diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..324b12f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package realis
+
+import (
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/paypal/gorealis/gen-go/apache/aurora"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+)
+
+var ActiveStates = make(map[aurora.ScheduleStatus]bool)
+var SlaveAssignedStates = make(map[aurora.ScheduleStatus]bool)
+var LiveStates = make(map[aurora.ScheduleStatus]bool)
+var TerminalStates = make(map[aurora.ScheduleStatus]bool)
+var ActiveJobUpdateStates = make(map[aurora.JobUpdateStatus]bool)
+var AwaitingPulseJobUpdateStates = make(map[aurora.JobUpdateStatus]bool)
+
+func init() {
+	for _, status := range aurora.ACTIVE_STATES {
+		ActiveStates[status] = true
+	}
+
+	for _, status := range aurora.SLAVE_ASSIGNED_STATES {
+		SlaveAssignedStates[status] = true
+	}
+
+	for _, status := range aurora.LIVE_STATES {
+		LiveStates[status] = true
+	}
+
+	for _, status := range aurora.TERMINAL_STATES {
+		TerminalStates[status] = true
+	}
+
+	for _, status := range aurora.ACTIVE_JOB_UPDATE_STATES {
+		ActiveJobUpdateStates[status] = true
+	}
+	for _, status := range aurora.AWAITNG_PULSE_JOB_UPDATE_STATES {
+		AwaitingPulseJobUpdateStates[status] = true
+	}
+}
+
+func validateAndPopulateAuroraURL(urlStr string) (string, error) {
+
+	// If no protocol defined, assume http
+	if !strings.Contains(urlStr, "://") {
+		urlStr = "http://" + urlStr
+	}
+
+	u, err := url.Parse(urlStr)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", errors.Wrap(err, "error parsing url")
+	}
+
+	// If no path provided assume /api
+	if u.Path == "" {
+		u.Path = "/api"
+	}
+
+	// If no port provided, assume default 8081
+	if u.Port() == "" {
+		u.Host = u.Host + ":8081"
+	}
+
+	if !(u.Scheme == "http" || u.Scheme == "https") {
+		return "", errors.Errorf("only protocols http and https are supported %v\n", u.Scheme)
+	}
+
+	if u.Path != "/api" {
+		return "", errors.Errorf("expected /api path %v\n", u.Path)
+	}
+
+	return u.String(), nil
+}