /// Convert from `Option<T>` to `&[T]` (without copying)
+    #[inline]
+    #[unstable(feature = "as_slice", since = "unsure of the utility here")]
+    pub fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [T] {
+        match *self {
+            Some(ref x) => slice::ref_slice(x),
+            None => {
+                let result: &[_] = &[];
+                result
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl<'a, T: Clone, D: Deref<Target=T>> Option<D> {
@@ -752,6 +766,9 @@ impl<T: Default> Option<T> {
 
 #[unstable(feature = "core",
            reason = "waiting on the stability of the trait itself")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0",
+             reason = "use the inherent method instead")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<T> AsSlice<T> for Option<T> {
     /// Convert from `Option<T>` to `&[T]` (without copying)
     #[inline]
diff --git a/src/libcore/prelude.rs b/src/libcore/prelude.rs
index 4bf7f85284c..424829939b9 100644
--- a/src/libcore/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/prelude.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pub use mem::drop;
 pub use char::CharExt;
 pub use clone::Clone;
 pub use cmp::{PartialEq, PartialOrd, Eq, Ord};
+pub use convert::{AsRef, AsMut, Into, From};
 pub use iter::{Extend, IteratorExt};
 pub use iter::{Iterator, DoubleEndedIterator};
 pub use iter::{ExactSizeIterator};
diff --git a/src/libcore/result.rs b/src/libcore/result.rs
index bc8d53e2a57..4b3cda46c1d 100644
--- a/src/libcore/result.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/result.rs
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ use iter::{Iterator, IteratorExt, DoubleEndedIterator,
            FromIterator, ExactSizeIterator, IntoIterator};
 use ops::{FnMut, FnOnce};
 use option::Option::{self, None, Some};
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 use slice::AsSlice;
 use slice;
 
@@ -408,6 +409,20 @@ impl<T, E> Result<T, E> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Convert from `Result<T, E>` to `&[T]` (without copying)
+    #[inline]
+    #[unstable(feature = "as_slice", since = "unsure of the utility here")]
+    pub fn as_slice(&self) -> &[T] {
+        match *self {
+            Ok(ref x) => slice::ref_slice(x),
+            Err(_) => {
+                // work around lack of implicit coercion from fixed-size array to slice
+                let emp: &[_] = &[];
+                emp
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Convert from `Result<T, E>` to `&mut [T]` (without copying)
     ///
     /// ```
@@ -788,10 +803,14 @@ impl<T: fmt::Debug, E> Result<T, E> {
 // Trait implementations
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+#[unstable(feature = "core",
+           reason = "waiting on the stability of the trait itself")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0",
+             reason = "use inherent method instead")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<T, E> AsSlice<T> for Result<T, E> {
     /// Convert from `Result<T, E>` to `&[T]` (without copying)
     #[inline]
-    #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [T] {
         match *self {
             Ok(ref x) => slice::ref_slice(x),
diff --git a/src/libcore/slice.rs b/src/libcore/slice.rs
index 907b2eba80c..e7535ae1d17 100644
--- a/src/libcore/slice.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/slice.rs
@@ -596,24 +596,29 @@ impl<T> ops::IndexMut<RangeFull> for [T] {
 /// Data that is viewable as a slice.
 #[unstable(feature = "core",
            reason = "will be replaced by slice syntax")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0",
+             reason = "use std::convert::AsRef<[T]> instead")]
 pub trait AsSlice<T> {
     /// Work with `self` as a slice.
     fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [T];
 }
 
 #[unstable(feature = "core", reason = "trait is experimental")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<T> AsSlice<T> for [T] {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [T] { self }
 }
 
 #[unstable(feature = "core", reason = "trait is experimental")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a, T, U: ?Sized + AsSlice<T>> AsSlice<T> for &'a U {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn as_slice(&self) -> &[T] { AsSlice::as_slice(*self) }
 }
 
 #[unstable(feature = "core", reason = "trait is experimental")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a, T, U: ?Sized + AsSlice<T>> AsSlice<T> for &'a mut U {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn as_slice(&self) -> &[T] { AsSlice::as_slice(*self) }
diff --git a/src/libcore/str/mod.rs b/src/libcore/str/mod.rs
index e8181395b5c..e31aebbd74e 100644
--- a/src/libcore/str/mod.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/str/mod.rs
@@ -1275,16 +1275,20 @@ mod traits {
            reason = "Instead of taking this bound generically, this trait will be \
                      replaced with one of slicing syntax (&foo[..]), deref coercions, or \
                      a more generic conversion trait")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0",
+             reason = "use std::convert::AsRef<str> instead")]
 pub trait Str {
     /// Work with `self` as a slice.
     fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a str;
 }
 
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl Str for str {
     #[inline]
     fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a str { self }
 }
 
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a, S: ?Sized> Str for &'a S where S: Str {
     #[inline]
     fn as_slice(&self) -> &str { Str::as_slice(*self) }
diff --git a/src/libgraphviz/lib.rs b/src/libgraphviz/lib.rs
index 0e080459344..6d95d5e0724 100644
--- a/src/libgraphviz/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libgraphviz/lib.rs
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@
        html_root_url = "http://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/")]
 #![feature(int_uint)]
 #![feature(collections)]
+#![feature(into_cow)]
 
 use self::LabelText::*;
 
diff --git a/src/librustc/lib.rs b/src/librustc/lib.rs
index 97ed391fdfc..793eff6a9da 100644
--- a/src/librustc/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/lib.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@
 #![feature(path_ext)]
 #![feature(str_words)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
+#![feature(convert)]
+#![feature(into_cow)]
 #![cfg_attr(test, feature(test))]
 
 extern crate arena;
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
index 47ec31c0f1a..dc9d1e11e8e 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/cstore.rs
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ impl crate_metadata {
 impl MetadataBlob {
     pub fn as_slice<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [u8] {
         let slice = match *self {
-            MetadataVec(ref vec) => vec.as_slice(),
+            MetadataVec(ref vec) => &vec[..],
             MetadataArchive(ref ar) => ar.as_slice(),
         };
         if slice.len() < 4 {
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/filesearch.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/filesearch.rs
index 22a4a6fc978..284e76b328a 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/filesearch.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/filesearch.rs
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ impl<'a> FileSearch<'a> {
 
     // Returns a list of directories where target-specific tool binaries are located.
     pub fn get_tools_search_paths(&self) -> Vec<PathBuf> {
-        let mut p = PathBuf::new(self.sysroot);
+        let mut p = PathBuf::from(self.sysroot);
         p.push(&find_libdir(self.sysroot));
         p.push(&rustlibdir());
         p.push(&self.triple);
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ impl<'a> FileSearch<'a> {
 }
 
 pub fn relative_target_lib_path(sysroot: &Path, target_triple: &str) -> PathBuf {
-    let mut p = PathBuf::new(&find_libdir(sysroot));
+    let mut p = PathBuf::from(&find_libdir(sysroot));
     assert!(p.is_relative());
     p.push(&rustlibdir());
     p.push(target_triple);
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ pub fn rust_path() -> Vec<PathBuf> {
         Some(env_path) => {
             let env_path_components =
                 env_path.split(PATH_ENTRY_SEPARATOR);
-            env_path_components.map(|s| PathBuf::new(s)).collect()
+            env_path_components.map(|s| PathBuf::from(s)).collect()
         }
         None => Vec::new()
     };
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
index e466dc8a3a0..7854db81146 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/loader.rs
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
         let mut rlibs = HashMap::new();
         let mut dylibs = HashMap::new();
         {
-            let locs = locs.iter().map(|l| PathBuf::new(&l[..])).filter(|loc| {
+            let locs = locs.iter().map(|l| PathBuf::from(l)).filter(|loc| {
                 if !loc.exists() {
                     sess.err(&format!("extern location for {} does not exist: {}",
                                      self.crate_name, loc.display()));
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/traits/select.rs b/src/librustc/middle/traits/select.rs
index 7dfbccea0dc..882caecb382 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/traits/select.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/traits/select.rs
@@ -1762,7 +1762,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> SelectionContext<'cx, 'tcx> {
 
         match obligations {
             Ok(mut obls) => {
-                obls.push_all(normalized.obligations.as_slice());
+                obls.push_all(&normalized.obligations);
                 obls
             },
             Err(ErrorReported) => Vec::new()
diff --git a/src/librustc/session/config.rs b/src/librustc/session/config.rs
index e368a669133..a7c67a08631 100644
--- a/src/librustc/session/config.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/session/config.rs
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ pub fn build_session_options(matches: &getopts::Matches) -> Options {
 
     let cg = build_codegen_options(matches);
 
-    let sysroot_opt = matches.opt_str("sysroot").map(|m| PathBuf::new(&m));
+    let sysroot_opt = matches.opt_str("sysroot").map(|m| PathBuf::from(&m));
     let target = matches.opt_str("target").unwrap_or(
         host_triple().to_string());
     let opt_level = {
diff --git a/src/librustc/session/search_paths.rs b/src/librustc/session/search_paths.rs
index 3c5d9744505..3dc31f9524e 100644
--- a/src/librustc/session/search_paths.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/session/search_paths.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl SearchPaths {
         if path.is_empty() {
             early_error("empty search path given via `-L`");
         }
-        self.paths.push((kind, PathBuf::new(path)));
+        self.paths.push((kind, PathBuf::from(path)));
     }
 
     pub fn iter(&self, kind: PathKind) -> Iter {
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/archive.rs b/src/librustc_back/archive.rs
index aec8ac38a5a..2cc51a723f2 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/archive.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/archive.rs
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ impl<'a> ArchiveBuilder<'a> {
             };
             let new_filename = self.work_dir.path().join(&filename[..]);
             try!(fs::rename(&file, &new_filename));
-            self.members.push(PathBuf::new(&filename));
+            self.members.push(PathBuf::from(filename));
         }
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/fs.rs b/src/librustc_back/fs.rs
index c29cbb352a3..6d8891dd4fe 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/fs.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/fs.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 pub fn realpath(original: &Path) -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
     let old = old_path::Path::new(original.to_str().unwrap());
     match old_realpath(&old) {
-        Ok(p) => Ok(PathBuf::new(p.as_str().unwrap())),
+        Ok(p) => Ok(PathBuf::from(p.as_str().unwrap())),
         Err(e) => Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other,
                                      "realpath error",
                                      Some(e.to_string())))
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/lib.rs b/src/librustc_back/lib.rs
index 99d24a60130..086742f740c 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/lib.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #![feature(std_misc)]
 #![feature(path_relative_from)]
 #![feature(step_by)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate syntax;
 extern crate serialize;
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/rpath.rs b/src/librustc_back/rpath.rs
index 4f9f1447d8a..8dd65c5b893 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/rpath.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/rpath.rs
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ fn get_rpath_relative_to_output(config: &mut RPathConfig, lib: &Path) -> String
 }
 
 fn relativize(path: &Path, rel: &Path) -> PathBuf {
-    let mut res = PathBuf::new("");
+    let mut res = PathBuf::new();
     let mut cur = rel;
     while !path.starts_with(cur) {
         res.push("..");
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs b/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
index 4663901a7b4..c464658f447 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
@@ -393,11 +393,11 @@ impl Target {
         let path = {
             let mut target = target.to_string();
             target.push_str(".json");
-            PathBuf::new(&target)
+            PathBuf::from(target)
         };
 
         let target_path = env::var_os("RUST_TARGET_PATH")
-                              .unwrap_or(OsString::from_str(""));
+                              .unwrap_or(OsString::new());
 
         // FIXME 16351: add a sane default search path?
 
diff --git a/src/librustc_borrowck/lib.rs b/src/librustc_borrowck/lib.rs
index e09457970e1..e927ea5b86c 100644
--- a/src/librustc_borrowck/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_borrowck/lib.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #![feature(rustc_private)]
 #![feature(staged_api)]
 #![feature(unsafe_destructor)]
+#![feature(into_cow)]
 
 #[macro_use] extern crate log;
 #[macro_use] extern crate syntax;
diff --git a/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs b/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
index dc27a301109..4c654cbf27d 100644
--- a/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_driver/driver.rs
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ pub fn phase_2_configure_and_expand(sess: &Session,
             // dependent dlls. Note that this uses cfg!(windows) as opposed to
             // targ_cfg because syntax extensions are always loaded for the host
             // compiler, not for the target.
-            let mut _old_path = OsString::from_str("");
+            let mut _old_path = OsString::new();
             if cfg!(windows) {
                 _old_path = env::var_os("PATH").unwrap_or(_old_path);
                 let mut new_path = sess.host_filesearch(PathKind::All).get_dylib_search_paths();
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ pub fn phase_5_run_llvm_passes(sess: &Session,
 pub fn phase_6_link_output(sess: &Session,
                            trans: &trans::CrateTranslation,
                            outputs: &OutputFilenames) {
-    let old_path = env::var_os("PATH").unwrap_or(OsString::from_str(""));
+    let old_path = env::var_os("PATH").unwrap_or(OsString::new());
     let mut new_path = sess.host_filesearch(PathKind::All).get_tools_search_paths();
     new_path.extend(env::split_paths(&old_path));
     env::set_var("PATH", &env::join_paths(new_path.iter()).unwrap());
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ pub fn build_output_filenames(input: &Input,
             // We want to toss everything after the final '.'
             let dirpath = match *odir {
                 Some(ref d) => d.clone(),
-                None => PathBuf::new("")
+                None => PathBuf::new()
             };
 
             // If a crate name is present, we use it as the link name
diff --git a/src/librustc_driver/lib.rs b/src/librustc_driver/lib.rs
index 0071e4434ef..5e6f2fb835b 100644
--- a/src/librustc_driver/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_driver/lib.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #![feature(io)]
 #![feature(set_stdio)]
 #![feature(unicode)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate arena;
 extern crate flate;
@@ -163,8 +164,8 @@ pub fn run_compiler<'a>(args: &[String],
 
 // Extract output directory and file from matches.
 fn make_output(matches: &getopts::Matches) -> (Option<PathBuf>, Option<PathBuf>) {
-    let odir = matches.opt_str("out-dir").map(|o| PathBuf::new(&o));
-    let ofile = matches.opt_str("o").map(|o| PathBuf::new(&o));
+    let odir = matches.opt_str("out-dir").map(|o| PathBuf::from(&o));
+    let ofile = matches.opt_str("o").map(|o| PathBuf::from(&o));
     (odir, ofile)
 }
 
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ fn make_input(free_matches: &[String]) -> Option<(Input, Option<PathBuf>)> {
             io::stdin().read_to_string(&mut src).unwrap();
             Some((Input::Str(src), None))
         } else {
-            Some((Input::File(PathBuf::new(ifile)), Some(PathBuf::new(ifile))))
+            Some((Input::File(PathBuf::from(ifile)), Some(PathBuf::from(ifile))))
         }
     } else {
         None
@@ -858,9 +859,9 @@ pub fn diagnostics_registry() -> diagnostics::registry::Registry {
     use syntax::diagnostics::registry::Registry;
 
     let all_errors = Vec::new() +
-        rustc::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS.as_slice() +
-        rustc_typeck::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS.as_slice() +
-        rustc_resolve::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS.as_slice();
+        &rustc::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS[..] +
+        &rustc_typeck::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS[..] +
+        &rustc_resolve::diagnostics::DIAGNOSTICS[..];
 
     Registry::new(&*all_errors)
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc_lint/builtin.rs b/src/librustc_lint/builtin.rs
index f6f82c65374..7958dabe74e 100644
--- a/src/librustc_lint/builtin.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_lint/builtin.rs
@@ -2056,7 +2056,7 @@ impl LintPass for InvalidNoMangleItems {
                 }
             },
             ast::ItemStatic(..) => {
-                if attr::contains_name(it.attrs.as_slice(), "no_mangle") &&
+                if attr::contains_name(&it.attrs, "no_mangle") &&
                        !cx.exported_items.contains(&it.id) {
                     let msg = format!("static {} is marked #[no_mangle], but not exported",
                                       it.ident);
@@ -2064,7 +2064,7 @@ impl LintPass for InvalidNoMangleItems {
                 }
             },
             ast::ItemConst(..) => {
-                if attr::contains_name(it.attrs.as_slice(), "no_mangle") {
+                if attr::contains_name(&it.attrs, "no_mangle") {
                     // Const items do not refer to a particular location in memory, and therefore
                     // don't have anything to attach a symbol to
                     let msg = "const items should never be #[no_mangle], consider instead using \
diff --git a/src/librustc_trans/back/link.rs b/src/librustc_trans/back/link.rs
index 34a23f3efac..c0a2e24d6f5 100644
--- a/src/librustc_trans/back/link.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_trans/back/link.rs
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ fn link_args(cmd: &mut Command,
         if t.options.is_like_osx {
             let morestack = lib_path.join("libmorestack.a");
 
-            let mut v = OsString::from_str("-Wl,-force_load,");
+            let mut v = OsString::from("-Wl,-force_load,");
             v.push(&morestack);
             cmd.arg(&v);
         } else {
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ fn link_args(cmd: &mut Command,
             cmd.args(&["-dynamiclib", "-Wl,-dylib"]);
 
             if sess.opts.cg.rpath {
-                let mut v = OsString::from_str("-Wl,-install_name,@rpath/");
+                let mut v = OsString::from("-Wl,-install_name,@rpath/");
                 v.push(out_filename.file_name().unwrap());
                 cmd.arg(&v);
             }
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ fn link_args(cmd: &mut Command,
         let mut get_install_prefix_lib_path = || {
             let install_prefix = option_env!("CFG_PREFIX").expect("CFG_PREFIX");
             let tlib = filesearch::relative_target_lib_path(sysroot, target_triple);
-            let mut path = PathBuf::new(install_prefix);
+            let mut path = PathBuf::from(install_prefix);
             path.push(&tlib);
 
             path
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@ fn add_local_native_libraries(cmd: &mut Command, sess: &Session) {
                                             &sess.target.target.options.staticlib_suffix,
                                             &search_path[..],
                                             &sess.diagnostic().handler);
-            let mut v = OsString::from_str("-Wl,-force_load,");
+            let mut v = OsString::from("-Wl,-force_load,");
             v.push(&lib);
             cmd.arg(&v);
         }
diff --git a/src/librustc_trans/lib.rs b/src/librustc_trans/lib.rs
index efc81da560b..176e3805a31 100644
--- a/src/librustc_trans/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_trans/lib.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #![feature(path_ext)]
 #![feature(fs)]
 #![feature(hash)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 #![feature(path_relative_from)]
 
 extern crate arena;
diff --git a/src/librustc_trans/save/mod.rs b/src/librustc_trans/save/mod.rs
index 83bb5efb425..765e93f5b82 100644
--- a/src/librustc_trans/save/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_trans/save/mod.rs
@@ -1509,10 +1509,10 @@ pub fn process_crate(sess: &Session,
 
     // find a path to dump our data to
     let mut root_path = match env::var_os("DXR_RUST_TEMP_FOLDER") {
-        Some(val) => PathBuf::new(&val),
+        Some(val) => PathBuf::from(val),
         None => match odir {
             Some(val) => val.join("dxr"),
-            None => PathBuf::new("dxr-temp"),
+            None => PathBuf::from("dxr-temp"),
         },
     };
 
diff --git a/src/librustc_trans/trans/debuginfo.rs b/src/librustc_trans/trans/debuginfo.rs
index 3e8cc46e255..b9c59a0bc78 100644
--- a/src/librustc_trans/trans/debuginfo.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_trans/trans/debuginfo.rs
@@ -1695,7 +1695,7 @@ fn declare_local<'blk, 'tcx>(bcx: Block<'blk, 'tcx>,
     };
 
     let name = CString::new(name.as_bytes()).unwrap();
-    match (variable_access, [].as_slice()) {
+    match (variable_access, &[][..]) {
         (DirectVariable { alloca }, address_operations) |
         (IndirectVariable {alloca, address_operations}, _) => {
             let metadata = unsafe {
diff --git a/src/librustc_typeck/collect.rs b/src/librustc_typeck/collect.rs
index 97cc3ac7c48..f1352cacae4 100644
--- a/src/librustc_typeck/collect.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_typeck/collect.rs
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ fn convert_field<'a, 'tcx>(ccx: &CrateCtxt<'a, 'tcx>,
     }
 }
 
-fn convert_associated_type<'a, 'tcx>(ccx: &CrateCtxt<'a, 'tcx>,
+fn as_refsociated_type<'a, 'tcx>(ccx: &CrateCtxt<'a, 'tcx>,
                                      container: ImplOrTraitItemContainer,
                                      ident: ast::Ident,
                                      id: ast::NodeId,
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ fn convert_item(ccx: &CrateCtxt, it: &ast::Item) {
                                               "associated items are not allowed in inherent impls");
                         }
 
-                        convert_associated_type(ccx, ImplContainer(local_def(it.id)),
+                        as_refsociated_type(ccx, ImplContainer(local_def(it.id)),
                                                 impl_item.ident, impl_item.id, impl_item.vis);
 
                         let typ = ccx.icx(&ty_predicates).to_ty(&ExplicitRscope, ty);
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ fn convert_item(ccx: &CrateCtxt, it: &ast::Item) {
                 match trait_item.node {
                     ast::MethodTraitItem(..) => {}
                     ast::TypeTraitItem(..) => {
-                        convert_associated_type(ccx, TraitContainer(local_def(it.id)),
+                        as_refsociated_type(ccx, TraitContainer(local_def(it.id)),
                                                 trait_item.ident, trait_item.id, ast::Public);
                     }
                 }
@@ -1987,7 +1987,7 @@ fn conv_param_bounds<'a,'tcx>(astconv: &AstConv<'tcx>,
         builtin_bounds,
         trait_bounds,
         region_bounds
-    } = astconv::partition_bounds(tcx, span, ast_bounds.as_slice());
+    } = astconv::partition_bounds(tcx, span, &ast_bounds);
 
     let mut projection_bounds = Vec::new();
 
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs b/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
index 421549f8b7e..8e9408c9ebc 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Clean<Crate> for visit_ast::RustdocVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         let src = match cx.input {
             Input::File(ref path) => path.clone(),
-            Input::Str(_) => PathBuf::new("") // FIXME: this is wrong
+            Input::Str(_) => PathBuf::new() // FIXME: this is wrong
         };
 
         Crate {
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/externalfiles.rs b/src/librustdoc/externalfiles.rs
index c2b6c940cae..57cb87e1b2d 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/externalfiles.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/externalfiles.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ pub fn load_string(input: &Path) -> io::Result<Option<String>> {
 macro_rules! load_or_return {
     ($input: expr, $cant_read: expr, $not_utf8: expr) => {
         {
-            let input = PathBuf::new($input);
+            let input = PathBuf::from(&$input[..]);
             match ::externalfiles::load_string(&input) {
                 Err(e) => {
                     let _ = writeln!(&mut io::stderr(),
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/html/render.rs b/src/librustdoc/html/render.rs
index 81daac7b90f..d9b40fb6ba6 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/html/render.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/html/render.rs
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ pub fn run(mut krate: clean::Crate,
            passes: HashSet<String>) -> io::Result<()> {
     let src_root = match krate.src.parent() {
         Some(p) => p.to_path_buf(),
-        None => PathBuf::new(""),
+        None => PathBuf::new(),
     };
     let mut cx = Context {
         dst: dst,
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ impl<'a> DocFolder for SourceCollector<'a> {
 impl<'a> SourceCollector<'a> {
     /// Renders the given filename into its corresponding HTML source file.
     fn emit_source(&mut self, filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-        let p = PathBuf::new(filename);
+        let p = PathBuf::from(filename);
 
         // If we couldn't open this file, then just returns because it
         // probably means that it's some standard library macro thing and we
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ impl<'a> SourceCollector<'a> {
         let mut fname = p.file_name().expect("source has no filename")
                          .to_os_string();
         fname.push(".html");
-        cur.push(&fname);
+        cur.push(&fname[..]);
         let mut w = BufWriter::new(try!(File::create(&cur)));
 
         let title = format!("{} -- source", cur.file_name().unwrap()
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/lib.rs b/src/librustdoc/lib.rs
index d747ed3f119..12baa849cc9 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/lib.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/lib.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #![feature(file_path)]
 #![feature(path_ext)]
 #![feature(path_relative_from)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate arena;
 extern crate getopts;
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ pub fn main_args(args: &[String]) -> int {
     let should_test = matches.opt_present("test");
     let markdown_input = input.ends_with(".md") || input.ends_with(".markdown");
 
-    let output = matches.opt_str("o").map(|s| PathBuf::new(&s));
+    let output = matches.opt_str("o").map(|s| PathBuf::from(&s));
     let cfgs = matches.opt_strs("cfg");
 
     let external_html = match ExternalHtml::load(
@@ -271,7 +272,7 @@ pub fn main_args(args: &[String]) -> int {
             return test::run(input, cfgs, libs, externs, test_args, crate_name)
         }
         (false, true) => return markdown::render(input,
-                                                 output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::new("doc")),
+                                                 output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::from("doc")),
                                                  &matches, &external_html,
                                                  !matches.opt_present("markdown-no-toc")),
         (false, false) => {}
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ pub fn main_args(args: &[String]) -> int {
     match matches.opt_str("w").as_ref().map(|s| &**s) {
         Some("html") | None => {
             match html::render::run(krate, &external_html,
-                                    output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::new("doc")),
+                                    output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::from("doc")),
                                     passes.into_iter().collect()) {
                 Ok(()) => {}
                 Err(e) => panic!("failed to generate documentation: {}", e),
@@ -297,7 +298,7 @@ pub fn main_args(args: &[String]) -> int {
         }
         Some("json") => {
             match json_output(krate, json_plugins,
-                              output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::new("doc.json"))) {
+                              output.unwrap_or(PathBuf::from("doc.json"))) {
                 Ok(()) => {}
                 Err(e) => panic!("failed to write json: {}", e),
             }
@@ -376,7 +377,7 @@ fn rust_input(cratefile: &str, externs: core::Externs, matches: &getopts::Matche
     let cfgs = matches.opt_strs("cfg");
     let triple = matches.opt_str("target");
 
-    let cr = PathBuf::new(cratefile);
+    let cr = PathBuf::from(cratefile);
     info!("starting to run rustc");
 
     let (tx, rx) = channel();
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/test.rs b/src/librustdoc/test.rs
index e2f8a6f82c6..0b79fa7970d 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/test.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/test.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub fn run(input: &str,
            mut test_args: Vec<String>,
            crate_name: Option<String>)
            -> int {
-    let input_path = PathBuf::new(input);
+    let input_path = PathBuf::from(input);
     let input = config::Input::File(input_path.clone());
 
     let sessopts = config::Options {
diff --git a/src/libserialize/lib.rs b/src/libserialize/lib.rs
index 90cb88046e5..f320f723c2e 100644
--- a/src/libserialize/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libserialize/lib.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ Core encoding and decoding interfaces.
 #![feature(std_misc)]
 #![feature(unicode)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 #![cfg_attr(test, feature(test))]
 
 // test harness access
diff --git a/src/libserialize/serialize.rs b/src/libserialize/serialize.rs
index 71f9e01706d..5e9baa9b9e9 100644
--- a/src/libserialize/serialize.rs
+++ b/src/libserialize/serialize.rs
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ impl Encodable for path::PathBuf {
 impl Decodable for path::PathBuf {
     fn decode<D: Decoder>(d: &mut D) -> Result<path::PathBuf, D::Error> {
         let bytes: String = try!(Decodable::decode(d));
-        Ok(path::PathBuf::new(&bytes))
+        Ok(path::PathBuf::from(bytes))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstd/env.rs b/src/libstd/env.rs
index 24882c7f7ab..9d6933ce9c8 100644
--- a/src/libstd/env.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/env.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use error::Error;
 use ffi::{OsString, AsOsStr};
 use fmt;
 use io;
-use path::{AsPath, PathBuf};
+use path::{self, Path, PathBuf};
 use sync::atomic::{AtomicIsize, ATOMIC_ISIZE_INIT, Ordering};
 use sync::{StaticMutex, MUTEX_INIT};
 use sys::os as os_imp;
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ pub fn current_dir() -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
 /// println!("Successfully changed working directory to {}!", root.display());
 /// ```
 #[stable(feature = "env", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn set_current_dir<P: AsPath + ?Sized>(p: &P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    os_imp::chdir(p.as_path())
+pub fn set_current_dir<P: AsRef<Path> + ?Sized>(p: &P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    os_imp::chdir(p.as_ref())
 }
 
 static ENV_LOCK: StaticMutex = MUTEX_INIT;
diff --git a/src/libstd/ffi/c_str.rs b/src/libstd/ffi/c_str.rs
index fc4f03ff3a5..1760445a0fc 100644
--- a/src/libstd/ffi/c_str.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/ffi/c_str.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 #![unstable(feature = "std_misc")]
 
+use convert::Into;
 use cmp::{PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Ordering};
 use error::{Error, FromError};
 use fmt;
@@ -130,6 +131,8 @@ pub struct NulError(usize, Vec<u8>);
 
 /// A conversion trait used by the constructor of `CString` for types that can
 /// be converted to a vector of bytes.
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "use std::convert::Into<Vec<u8>> instead")]
+#[unstable(feature = "std_misc")]
 pub trait IntoBytes {
     /// Consumes this container, returning a vector of bytes.
     fn into_bytes(self) -> Vec<u8>;
@@ -163,8 +166,8 @@ impl CString {
     /// internal 0 byte. The error returned will contain the bytes as well as
     /// the position of the nul byte.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn new<T: IntoBytes>(t: T) -> Result<CString, NulError> {
-        let bytes = t.into_bytes();
+    pub fn new<T: Into<Vec<u8>>>(t: T) -> Result<CString, NulError> {
+        let bytes = t.into();
         match bytes.iter().position(|x| *x == 0) {
             Some(i) => Err(NulError(i, bytes)),
             None => Ok(unsafe { CString::from_vec_unchecked(bytes) }),
@@ -433,15 +436,19 @@ pub unsafe fn c_str_to_bytes_with_nul<'a>(raw: &'a *const libc::c_char)
     slice::from_raw_parts(*(raw as *const _ as *const *const u8), len as usize)
 }
 
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a> IntoBytes for &'a str {
     fn into_bytes(self) -> Vec<u8> { self.as_bytes().to_vec() }
 }
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<'a> IntoBytes for &'a [u8] {
     fn into_bytes(self) -> Vec<u8> { self.to_vec() }
 }
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl IntoBytes for String {
     fn into_bytes(self) -> Vec<u8> { self.into_bytes() }
 }
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl IntoBytes for Vec<u8> {
     fn into_bytes(self) -> Vec<u8> { self }
 }
diff --git a/src/libstd/ffi/os_str.rs b/src/libstd/ffi/os_str.rs
index feacbf1e98b..4d411046632 100644
--- a/src/libstd/ffi/os_str.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/ffi/os_str.rs
@@ -63,16 +63,18 @@ pub struct OsStr {
 impl OsString {
     /// Constructs an `OsString` at no cost by consuming a `String`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+    #[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "use `from` instead")]
     pub fn from_string(s: String) -> OsString {
-        OsString { inner: Buf::from_string(s) }
+        OsString::from(s)
     }
 
     /// Constructs an `OsString` by copying from a `&str` slice.
     ///
     /// Equivalent to: `OsString::from_string(String::from_str(s))`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+    #[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "use `from` instead")]
     pub fn from_str(s: &str) -> OsString {
-        OsString { inner: Buf::from_str(s) }
+        OsString::from(s)
     }
 
     /// Constructs a new empty `OsString`.
@@ -98,8 +100,36 @@ impl OsString {
 
     /// Extend the string with the given `&OsStr` slice.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn push<T: AsOsStr + ?Sized>(&mut self, s: &T) {
-        self.inner.push_slice(&s.as_os_str().inner)
+    pub fn push<T: AsRef<OsStr>>(&mut self, s: T) {
+        self.inner.push_slice(&s.as_ref().inner)
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl From<String> for OsString {
+    fn from(s: String) -> OsString {
+        OsString { inner: Buf::from_string(s) }
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a String> for OsString {
+    fn from(s: &'a String) -> OsString {
+        OsString { inner: Buf::from_str(s) }
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a str> for OsString {
+    fn from(s: &'a str) -> OsString {
+        OsString { inner: Buf::from_str(s) }
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a OsStr> for OsString {
+    fn from(s: &'a OsStr) -> OsString {
+        OsString { inner: s.inner.to_owned() }
     }
 }
 
@@ -316,37 +346,76 @@ impl ToOwned for OsStr {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl<'a, T: AsOsStr + ?Sized> AsOsStr for &'a T {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         (*self).as_os_str()
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for OsStr {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         self
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for OsString {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         &self[..]
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for str {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         OsStr::from_str(self)
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for String {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         OsStr::from_str(&self[..])
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for OsStr {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for OsString {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for str {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        OsStr::from_str(self)
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for String {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        OsStr::from_str(&self[..])
+    }
+}
+
 #[allow(deprecated)]
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for Path {
     #[cfg(unix)]
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
diff --git a/src/libstd/fs/mod.rs b/src/libstd/fs/mod.rs
index 7df6d6887a2..ab65004f5d1 100644
--- a/src/libstd/fs/mod.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/fs/mod.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 use core::prelude::*;
 
 use io::{self, Error, ErrorKind, SeekFrom, Seek, Read, Write};
-use path::{AsPath, Path, PathBuf};
+use path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use sys::fs2 as fs_imp;
 use sys_common::{AsInnerMut, FromInner, AsInner};
 use vec::Vec;
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ impl File {
     /// This function will return an error if `path` does not already exist.
     /// Other errors may also be returned according to `OpenOptions::open`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn open<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
+    pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
         OpenOptions::new().read(true).open(path)
     }
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ impl File {
     ///
     /// See the `OpenOptions::open` function for more details.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn create<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
+    pub fn create<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
         OpenOptions::new().write(true).create(true).truncate(true).open(path)
     }
 
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ impl OpenOptions {
     ///   permissions for
     /// * Filesystem-level errors (full disk, etc)
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn open<P: AsPath>(&self, path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
-        let path = path.as_path();
+    pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(&self, path: P) -> io::Result<File> {
+        let path = path.as_ref();
         let inner = try!(fs_imp::File::open(path, &self.0));
         Ok(File { path: path.to_path_buf(), inner: inner })
     }
@@ -415,8 +415,8 @@ impl DirEntry {
 /// user lacks permissions to remove the file, or if some other filesystem-level
 /// error occurs.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn remove_file<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::unlink(path.as_path())
+pub fn remove_file<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::unlink(path.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Given a path, query the file system to get information about a file,
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ pub fn remove_file<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// permissions to perform a `metadata` call on the given `path` or if there
 /// is no entry in the filesystem at the provided path.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn metadata<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<Metadata> {
-    fs_imp::stat(path.as_path()).map(Metadata)
+pub fn metadata<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<Metadata> {
+    fs_imp::stat(path.as_ref()).map(Metadata)
 }
 
 /// Rename a file or directory to a new name.
@@ -464,8 +464,8 @@ pub fn metadata<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<Metadata> {
 /// reside on separate filesystems, or if some other intermittent I/O error
 /// occurs.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn rename<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::rename(from.as_path(), to.as_path())
+pub fn rename<P: AsRef<Path>, Q: AsRef<Path>>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::rename(from.as_ref(), to.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Copies the contents of one file to another. This function will also
@@ -494,9 +494,9 @@ pub fn rename<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// * The current process does not have the permission rights to access
 ///   `from` or write `to`
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn copy<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<u64> {
-    let from = from.as_path();
-    let to = to.as_path();
+pub fn copy<P: AsRef<Path>, Q: AsRef<Path>>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<u64> {
+    let from = from.as_ref();
+    let to = to.as_ref();
     if !from.is_file() {
         return Err(Error::new(ErrorKind::InvalidInput,
                               "the source path is not an existing file",
@@ -517,16 +517,16 @@ pub fn copy<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(from: P, to: Q) -> io::Result<u64> {
 /// The `dst` path will be a link pointing to the `src` path. Note that systems
 /// often require these two paths to both be located on the same filesystem.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn hard_link<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(src: P, dst: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::link(src.as_path(), dst.as_path())
+pub fn hard_link<P: AsRef<Path>, Q: AsRef<Path>>(src: P, dst: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::link(src.as_ref(), dst.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Creates a new soft link on the filesystem.
 ///
 /// The `dst` path will be a soft link pointing to the `src` path.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn soft_link<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(src: P, dst: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::symlink(src.as_path(), dst.as_path())
+pub fn soft_link<P: AsRef<Path>, Q: AsRef<Path>>(src: P, dst: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::symlink(src.as_ref(), dst.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Reads a soft link, returning the file that the link points to.
@@ -537,8 +537,8 @@ pub fn soft_link<P: AsPath, Q: AsPath>(src: P, dst: Q) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// reading a file that does not exist or reading a file that is not a soft
 /// link.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn read_link<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
-    fs_imp::readlink(path.as_path())
+pub fn read_link<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
+    fs_imp::readlink(path.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Create a new, empty directory at the provided path
@@ -556,8 +556,8 @@ pub fn read_link<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
 /// This function will return an error if the user lacks permissions to make a
 /// new directory at the provided `path`, or if the directory already exists.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn create_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::mkdir(path.as_path())
+pub fn create_dir<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::mkdir(path.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Recursively create a directory and all of its parent components if they
@@ -570,8 +570,8 @@ pub fn create_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// error conditions for when a directory is being created (after it is
 /// determined to not exist) are outlined by `fs::create_dir`.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn create_dir_all<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let path = path.as_path();
+pub fn create_dir_all<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let path = path.as_ref();
     if path.is_dir() { return Ok(()) }
     if let Some(p) = path.parent() { try!(create_dir_all(p)) }
     create_dir(path)
@@ -592,8 +592,8 @@ pub fn create_dir_all<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// This function will return an error if the user lacks permissions to remove
 /// the directory at the provided `path`, or if the directory isn't empty.
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn remove_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::rmdir(path.as_path())
+pub fn remove_dir<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::rmdir(path.as_ref())
 }
 
 /// Removes a directory at this path, after removing all its contents. Use
@@ -606,8 +606,8 @@ pub fn remove_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
 ///
 /// See `file::remove_file` and `fs::remove_dir`
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn remove_dir_all<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let path = path.as_path();
+pub fn remove_dir_all<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let path = path.as_ref();
     for child in try!(read_dir(path)) {
         let child = try!(child).path();
         let stat = try!(lstat(&*child));
@@ -659,8 +659,8 @@ pub fn remove_dir_all<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<()> {
 /// the process lacks permissions to view the contents or if the `path` points
 /// at a non-directory file
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-pub fn read_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<ReadDir> {
-    fs_imp::readdir(path.as_path()).map(ReadDir)
+pub fn read_dir<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<ReadDir> {
+    fs_imp::readdir(path.as_ref()).map(ReadDir)
 }
 
 /// Returns an iterator that will recursively walk the directory structure
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ pub fn read_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<ReadDir> {
            reason = "the precise semantics and defaults for a recursive walk \
                      may change and this may end up accounting for files such \
                      as symlinks differently")]
-pub fn walk_dir<P: AsPath>(path: P) -> io::Result<WalkDir> {
+pub fn walk_dir<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> io::Result<WalkDir> {
     let start = try!(read_dir(path));
     Ok(WalkDir { cur: Some(start), stack: Vec::new() })
 }
@@ -761,9 +761,9 @@ impl PathExt for Path {
            reason = "the argument type of u64 is not quite appropriate for \
                      this function and may change if the standard library \
                      gains a type to represent a moment in time")]
-pub fn set_file_times<P: AsPath>(path: P, accessed: u64,
+pub fn set_file_times<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, accessed: u64,
                                  modified: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::utimes(path.as_path(), accessed, modified)
+    fs_imp::utimes(path.as_ref(), accessed, modified)
 }
 
 /// Changes the permissions found on a file or a directory.
@@ -790,8 +790,8 @@ pub fn set_file_times<P: AsPath>(path: P, accessed: u64,
            reason = "a more granual ability to set specific permissions may \
                      be exposed on the Permissions structure itself and this \
                      method may not always exist")]
-pub fn set_permissions<P: AsPath>(path: P, perm: Permissions) -> io::Result<()> {
-    fs_imp::set_perm(path.as_path(), perm.0)
+pub fn set_permissions<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, perm: Permissions) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fs_imp::set_perm(path.as_ref(), perm.0)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/src/libstd/fs/tempdir.rs b/src/libstd/fs/tempdir.rs
index 8f32d7a5864..a9717e36323 100644
--- a/src/libstd/fs/tempdir.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/fs/tempdir.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use prelude::v1::*;
 use env;
 use io::{self, Error, ErrorKind};
 use fs;
-use path::{self, PathBuf, AsPath};
+use path::{self, PathBuf};
 use rand::{thread_rng, Rng};
 
 /// A wrapper for a path to temporary directory implementing automatic
@@ -43,10 +43,9 @@ impl TempDir {
     ///
     /// If no directory can be created, `Err` is returned.
     #[allow(deprecated)] // rand usage
-    pub fn new_in<P: AsPath + ?Sized>(tmpdir: &P, prefix: &str)
-                                      -> io::Result<TempDir> {
+    pub fn new_in<P: AsRef<path::Path>>(tmpdir: P, prefix: &str) -> io::Result<TempDir> {
         let storage;
-        let mut tmpdir = tmpdir.as_path();
+        let mut tmpdir = tmpdir.as_ref();
         if !tmpdir.is_absolute() {
             let cur_dir = try!(env::current_dir());
             storage = cur_dir.join(tmpdir);
diff --git a/src/libstd/lib.rs b/src/libstd/lib.rs
index b055796ba54..1488c7969f6 100644
--- a/src/libstd/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/lib.rs
@@ -126,8 +126,10 @@
 #![feature(hash)]
 #![feature(int_uint)]
 #![feature(unique)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 #![feature(allow_internal_unstable)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
+#![feature(into_cow)]
 #![cfg_attr(test, feature(test, rustc_private))]
 
 // Don't link to std. We are std.
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ pub use core::any;
 pub use core::cell;
 pub use core::clone;
 #[cfg(not(test))] pub use core::cmp;
+pub use core::convert;
 pub use core::default;
 #[allow(deprecated)]
 pub use core::finally;
diff --git a/src/libstd/net/ip.rs b/src/libstd/net/ip.rs
index 73c2464a6b2..d737ad17ff8 100644
--- a/src/libstd/net/ip.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/net/ip.rs
@@ -374,7 +374,6 @@ impl fmt::Display for Ipv6Addr {
                             .iter()
                             .map(|&seg| format!("{:x}", seg))
                             .collect::<Vec<String>>()
-                            .as_slice()
                             .connect(":")
                     }
 
diff --git a/src/libstd/os.rs b/src/libstd/os.rs
index 3870b8614ff..72f9338b456 100644
--- a/src/libstd/os.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/os.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ use self::MapError::*;
 
 use boxed::Box;
 use clone::Clone;
+use convert::From;
 use env;
 use error::{FromError, Error};
 use ffi::{OsString, OsStr};
@@ -79,12 +80,12 @@ fn err2old(new: ::io::Error) -> IoError {
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
 fn path2new(path: &Path) -> PathBuf {
-    PathBuf::new(path.as_str().unwrap())
+    PathBuf::from(path.as_str().unwrap())
 }
 #[cfg(unix)]
 fn path2new(path: &Path) -> PathBuf {
     use os::unix::prelude::*;
-    PathBuf::new(<OsStr as OsStrExt>::from_bytes(path.as_vec()))
+    PathBuf::from(<OsStr as OsStrExt>::from_bytes(path.as_vec()))
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
diff --git a/src/libstd/path.rs b/src/libstd/path.rs
index ddceed14cc6..25372c1cb7c 100644
--- a/src/libstd/path.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/path.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ use cmp;
 use iter::{self, IntoIterator};
 use mem;
 use ops::{self, Deref};
+use string::String;
 use vec::Vec;
 use fmt;
 
@@ -527,6 +528,13 @@ impl<'a> Component<'a> {
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> AsRef<OsStr> for Component<'a> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        self.as_os_str()
+    }
+}
+
 /// The core iterator giving the components of a path.
 ///
 /// See the module documentation for an in-depth explanation of components and
@@ -601,6 +609,7 @@ impl<'a> Components<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Extract a slice corresponding to the portion of the path remaining for iteration.
+    #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     pub fn as_path(&self) -> &'a Path {
         let mut comps = self.clone();
         if comps.front == State::Body { comps.trim_left(); }
@@ -695,6 +704,20 @@ impl<'a> Components<'a> {
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> AsRef<Path> for Components<'a> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path {
+        self.as_path()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> AsRef<OsStr> for Components<'a> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        self.as_path().as_os_str()
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'a> Iter<'a> {
     /// Extract a slice corresponding to the portion of the path remaining for iteration.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
@@ -704,6 +727,20 @@ impl<'a> Iter<'a> {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> AsRef<Path> for Iter<'a> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path {
+        self.as_path()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> AsRef<OsStr> for Iter<'a> {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        self.as_path().as_os_str()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 impl<'a> Iterator for Iter<'a> {
     type Item = &'a OsStr;
 
@@ -873,11 +910,10 @@ impl PathBuf {
         unsafe { mem::transmute(self) }
     }
 
-    /// Allocate a `PathBuf` with initial contents given by the
-    /// argument.
+    /// Allocate an empty `PathBuf`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn new<S: AsOsStr>(s: S) -> PathBuf {
-        PathBuf { inner: s.as_os_str().to_os_string() }
+    pub fn new() -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf { inner: OsString::new() }
     }
 
     /// Extend `self` with `path`.
@@ -890,8 +926,8 @@ impl PathBuf {
     ///   replaces everything except for the prefix (if any) of `self`.
     /// * if `path` has a prefix but no root, it replaces `self.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn push<P: AsPath>(&mut self, path: P) {
-        let path = path.as_path();
+    pub fn push<P: AsRef<Path>>(&mut self, path: P) {
+        let path = path.as_ref();
 
         // in general, a separator is needed if the rightmost byte is not a separator
         let mut need_sep = self.as_mut_vec().last().map(|c| !is_sep_byte(*c)).unwrap_or(false);
@@ -958,12 +994,12 @@ impl PathBuf {
     /// assert!(buf == PathBuf::new("/baz.txt"));
     /// ```
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn set_file_name<S: AsOsStr>(&mut self, file_name: S) {
+    pub fn set_file_name<S: AsRef<OsStr>>(&mut self, file_name: S) {
         if self.file_name().is_some() {
             let popped = self.pop();
             debug_assert!(popped);
         }
-        self.push(file_name.as_os_str());
+        self.push(file_name.as_ref());
     }
 
     /// Updates `self.extension()` to `extension`.
@@ -973,15 +1009,15 @@ impl PathBuf {
     /// Otherwise, returns `true`; if `self.extension()` is `None`, the extension
     /// is added; otherwise it is replaced.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn set_extension<S: AsOsStr>(&mut self, extension: S) -> bool {
+    pub fn set_extension<S: AsRef<OsStr>>(&mut self, extension: S) -> bool {
         if self.file_name().is_none() { return false; }
 
         let mut stem = match self.file_stem() {
             Some(stem) => stem.to_os_string(),
-            None => OsString::from_str(""),
+            None => OsString::new(),
         };
 
-        let extension = extension.as_os_str();
+        let extension = extension.as_ref();
         if os_str_as_u8_slice(extension).len() > 0 {
             stem.push(".");
             stem.push(extension);
@@ -999,16 +1035,65 @@ impl PathBuf {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-impl<P: AsPath> iter::FromIterator<P> for PathBuf {
+impl<'a> From<&'a Path> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: &'a Path) -> PathBuf {
+        s.to_path_buf()
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a str> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: &'a str) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf::from(OsString::from(s))
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a String> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: &'a String) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf::from(OsString::from(s))
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl From<String> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: String) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf::from(OsString::from(s))
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a OsStr> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: &'a OsStr) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf::from(OsString::from(s))
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<'a> From<&'a OsString> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: &'a OsString) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf::from(s.to_os_string())
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl From<OsString> for PathBuf {
+    fn from(s: OsString) -> PathBuf {
+        PathBuf { inner: s }
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl<P: AsRef<Path>> iter::FromIterator<P> for PathBuf {
     fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = P>>(iter: I) -> PathBuf {
-        let mut buf = PathBuf::new("");
+        let mut buf = PathBuf::new();
         buf.extend(iter);
         buf
     }
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-impl<P: AsPath> iter::Extend<P> for PathBuf {
+impl<P: AsRef<Path>> iter::Extend<P> for PathBuf {
     fn extend<I: IntoIterator<Item = P>>(&mut self, iter: I) {
         for p in iter {
             self.push(p)
@@ -1084,12 +1169,27 @@ impl cmp::Ord for PathBuf {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for PathBuf {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        &self.inner[..]
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for PathBuf {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         &self.inner[..]
     }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl Into<OsString> for PathBuf {
+    fn into(self) -> OsString {
+        self.inner
+    }
+}
+
 /// A slice of a path (akin to `str`).
 ///
 /// This type supports a number of operations for inspecting a path, including
@@ -1133,8 +1233,14 @@ impl Path {
     ///
     /// This is a cost-free conversion.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn new<S: ?Sized + AsOsStr>(s: &S) -> &Path {
-        unsafe { mem::transmute(s.as_os_str()) }
+    pub fn new<S: AsRef<OsStr> + ?Sized>(s: &S) -> &Path {
+        unsafe { mem::transmute(s.as_ref()) }
+    }
+
+    /// Yield the underlying `OsStr` slice.
+    #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+    pub fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        &self.inner
     }
 
     /// Yield a `&str` slice if the `Path` is valid unicode.
@@ -1156,7 +1262,7 @@ impl Path {
     /// Convert a `Path` to an owned `PathBuf`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     pub fn to_path_buf(&self) -> PathBuf {
-        PathBuf::new(self)
+        PathBuf::from(self.inner.to_os_string())
     }
 
     /// A path is *absolute* if it is independent of the current directory.
@@ -1244,22 +1350,21 @@ impl Path {
 
     /// Returns a path that, when joined onto `base`, yields `self`.
     #[unstable(feature = "path_relative_from", reason = "see #23284")]
-    pub fn relative_from<'a, P: ?Sized>(&'a self, base: &'a P) -> Option<&Path> where
-        P: AsPath
+    pub fn relative_from<'a, P: ?Sized + AsRef<Path>>(&'a self, base: &'a P) -> Option<&Path>
     {
-        iter_after(self.components(), base.as_path().components()).map(|c| c.as_path())
+        iter_after(self.components(), base.as_ref().components()).map(|c| c.as_path())
     }
 
     /// Determines whether `base` is a prefix of `self`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn starts_with<P: AsPath>(&self, base: P) -> bool {
-        iter_after(self.components(), base.as_path().components()).is_some()
+    pub fn starts_with<P: AsRef<Path>>(&self, base: P) -> bool {
+        iter_after(self.components(), base.as_ref().components()).is_some()
     }
 
     /// Determines whether `child` is a suffix of `self`.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn ends_with<P: AsPath>(&self, child: P) -> bool {
-        iter_after(self.components().rev(), child.as_path().components().rev()).is_some()
+    pub fn ends_with<P: AsRef<Path>>(&self, child: P) -> bool {
+        iter_after(self.components().rev(), child.as_ref().components().rev()).is_some()
     }
 
     /// Extract the stem (non-extension) portion of `self.file()`.
@@ -1292,7 +1397,7 @@ impl Path {
     ///
     /// See `PathBuf::push` for more details on what it means to adjoin a path.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn join<P: AsPath>(&self, path: P) -> PathBuf {
+    pub fn join<P: AsRef<Path>>(&self, path: P) -> PathBuf {
         let mut buf = self.to_path_buf();
         buf.push(path);
         buf
@@ -1302,7 +1407,7 @@ impl Path {
     ///
     /// See `PathBuf::set_file_name` for more details.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn with_file_name<S: AsOsStr>(&self, file_name: S) -> PathBuf {
+    pub fn with_file_name<S: AsRef<OsStr>>(&self, file_name: S) -> PathBuf {
         let mut buf = self.to_path_buf();
         buf.set_file_name(file_name);
         buf
@@ -1312,7 +1417,7 @@ impl Path {
     ///
     /// See `PathBuf::set_extension` for more details.
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn with_extension<S: AsOsStr>(&self, extension: S) -> PathBuf {
+    pub fn with_extension<S: AsRef<OsStr>>(&self, extension: S) -> PathBuf {
         let mut buf = self.to_path_buf();
         buf.set_extension(extension);
         buf
@@ -1346,6 +1451,14 @@ impl Path {
 }
 
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<OsStr> for Path {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &OsStr {
+        &self.inner
+    }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "trait is deprecated")]
 impl AsOsStr for Path {
     fn as_os_str(&self) -> &OsStr {
         &self.inner
@@ -1405,6 +1518,7 @@ impl cmp::Ord for Path {
 
 /// Freely convertible to a `Path`.
 #[unstable(feature = "std_misc")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "use std::convert::AsRef<Path> instead")]
 pub trait AsPath {
     /// Convert to a `Path`.
     #[unstable(feature = "std_misc")]
@@ -1412,10 +1526,42 @@ pub trait AsPath {
 }
 
 #[unstable(feature = "std_misc")]
+#[deprecated(since = "1.0.0", reason = "use std::convert::AsRef<Path> instead")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 impl<T: AsOsStr + ?Sized> AsPath for T {
     fn as_path(&self) -> &Path { Path::new(self.as_os_str()) }
 }
 
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for Path {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { self }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for OsStr {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { Path::new(self) }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for OsString {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { Path::new(self) }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for str {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { Path::new(self) }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for String {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { Path::new(self) }
+}
+
+#[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+impl AsRef<Path> for PathBuf {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Path { self }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/src/libstd/prelude/v1.rs b/src/libstd/prelude/v1.rs
index a0b4c80e9f3..6e12ac1a226 100644
--- a/src/libstd/prelude/v1.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/prelude/v1.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use clone::Clone;
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use cmp::{PartialEq, PartialOrd, Eq, Ord};
+#[unstable(feature = "convert")]
+#[doc(no_inline)] pub use convert::{AsRef, AsMut, Into, From};
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use iter::DoubleEndedIterator;
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
@@ -40,8 +42,10 @@
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use result::Result::{self, Ok, Err};
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use slice::{SliceConcatExt, AsSlice};
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[allow(deprecated)]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use str::Str;
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 #[doc(no_inline)] pub use string::{String, ToString};
diff --git a/src/libstd/process.rs b/src/libstd/process.rs
index 6b09636c1df..d11c3d22144 100644
--- a/src/libstd/process.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/process.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ use io::prelude::*;
 use ffi::AsOsStr;
 use fmt;
 use io::{self, Error, ErrorKind};
-use path::AsPath;
 use libc;
+use path;
 use sync::mpsc::{channel, Receiver};
 use sys::pipe2::{self, AnonPipe};
 use sys::process2::Process as ProcessImp;
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ impl Command {
 
     /// Set the working directory for the child process.
     #[stable(feature = "process", since = "1.0.0")]
-    pub fn current_dir<P: AsPath>(&mut self, dir: P) -> &mut Command {
-        self.inner.cwd(dir.as_path().as_os_str());
+    pub fn current_dir<P: AsRef<path::Path>>(&mut self, dir: P) -> &mut Command {
+        self.inner.cwd(dir.as_ref().as_os_str());
         self
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libstd/sys/unix/fs2.rs b/src/libstd/sys/unix/fs2.rs
index ea74aab3331..202e5ddaec4 100644
--- a/src/libstd/sys/unix/fs2.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/sys/unix/fs2.rs
@@ -338,8 +338,7 @@ pub fn readlink(p: &Path) -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
         }));
         buf.set_len(n as usize);
     }
-    let s: OsString = OsStringExt::from_vec(buf);
-    Ok(PathBuf::new(&s))
+    Ok(PathBuf::from(OsString::from_vec(buf)))
 }
 
 pub fn symlink(src: &Path, dst: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
diff --git a/src/libstd/sys/unix/os.rs b/src/libstd/sys/unix/os.rs
index a5a2f71acb7..6c191689255 100644
--- a/src/libstd/sys/unix/os.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/sys/unix/os.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ const BUF_BYTES: usize = 2048;
 const TMPBUF_SZ: usize = 128;
 
 fn bytes2path(b: &[u8]) -> PathBuf {
-    PathBuf::new(<OsStr as OsStrExt>::from_bytes(b))
+    PathBuf::from(<OsStr as OsStrExt>::from_bytes(b))
 }
 
 fn os2path(os: OsString) -> PathBuf {
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ pub fn current_exe() -> io::Result<PathBuf> {
         let err = _NSGetExecutablePath(v.as_mut_ptr() as *mut i8, &mut sz);
         if err != 0 { return Err(io::Error::last_os_error()); }
         v.set_len(sz as uint - 1); // chop off trailing NUL
-        Ok(PathBuf::new(OsString::from_vec(v)))
+        Ok(PathBuf::from(OsString::from_vec(v)))
     }
 }
 
@@ -466,9 +466,9 @@ pub fn page_size() -> usize {
 pub fn temp_dir() -> PathBuf {
     getenv("TMPDIR".as_os_str()).map(os2path).unwrap_or_else(|| {
         if cfg!(target_os = "android") {
-            PathBuf::new("/data/local/tmp")
+            PathBuf::from("/data/local/tmp")
         } else {
-            PathBuf::new("/tmp")
+            PathBuf::from("/tmp")
         }
     })
 }
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs b/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
index 70aab26092c..1abe8d0a3c1 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
@@ -351,8 +351,7 @@ impl Encodable for FileMap {
                         let max_line_length = if lines.len() == 1 {
                             0
                         } else {
-                            lines.as_slice()
-                                 .windows(2)
+                            lines.windows(2)
                                  .map(|w| w[1] - w[0])
                                  .map(|bp| bp.to_usize())
                                  .max()
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/source_util.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/source_util.rs
index c61aec0069d..31d8b207bb9 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/source_util.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/source_util.rs
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ pub fn expand_include_bytes(cx: &mut ExtCtxt, sp: Span, tts: &[ast::TokenTree])
 fn res_rel_file(cx: &mut ExtCtxt, sp: codemap::Span, arg: &Path) -> PathBuf {
     // NB: relative paths are resolved relative to the compilation unit
     if !arg.is_absolute() {
-        let mut cu = PathBuf::new(&cx.codemap().span_to_filename(sp));
+        let mut cu = PathBuf::from(&cx.codemap().span_to_filename(sp));
         cu.pop();
         cu.push(arg);
         cu
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/lib.rs b/src/libsyntax/lib.rs
index 9f217bba00a..9af7b9ab633 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/lib.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 #![feature(unicode)]
 #![feature(path_ext)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
+#![feature(convert)]
+#![feature(into_cow)]
 
 extern crate arena;
 extern crate fmt_macros;
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
index 667af642744..e77786c1347 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
@@ -5064,8 +5064,8 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
                     outer_attrs: &[ast::Attribute],
                     id_sp: Span)
                     -> (ast::Item_, Vec<ast::Attribute> ) {
-        let mut prefix = PathBuf::new(&self.sess.span_diagnostic.cm
-                                           .span_to_filename(self.span));
+        let mut prefix = PathBuf::from(&self.sess.span_diagnostic.cm
+                                            .span_to_filename(self.span));
         prefix.pop();
         let mut dir_path = prefix;
         for part in &self.mod_path_stack {
diff --git a/src/libterm/lib.rs b/src/libterm/lib.rs
index f517dca53cd..8e3c00bb805 100644
--- a/src/libterm/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libterm/lib.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 #![feature(std_misc)]
 #![feature(str_char)]
 #![feature(path_ext)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 #![cfg_attr(windows, feature(libc))]
 
 #[macro_use] extern crate log;
diff --git a/src/libterm/terminfo/searcher.rs b/src/libterm/terminfo/searcher.rs
index f47921cbf5e..66ee2b1ba87 100644
--- a/src/libterm/terminfo/searcher.rs
+++ b/src/libterm/terminfo/searcher.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn get_dbpath_for_term(term: &str) -> Option<Box<PathBuf>> {
 
     // Find search directory
     match env::var_os("TERMINFO") {
-        Some(dir) => dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new(&dir)),
+        Some(dir) => dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from(dir)),
         None => {
             if homedir.is_some() {
                 // ncurses compatibility;
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ pub fn get_dbpath_for_term(term: &str) -> Option<Box<PathBuf>> {
             match env::var("TERMINFO_DIRS") {
                 Ok(dirs) => for i in dirs.split(':') {
                     if i == "" {
-                        dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new("/usr/share/terminfo"));
+                        dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from("/usr/share/terminfo"));
                     } else {
-                        dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new(i));
+                        dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from(i));
                     }
                 },
                 // Found nothing in TERMINFO_DIRS, use the default paths:
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ pub fn get_dbpath_for_term(term: &str) -> Option<Box<PathBuf>> {
                 // ~/.terminfo, ncurses will search /etc/terminfo, then
                 // /lib/terminfo, and eventually /usr/share/terminfo.
                 Err(..) => {
-                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new("/etc/terminfo"));
-                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new("/lib/terminfo"));
-                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::new("/usr/share/terminfo"));
+                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from("/etc/terminfo"));
+                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from("/lib/terminfo"));
+                    dirs_to_search.push(PathBuf::from("/usr/share/terminfo"));
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/libtest/lib.rs b/src/libtest/lib.rs
index 51decbab858..94944453eda 100644
--- a/src/libtest/lib.rs
+++ b/src/libtest/lib.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #![feature(libc)]
 #![feature(set_stdio)]
 #![feature(os)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate getopts;
 extern crate serialize;
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ pub fn parse_opts(args: &[String]) -> Option<OptRes> {
     let run_ignored = matches.opt_present("ignored");
 
     let logfile = matches.opt_str("logfile");
-    let logfile = logfile.map(|s| PathBuf::new(&s));
+    let logfile = logfile.map(|s| PathBuf::from(&s));
 
     let run_benchmarks = matches.opt_present("bench");
     let run_tests = ! run_benchmarks ||
@@ -696,7 +697,7 @@ pub fn run_tests_console(opts: &TestOpts, tests: Vec<TestDescAndFn> ) -> io::Res
     match tests.iter().max_by(|t|len_if_padded(*t)) {
         Some(t) => {
             let n = t.desc.name.as_slice();
-            st.max_name_len = n.as_slice().len();
+            st.max_name_len = n.len();
         },
         None => {}
     }
diff --git a/src/rustbook/book.rs b/src/rustbook/book.rs
index ac7f2f824cb..a08481f8be9 100644
--- a/src/rustbook/book.rs
+++ b/src/rustbook/book.rs
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ pub fn parse_summary(input: &mut Read, src: &Path) -> Result<Book, Vec<String>>
     // always include the introduction
     top_items.push(BookItem {
         title: "Introduction".to_string(),
-        path: PathBuf::new("README.md"),
-        path_to_root: PathBuf::new("."),
+        path: PathBuf::from("README.md"),
+        path_to_root: PathBuf::from("."),
         children: vec!(),
     });
 
@@ -133,10 +133,10 @@ pub fn parse_summary(input: &mut Read, src: &Path) -> Result<Book, Vec<String>>
                 errors.push(format!("paths in SUMMARY.md must be relative, \
                                      but path '{}' for section '{}' is not.",
                                      given_path, title));
-                PathBuf::new("")
+                PathBuf::new()
             }
         };
-        let path_to_root = PathBuf::new(&iter::repeat("../")
+        let path_to_root = PathBuf::from(&iter::repeat("../")
                                          .take(path_from_root.components().count() - 1)
                                          .collect::<String>());
         let item = BookItem {
diff --git a/src/rustbook/build.rs b/src/rustbook/build.rs
index 731773917e0..f06290b27cb 100644
--- a/src/rustbook/build.rs
+++ b/src/rustbook/build.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ fn render(book: &Book, tgt: &Path) -> CliResult<()> {
         if env::args().len() < 3 {
             src = env::current_dir().unwrap().clone();
         } else {
-            src = PathBuf::new(&env::args().nth(2).unwrap());
+            src = PathBuf::from(&env::args().nth(2).unwrap());
         }
         // preprocess the markdown, rerouting markdown references to html references
         let mut markdown_data = String::new();
@@ -164,13 +164,13 @@ impl Subcommand for Build {
         if env::args().len() < 3 {
             src = cwd.clone();
         } else {
-            src = PathBuf::new(&env::args().nth(2).unwrap());
+            src = PathBuf::from(&env::args().nth(2).unwrap());
         }
 
         if env::args().len() < 4 {
             tgt = cwd.join("_book");
         } else {
-            tgt = PathBuf::new(&env::args().nth(3).unwrap());
+            tgt = PathBuf::from(&env::args().nth(3).unwrap());
         }
 
         try!(fs::create_dir(&tgt));
diff --git a/src/rustbook/main.rs b/src/rustbook/main.rs
index 09fcd518c1e..4a652f846ed 100644
--- a/src/rustbook/main.rs
+++ b/src/rustbook/main.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #![feature(rustdoc)]
 #![feature(rustc_private)]
 #![feature(path_relative_from)]
+#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate rustdoc;
 extern crate rustc_back;
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/env-home-dir.rs b/src/test/run-pass/env-home-dir.rs
index 5d68a25a14a..cd614750451 100644
--- a/src/test/run-pass/env-home-dir.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/env-home-dir.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 // option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 // except according to those terms.
 
+#![feature(convert)]
+
 use std::env::*;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ fn main() {
     let oldhome = var("HOME");
 
     set_var("HOME", "/home/MountainView");
-    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::new("/home/MountainView")));
+    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::from("/home/MountainView")));
 
     remove_var("HOME");
     if cfg!(target_os = "android") {
@@ -37,14 +39,14 @@ fn main() {
     assert!(home_dir().is_some());
 
     set_var("HOME", "/home/MountainView");
-    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::new("/home/MountainView")));
+    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::from("/home/MountainView")));
 
     remove_var("HOME");
 
     set_var("USERPROFILE", "/home/MountainView");
-    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::new("/home/MountainView")));
+    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::from("/home/MountainView")));
 
     set_var("HOME", "/home/MountainView");
     set_var("USERPROFILE", "/home/PaloAlto");
-    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::new("/home/MountainView")));
+    assert!(home_dir() == Some(PathBuf::from("/home/MountainView")));
 }