diff --git a/Source/kwsys/CommandLineArguments.cxx b/Source/kwsys/CommandLineArguments.cxx
index ece88ae89..9fa980213 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/CommandLineArguments.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/CommandLineArguments.cxx
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ bool CommandLineArguments::GetMatchedArguments(
       matches->push_back(parg);
       }
     }
-  return matches->size() > 0;
+  return !matches->empty();
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ int CommandLineArguments::Parse()
           return 0;
           }
         CommandLineArguments_DEBUG("This is a space argument: " << arg
-          << " value: " << this->Internals->Argv[cc+1].c_str());
+          << " value: " << this->Internals->Argv[cc+1]);
         // Value is the next argument
         if ( !this->PopulateVariable(cs, this->Internals->Argv[cc+1].c_str()) )
           {
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ int CommandLineArguments::Parse()
         cc ++;
         break;
       case EQUAL_ARGUMENT:
-        if ( arg.size() == sarg.size() || *(arg.c_str() + sarg.size()) != '=' )
+        if ( arg.size() == sarg.size() || arg.at(sarg.size()) != '=' )
           {
           this->Internals->LastArgument --;
           return 0;
@@ -309,11 +309,11 @@ int CommandLineArguments::Parse()
       else if ( this->StoreUnusedArgumentsFlag )
         {
         CommandLineArguments_DEBUG("Store unused argument " << arg);
-        this->Internals->UnusedArguments.push_back(arg.c_str());
+        this->Internals->UnusedArguments.push_back(arg);
         }
       else
         {
-        kwsys_ios::cerr << "Got unknown argument: \"" << arg.c_str() << "\"" << kwsys_ios::endl;
+        kwsys_ios::cerr << "Got unknown argument: \"" << arg << "\"" << kwsys_ios::endl;
         this->Internals->LastArgument --;
         return 0;
         }
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/Glob.cxx b/Source/kwsys/Glob.cxx
index 46a7e4f44..8569b0e80 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/Glob.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/Glob.cxx
@@ -229,8 +229,7 @@ void Glob::RecurseDirectory(kwsys_stl::string::size_type start,
   for ( cc = 0; cc < d.GetNumberOfFiles(); cc ++ )
     {
     fname = d.GetFile(cc);
-    if ( strcmp(fname.c_str(), ".") == 0 ||
-      strcmp(fname.c_str(), "..") == 0  )
+    if ( fname == "." || fname == ".." )
       {
       continue;
       }
@@ -271,11 +270,10 @@ void Glob::RecurseDirectory(kwsys_stl::string::size_type start,
       }
     else
       {
-      if ( (this->Internals->Expressions.size() > 0) &&
-           this->Internals->Expressions[
-             this->Internals->Expressions.size()-1].find(fname.c_str()) )
+      if ( !this->Internals->Expressions.empty() &&
+           this->Internals->Expressions.rbegin()->find(fname) )
         {
-        this->AddFile(this->Internals->Files, realname.c_str());
+        this->AddFile(this->Internals->Files, realname);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -310,8 +308,7 @@ void Glob::ProcessDirectory(kwsys_stl::string::size_type start,
   for ( cc = 0; cc < d.GetNumberOfFiles(); cc ++ )
     {
     fname = d.GetFile(cc);
-    if ( strcmp(fname.c_str(), ".") == 0 ||
-      strcmp(fname.c_str(), "..") == 0  )
+    if ( fname == "." || fname == ".." )
       {
       continue;
       }
@@ -354,7 +351,7 @@ void Glob::ProcessDirectory(kwsys_stl::string::size_type start,
       {
       if ( last )
         {
-        this->AddFile(this->Internals->Files, realname.c_str());
+        this->AddFile(this->Internals->Files, realname);
         }
       else
         {
@@ -442,9 +439,9 @@ bool Glob::FindFiles(const kwsys_stl::string& inexpr)
     int ch = expr[cc];
     if ( ch == '/' )
       {
-      if ( cexpr.size() > 0 )
+      if ( !cexpr.empty() )
         {
-        this->AddExpression(cexpr.c_str());
+        this->AddExpression(cexpr);
         }
       cexpr = "";
       }
@@ -453,9 +450,9 @@ bool Glob::FindFiles(const kwsys_stl::string& inexpr)
       cexpr.append(1, static_cast<char>(ch));
       }
     }
-  if ( cexpr.size() > 0 )
+  if ( !cexpr.empty() )
     {
-    this->AddExpression(cexpr.c_str());
+    this->AddExpression(cexpr);
     }
 
   // Handle network paths
@@ -471,11 +468,11 @@ bool Glob::FindFiles(const kwsys_stl::string& inexpr)
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void Glob::AddExpression(const char* expr)
+void Glob::AddExpression(const kwsys_stl::string& expr)
 {
   this->Internals->Expressions.push_back(
     kwsys::RegularExpression(
-      this->PatternToRegex(expr).c_str()));
+      this->PatternToRegex(expr)));
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -500,11 +497,11 @@ const char* Glob::GetRelative()
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void Glob::AddFile(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& files, const char* file)
+void Glob::AddFile(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& files, const kwsys_stl::string& file)
 {
   if ( !this->Relative.empty() )
     {
-    files.push_back(kwsys::SystemTools::RelativePath(this->Relative.c_str(), file));
+    files.push_back(kwsys::SystemTools::RelativePath(this->Relative.c_str(), file.c_str()));
     }
   else
     {
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/Glob.hxx.in b/Source/kwsys/Glob.hxx.in
index 88c343ce0..d8b8491dc 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/Glob.hxx.in
+++ b/Source/kwsys/Glob.hxx.in
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ protected:
     const kwsys_stl::string& dir);
 
   //! Add regular expression
-  void AddExpression(const char* expr);
+  void AddExpression(const kwsys_stl::string& expr);
 
   //! Add a file to the list
-  void AddFile(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& files, const char* file);
+  void AddFile(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& files, const kwsys_stl::string& file);
 
   GlobInternals* Internals;
   bool Recurse;
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.cxx b/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.cxx
index c8297873f..598e7cae5 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.cxx
@@ -882,13 +882,6 @@ void         regdump ();
 static char* regprop ();
 #endif
 
-bool RegularExpression::find (kwsys_stl::string const& s) 
-{
-  return find(s.c_str());
-}
-
-
-
 // find -- Matches the regular expression to the given string.
 // Returns true if found, and sets start and end indexes accordingly.
 
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.hxx.in b/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.hxx.in
index 62e9cad23..502fbe270 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.hxx.in
+++ b/Source/kwsys/RegularExpression.hxx.in
@@ -198,12 +198,17 @@ public:
    * Instantiate RegularExpression with compiled char*.
    */
   inline RegularExpression (char const*);
-  
+
   /**
    * Instantiate RegularExpression as a copy of another regular expression.
    */
   RegularExpression (RegularExpression const&);
 
+  /**
+   * Instantiate RegularExpression with compiled string.
+   */
+  inline RegularExpression (kwsys_stl::string const&);
+
   /**
    * Destructor.
    */
@@ -215,6 +220,12 @@ public:
    */
   bool compile (char const*);
 
+  /**
+   * Compile a regular expression into internal code
+   * for later pattern matching.
+   */
+  inline bool compile (kwsys_stl::string const&);
+
   /**
    * Matches the regular expression to the given string.
    * Returns true if found, and sets start and end indexes accordingly.
@@ -225,7 +236,7 @@ public:
    * Matches the regular expression to the given std string.
    * Returns true if found, and sets start and end indexes accordingly.
    */
-  bool find (kwsys_stl::string const&);               
+  inline bool find (kwsys_stl::string const&);
 
   /**
    * Index to start of first find.
@@ -312,6 +323,16 @@ inline RegularExpression::RegularExpression (const char* s)
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Creates a regular expression from string s, and
+ * compiles s.
+ */
+inline RegularExpression::RegularExpression (const kwsys_stl::string& s)
+{
+  this->program = 0;
+  this->compile(s);
+}
+
 /**
  * Destroys and frees space allocated for the regular expression.
  */
@@ -322,6 +343,24 @@ inline RegularExpression::~RegularExpression ()
 //#endif
 }
 
+/**
+ * Compile a regular expression into internal code
+ * for later pattern matching.
+ */
+inline bool RegularExpression::compile (kwsys_stl::string const& s)
+{
+  return this->compile(s.c_str());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Matches the regular expression to the given std string.
+ * Returns true if found, and sets start and end indexes accordingly.
+ */
+inline bool RegularExpression::find (kwsys_stl::string const& s)
+{
+  return this->find(s.c_str());
+}
+
 /**
  * Set the start position for the regular expression.
  */
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
index 32e79e62f..a2681c162 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ bool SystemTools::MakeDirectory(const char* path)
     return SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(path);
     }
   kwsys_stl::string dir = path;
-  if(dir.size() == 0)
+  if(dir.empty())
     {
     return false;
     }
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ bool SystemTools::FileTimeCompare(const char* f1, const char* f2,
 kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::Capitalized(const kwsys_stl::string& s)
 {
   kwsys_stl::string n;
-  if(s.size() == 0)
+  if(s.empty())
     {
     return n;
     }
@@ -1322,7 +1322,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::AddSpaceBetweenCapitalizedWords(
   const kwsys_stl::string& s)
 {
   kwsys_stl::string n;
-  if (s.size())
+  if (!s.empty())
     {
     n.reserve(s.size());
     n += s[0];
@@ -1815,12 +1815,13 @@ void SystemTools::ConvertToUnixSlashes(kwsys_stl::string& path)
     // remove trailing slash if the path is more than
     // a single /
     pathCString = path.c_str();
-    if(path.size() > 1 && *(pathCString+(path.size()-1)) == '/')
+    size_t size = path.size();
+    if(size > 1 && *path.rbegin() == '/')
       {
       // if it is c:/ then do not remove the trailing slash
-      if(!((path.size() == 3 && pathCString[1] == ':')))
+      if(!((size == 3 && pathCString[1] == ':')))
         {
-        path = path.substr(0, path.size()-1);
+        path.resize(size - 1);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -2500,7 +2501,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
       i != path.end(); ++i)
     {
     kwsys_stl::string& p = *i;
-    if(p.empty() || p[p.size()-1] != '/')
+    if(p.empty() || *p.rbegin() != '/')
       {
       p += "/";
       }
@@ -2535,7 +2536,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
   kwsys_stl::string tryPath = SystemTools::FindName(name, userPaths, no_system_path);
   if(tryPath != "" && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
     {
-    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
     }
   // Couldn't find the file.
   return "";
@@ -2554,7 +2555,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
   kwsys_stl::string tryPath = SystemTools::FindName(name, userPaths, no_system_path);
   if(tryPath != "" && SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
     {
-    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
     }
   // Couldn't find the file.
   return "";
@@ -2594,18 +2595,15 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::FindProgram(
   kwsys_stl::string tryPath;
 
   // first try with extensions if the os supports them
-  if(extensions.size())
+  for(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::iterator i =
+        extensions.begin(); i != extensions.end(); ++i)
     {
-    for(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::iterator i =
-          extensions.begin(); i != extensions.end(); ++i)
+    tryPath = name;
+    tryPath += *i;
+    if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
+        !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      tryPath = name;
-      tryPath += *i;
-      if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
-         !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
-        {
-        return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
-        }
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     }
   // now try just the name
@@ -2613,7 +2611,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::FindProgram(
   if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
      !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
     {
-    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
     }
   // now construct the path
   kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string> path;
@@ -2636,7 +2634,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::FindProgram(
       i != path.end(); ++i)
     {
     kwsys_stl::string& p = *i;
-    if(p.empty() || p[p.size()-1] != '/')
+    if(p.empty() || *p.rbegin() != '/')
       {
       p += "/";
       }
@@ -2651,19 +2649,16 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::FindProgram(
     SystemTools::ReplaceString(*p, "\"", "");
 #endif
     // first try with extensions
-    if(extensions.size())
+    for(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::iterator ext
+          = extensions.begin(); ext != extensions.end(); ++ext)
       {
-      for(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::iterator ext
-            = extensions.begin(); ext != extensions.end(); ++ext)
+      tryPath = *p;
+      tryPath += name;
+      tryPath += *ext;
+      if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
+          !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
         {
-        tryPath = *p;
-        tryPath += name;
-        tryPath += *ext;
-        if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
-           !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
-          {
-          return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
-          }
+        return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
         }
       }
     // now try it without them
@@ -2672,7 +2667,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::FindProgram(
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str()) &&
        !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     }
   // Couldn't find the program.
@@ -2732,7 +2727,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
       i != path.end(); ++i)
     {
     kwsys_stl::string& p = *i;
-    if(p.empty() || p[p.size()-1] != '/')
+    if(p.empty() || *p.rbegin() != '/')
       {
       p += "/";
       }
@@ -2749,7 +2744,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
 #endif
 #if defined(_WIN32) && !defined(__CYGWIN__) && !defined(__MINGW32__)
@@ -2759,7 +2754,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
 #else
     tryPath = *p;
@@ -2769,7 +2764,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     tryPath = *p;
     tryPath += "lib";
@@ -2778,7 +2773,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     tryPath = *p;
     tryPath += "lib";
@@ -2787,7 +2782,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     tryPath = *p;
     tryPath += "lib";
@@ -2796,7 +2791,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
     tryPath = *p;
     tryPath += "lib";
@@ -2805,7 +2800,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools
     if(SystemTools::FileExists(tryPath.c_str())
        && !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(tryPath.c_str()))
       {
-      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath.c_str());
+      return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(tryPath);
       }
 #endif
     }
@@ -2823,11 +2818,11 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetRealPath(const char* path)
 
 bool SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(const char* name)
 {
-  size_t length = strlen(name);
-  if (length == 0)
+  if (!*name)
     {
     return false;
     }
+  size_t length = strlen(name);
 
   // Remove any trailing slash from the name except in a root component.
   char local_buffer[KWSYS_SYSTEMTOOLS_MAXPATH];
@@ -2940,7 +2935,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetCurrentWorkingDirectory(bool collapse)
     }
   if(collapse)
     {
-    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(path.c_str());
+    return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(path);
     }
   return path;
 }
@@ -3041,7 +3036,7 @@ bool SystemTools::FindProgramPath(const char* argv0,
     kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::iterator i;
     for(i=failures.begin(); i != failures.end(); ++i)
       {
-      msg << "    \"" << i->c_str() << "\"\n";
+      msg << "    \"" << *i << "\"\n";
       }
     errorMsg = msg.str();
     return false;
@@ -3051,12 +3046,12 @@ bool SystemTools::FindProgramPath(const char* argv0,
 }
 
 
-kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(const char* in_relative)
+kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(const kwsys_stl::string& in_relative)
 {
   return SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(in_relative, 0);
 }
 
-void SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(const char * a, const char * b)
+void SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(const kwsys_stl::string& a, const kwsys_stl::string& b)
 {
   kwsys_stl::string path_a = a;
   kwsys_stl::string path_b = b;
@@ -3073,11 +3068,11 @@ void SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(const char * a, const char * b)
         == kwsys_stl::string::npos )
       {
       // Before inserting make sure path ends with '/'
-      if(path_a.size() && path_a[path_a.size() -1] != '/')
+      if(!path_a.empty() && *path_a.rbegin() != '/')
         {
         path_a += '/';
         }
-      if(path_b.size() && path_b[path_b.size() -1] != '/')
+      if(!path_b.empty() && *path_b.rbegin() != '/')
         {
         path_b += '/';
         }
@@ -3090,11 +3085,11 @@ void SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(const char * a, const char * b)
     }
 }
 
-void SystemTools::AddKeepPath(const char* dir)
+void SystemTools::AddKeepPath(const kwsys_stl::string& dir)
 {
   kwsys_stl::string cdir;
   Realpath(SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(dir).c_str(), cdir);
-  SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(cdir.c_str(), dir);
+  SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(cdir, dir);
 }
 
 void SystemTools::CheckTranslationPath(kwsys_stl::string & path)
@@ -3135,24 +3130,26 @@ SystemToolsAppendComponents(
   kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::const_iterator first,
   kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::const_iterator last)
 {
+  static const kwsys_stl::string up = "..";
+  static const kwsys_stl::string cur = ".";
   for(kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::const_iterator i = first;
       i != last; ++i)
     {
-    if(*i == "..")
+    if(*i == up)
       {
       if(out_components.size() > 1)
         {
-        out_components.erase(out_components.end()-1, out_components.end());
+        out_components.resize(out_components.size()-1);
         }
       }
-    else if(!(*i == ".") && !(*i == ""))
+    else if(!i->empty() && *i != cur)
       {
       out_components.push_back(*i);
       }
     }
 }
 
-kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(const char* in_path,
+kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(const kwsys_stl::string& in_path,
                                                 const char* in_base)
 {
   // Collect the output path components.
@@ -3212,7 +3209,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::CollapseFullPath(const char* in_path,
   // collapsed, so I am going to try to comment it out, and see what hits the
   // fan, hopefully quickly.
   // Commented out line below:
-  //SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(newPath.c_str(), in_path);
+  //SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(newPath, in_path);
 
   SystemTools::CheckTranslationPath(newPath);
 #ifdef _WIN32
@@ -3277,7 +3274,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::RelativePath(const char* local, const char* remot
   // path into the remote dir
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i < localSplit.size(); ++i)
     {
-    if(localSplit[i].size())
+    if(!localSplit[i].empty())
       {
       finalPath.push_back("../");
       }
@@ -3287,7 +3284,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::RelativePath(const char* local, const char* remot
   for(kwsys_stl::vector<String>::iterator vit = remoteSplit.begin();
       vit != remoteSplit.end(); ++vit)
     {
-    if(vit->size())
+    if(!vit->empty())
       {
       finalPath.push_back(*vit);
       }
@@ -3298,7 +3295,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::RelativePath(const char* local, const char* remot
   for(kwsys_stl::vector<String>::iterator vit1 = finalPath.begin();
       vit1 != finalPath.end(); ++vit1)
     {
-    if(relativePath.size() && relativePath[relativePath.size()-1] != '/')
+    if(!relativePath.empty() && *relativePath.rbegin() != '/')
       {
       relativePath += "/";
       }
@@ -3312,7 +3309,7 @@ static int GetCasePathName(const kwsys_stl::string & pathIn,
                             kwsys_stl::string & casePath)
 {
   kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string> path_components;
-  SystemTools::SplitPath(pathIn.c_str(), path_components);
+  SystemTools::SplitPath(pathIn, path_components);
   if(path_components[0].empty()) // First component always exists.
     {
     // Relative paths cannot be converted.
@@ -3394,11 +3391,11 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetActualCaseForPath(const char* p)
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const char* SystemTools::SplitPathRootComponent(const char* p,
+const char* SystemTools::SplitPathRootComponent(const std::string& p,
                                                 kwsys_stl::string* root)
 {
   // Identify the root component.
-  const char* c = p;
+  const char* c = p.c_str();
   if((c[0] == '/' && c[1] == '/') || (c[0] == '\\' && c[1] == '\\'))
     {
     // Network path.
@@ -3480,17 +3477,17 @@ const char* SystemTools::SplitPathRootComponent(const char* p,
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void SystemTools::SplitPath(const char* p,
+void SystemTools::SplitPath(const std::string& p,
                             kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& components,
                             bool expand_home_dir)
 {
-  const char* c = p;
+  const char* c;
   components.clear();
 
   // Identify the root component.
   {
   kwsys_stl::string root;
-  c = SystemTools::SplitPathRootComponent(c, &root);
+  c = SystemTools::SplitPathRootComponent(p, &root);
 
   // Expand home directory references if requested.
   if(expand_home_dir && !root.empty() && root[0] == '~')
@@ -3520,12 +3517,12 @@ void SystemTools::SplitPath(const char* p,
         }
       }
 #endif
-    if(!homedir.empty() && (homedir[homedir.size()-1] == '/' ||
-                            homedir[homedir.size()-1] == '\\'))
+    if(!homedir.empty() && (*homedir.rbegin() == '/' ||
+                            *homedir.rbegin() == '\\'))
       {
-      homedir = homedir.substr(0, homedir.size()-1);
+      homedir.resize(homedir.size() - 1);
       }
-    SystemTools::SplitPath(homedir.c_str(), components);
+    SystemTools::SplitPath(homedir, components);
     }
   else
     {
@@ -3541,9 +3538,7 @@ void SystemTools::SplitPath(const char* p,
     if(*last == '/' || *last == '\\')
       {
       // End of a component.  Save it.
-      components.push_back(
-        kwsys_stl::string(first,static_cast<kwsys_stl::string::size_type>(
-                            last-first)));
+      components.push_back(kwsys_stl::string(first, last));
       first = last+1;
       }
     }
@@ -3551,9 +3546,7 @@ void SystemTools::SplitPath(const char* p,
   // Save the last component unless there were no components.
   if(last != c)
     {
-    components.push_back(
-      kwsys_stl::string(first,static_cast<kwsys_stl::string::size_type>(
-                          last-first)));
+    components.push_back(kwsys_stl::string(first, last));
     }
 }
 
@@ -3572,6 +3565,13 @@ SystemTools
 {
   // Construct result in a single string.
   kwsys_stl::string result;
+  size_t len = 0;
+  kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>::const_iterator i;
+  for(i = first; i != last; ++i)
+    {
+    len += 1 + i->size();
+    }
+  result.reserve(len);
 
   // The first two components do not add a slash.
   if(first != last)
@@ -3595,18 +3595,18 @@ SystemTools
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-bool SystemTools::ComparePath(const char* c1, const char* c2)
+bool SystemTools::ComparePath(const kwsys_stl::string& c1, const kwsys_stl::string& c2)
 {
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(__APPLE__)
 # ifdef _MSC_VER
-  return _stricmp(c1, c2) == 0;
+  return _stricmp(c1.c_str(), c2.c_str()) == 0;
 # elif defined(__APPLE__) || defined(__GNUC__)
-  return strcasecmp(c1, c2) == 0;
+  return strcasecmp(c1.c_str(), c2.c_str()) == 0;
 #else
-  return SystemTools::Strucmp(c1, c2) == 0;
+  return SystemTools::Strucmp(c1.c_str(), c2.c_str()) == 0;
 # endif
 #else
-  return strcmp(c1, c2) == 0;
+  return c1 == c2;
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -3680,7 +3680,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetFilenamePath(const kwsys_stl::string& filename
       {
       return ret + '/';
       }
-    if(ret.size() == 0)
+    if(ret.empty())
       {
       return "/";
       }
@@ -3701,7 +3701,7 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetFilenameName(const kwsys_stl::string& filename
 #if defined(_WIN32)
   kwsys_stl::string::size_type slash_pos = filename.find_last_of("/\\");
 #else
-  kwsys_stl::string::size_type slash_pos = filename.find_last_of("/");
+  kwsys_stl::string::size_type slash_pos = filename.rfind('/');
 #endif
   if(slash_pos != kwsys_stl::string::npos)
     {
@@ -3915,7 +3915,7 @@ bool SystemTools::LocateFileInDir(const char *filename,
   // Try to find the file in 'dir'
 
   bool res = false;
-  if (filename_base.size() && dir)
+  if (!filename_base.empty() && dir)
     {
     size_t dir_len = strlen(dir);
     int need_slash =
@@ -3949,10 +3949,10 @@ bool SystemTools::LocateFileInDir(const char *filename,
         filename_dir = SystemTools::GetFilenamePath(filename_dir);
         filename_dir_base = SystemTools::GetFilenameName(filename_dir);
 #if defined( _WIN32 )
-        if (!filename_dir_base.size() ||
-            filename_dir_base[filename_dir_base.size() - 1] == ':')
+        if (filename_dir_base.empty() ||
+            *filename_dir_base.rbegin() == ':')
 #else
-        if (!filename_dir_base.size())
+        if (filename_dir_base.empty())
 #endif
           {
           break;
@@ -3970,7 +3970,7 @@ bool SystemTools::LocateFileInDir(const char *filename,
         res = SystemTools::LocateFileInDir(
           filename_base.c_str(), temp.c_str(), filename_found, 0);
 
-        } while (!res && filename_dir_base.size());
+        } while (!res && !filename_dir_base.empty());
       }
     }
 
@@ -3979,30 +3979,30 @@ bool SystemTools::LocateFileInDir(const char *filename,
 
 bool SystemTools::FileIsFullPath(const char* in_name)
 {
-  kwsys_stl::string name = in_name;
+  size_t len = strlen(in_name);
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(__CYGWIN__)
   // On Windows, the name must be at least two characters long.
-  if(name.length() < 2)
+  if(len < 2)
     {
     return false;
     }
-  if(name[1] == ':')
+  if(in_name[1] == ':')
     {
     return true;
     }
-  if(name[0] == '\\')
+  if(in_name[0] == '\\')
     {
     return true;
     }
 #else
   // On UNIX, the name must be at least one character long.
-  if(name.length() < 1)
+  if(len < 1)
     {
     return false;
     }
 #endif
 #if !defined(_WIN32)
-  if(name[0] == '~')
+  if(in_name[0] == '~')
     {
     return true;
     }
@@ -4010,29 +4010,29 @@ bool SystemTools::FileIsFullPath(const char* in_name)
   // On UNIX, the name must begin in a '/'.
   // On Windows, if the name begins in a '/', then it is a full
   // network path.
-  if(name[0] == '/')
+  if(in_name[0] == '/')
     {
     return true;
     }
   return false;
 }
 
-bool SystemTools::GetShortPath(const char* path, kwsys_stl::string& shortPath)
+bool SystemTools::GetShortPath(const kwsys_stl::string& path, kwsys_stl::string& shortPath)
 {
 #if defined(WIN32) && !defined(__CYGWIN__)
-  const int size = int(strlen(path)) +1; // size of return
+  const int size = int(path.size()) +1; // size of return
   char *tempPath = new char[size];  // create a buffer
   DWORD ret;
 
   // if the path passed in has quotes around it, first remove the quotes
-  if (path[0] == '"' && path[strlen(path)-1] == '"')
+  if (!path.empty() && path[0] == '"' && *path.rbegin() == '"')
     {
-    strcpy(tempPath,path+1);
-    tempPath[strlen(tempPath)-1] = '\0';
+    strcpy(tempPath,path.c_str()+1);
+    tempPath[size-2] = '\0';
     }
   else
     {
-    strcpy(tempPath,path);
+    strcpy(tempPath,path.c_str());
     }
 
   kwsys_stl::wstring wtempPath = Encoding::ToWide(tempPath);
@@ -4073,7 +4073,7 @@ void SystemTools::SplitProgramFromArgs(const char* path,
   // may have spaces in its name so we have to look for it
   kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string> e;
   kwsys_stl::string findProg = SystemTools::FindProgram(path, e);
-  if(findProg.size())
+  if(!findProg.empty())
     {
     program = findProg;
     args = "";
@@ -4103,7 +4103,7 @@ void SystemTools::SplitProgramFromArgs(const char* path,
       }
     // Now try and find the program in the path
     findProg = SystemTools::FindProgram(tryProg.c_str(), e);
-    if(findProg.size())
+    if(!findProg.empty())
       {
       program = findProg;
       // remove trailing spaces from program
@@ -4344,9 +4344,9 @@ kwsys_stl::string SystemTools::GetParentDirectory(const char* fileOrDir)
   return SystemTools::GetFilenamePath(fileOrDir);
 }
 
-bool SystemTools::IsSubDirectory(const char* cSubdir, const char* cDir)
+bool SystemTools::IsSubDirectory(const kwsys_stl::string& cSubdir, const kwsys_stl::string& cDir)
 {
-  if(!*cDir)
+  if(cDir.empty())
     {
     return false;
     }
@@ -4357,7 +4357,7 @@ bool SystemTools::IsSubDirectory(const char* cSubdir, const char* cDir)
   if(subdir.size() > dir.size() && subdir[dir.size()] == '/')
     {
     std::string s = subdir.substr(0, dir.size());
-    return SystemTools::ComparePath(s.c_str(), dir.c_str());
+    return SystemTools::ComparePath(s, dir);
     }
   return false;
 }
@@ -4926,8 +4926,8 @@ void SystemTools::ClassInitialize()
       // Add the translation to keep the logical path name.
       if(!cwd_changed.empty() && !pwd_changed.empty())
         {
-        SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(cwd_changed.c_str(),
-                                        pwd_changed.c_str());
+        SystemTools::AddTranslationPath(cwd_changed,
+                                        pwd_changed);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
index 9457a4e34..fb558488f 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
+++ b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
@@ -357,8 +357,8 @@ public:
    * (which defaults to the current working directory).  The full path
    * is returned.
    */
-  static kwsys_stl::string CollapseFullPath(const char* in_relative);
-  static kwsys_stl::string CollapseFullPath(const char* in_relative,
+  static kwsys_stl::string CollapseFullPath(const kwsys_stl::string& in_relative);
+  static kwsys_stl::string CollapseFullPath(const kwsys_stl::string& in_relative,
                                             const char* in_base);
 
   /** 
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ public:
    * returned.  The root component is stored in the "root" string if
    * given.
    */
-  static const char* SplitPathRootComponent(const char* p,
+  static const char* SplitPathRootComponent(const std::string& p,
                                             kwsys_stl::string* root=0);
 
   /**
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ public:
    * automatically expanded if expand_home_dir is true and this
    * platform supports them.
    */
-  static void SplitPath(const char* p,
+  static void SplitPath(const std::string& p,
                         kwsys_stl::vector<kwsys_stl::string>& components,
                         bool expand_home_dir = true);
 
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ public:
   /**
    * Compare a path or components of a path.
    */
-  static bool ComparePath(const char* c1, const char* c2);
+  static bool ComparePath(const kwsys_stl::string& c1, const kwsys_stl::string& c2);
 
 
   /**
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ public:
    * For windows return the short path for the given path,
    * Unix just a pass through
    */
-  static bool GetShortPath(const char* path, kwsys_stl::string& result);
+  static bool GetShortPath(const kwsys_stl::string& path, kwsys_stl::string& result);
   
   /**
    * Read line from file. Make sure to get everything. Due to a buggy stream
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ public:
   /**
    * Check if the given file or directory is in subdirectory of dir
    */
-  static bool IsSubDirectory(const char* fileOrDir, const char* dir);
+  static bool IsSubDirectory(const kwsys_stl::string& fileOrDir, const kwsys_stl::string& dir);
 
   /** -----------------------------------------------------------------
    *               File Manipulation Routines
@@ -806,13 +806,13 @@ public:
   /**
    * Add an entry in the path translation table.
    */
-  static void AddTranslationPath(const char * dir, const char * refdir);
+  static void AddTranslationPath(const kwsys_stl::string& dir, const kwsys_stl::string& refdir);
 
   /**
    * If dir is different after CollapseFullPath is called,
    * Then insert it into the path translation table
    */
-  static void AddKeepPath(const char* dir);
+  static void AddKeepPath(const kwsys_stl::string& dir);
 
   /**
    * Update path by going through the Path Translation table;
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments.cxx b/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments.cxx
index 72e65447b..6a03c0f76 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments.cxx
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ int testCommandLineArguments(int argc, char* argv[])
   CompareTwoLists(strings_argument, valid_strings, 4);
   CompareTwoLists(stl_strings_argument, valid_stl_strings, 4);
 
-  kwsys_ios::cout << "Some STL String variable was set to: " << some_stl_string_variable.c_str() << kwsys_ios::endl;
+  kwsys_ios::cout << "Some STL String variable was set to: " << some_stl_string_variable << kwsys_ios::endl;
   kwsys_ios::cout << "Some bool variable was set to: " << some_bool_variable << kwsys_ios::endl;
   kwsys_ios::cout << "Some bool variable was set to: " << some_bool_variable1 << kwsys_ios::endl;
   kwsys_ios::cout << "bool_arg1 variable was set to: " << bool_arg1 << kwsys_ios::endl;
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments1.cxx b/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments1.cxx
index 0860c2abc..3b84c38cd 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments1.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/testCommandLineArguments1.cxx
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ int testCommandLineArguments1(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
   if ( p != "1" )
     {
-    kwsys_ios::cout << "Problem setting P. Value of P: " << p.c_str() << kwsys_ios::endl;
+    kwsys_ios::cout << "Problem setting P. Value of P: " << p << kwsys_ios::endl;
     res = 1;
     }
   kwsys_ios::cout << "Value of N: " << n << kwsys_ios::endl;
   kwsys_ios::cout << "Value of M: " << m << kwsys_ios::endl;
-  kwsys_ios::cout << "Value of P: " << p.c_str() << kwsys_ios::endl;
+  kwsys_ios::cout << "Value of P: " << p << kwsys_ios::endl;
   if ( m )
     {
     delete [] m;
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/testSystemTools.cxx b/Source/kwsys/testSystemTools.cxx
index 1690fd51a..69825a8c9 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/testSystemTools.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/testSystemTools.cxx
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ static bool CheckConvertToUnixSlashes(kwsys_stl::string input,
   if ( result != output )
     {
     kwsys_ios::cerr
-      << "Problem with ConvertToUnixSlashes - input: " << input.c_str()
-      << " output: " << result.c_str() << " expected: " << output.c_str()
+      << "Problem with ConvertToUnixSlashes - input: " << input
+      << " output: " << result << " expected: " << output
       << kwsys_ios::endl;
     return false;
     }
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ static bool CheckEscapeChars(kwsys_stl::string input,
   if (result != output)
     {
     kwsys_ios::cerr
-      << "Problem with CheckEscapeChars - input: " << input.c_str()
-      << " output: " << result.c_str() << " expected: " << output.c_str()
+      << "Problem with CheckEscapeChars - input: " << input
+      << " output: " << result << " expected: " << output
       << kwsys_ios::endl;
     return false;
     }