diff --git a/src/engine/output.c b/src/engine/output.c
index 8f7dd0da8..1204d8d4f 100644
--- a/src/engine/output.c
+++ b/src/engine/output.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "jam.h"
 #include "output.h"
+#include "newstr.h"
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #define bjam_out (stdout)
@@ -95,3 +96,26 @@ void out_action(
     fflush(bjam_err);
     fflush(globs.cmdout);
 }
+
+
+char * outf_int( int value )
+{
+    char buffer[50];
+    sprintf(buffer, "%i", value);
+    return newstr(buffer);
+}
+
+char * outf_double( double value )
+{
+    char buffer[50];
+    sprintf(buffer, "%f", value);
+    return newstr(buffer);
+}
+
+char * outf_time( time_t value )
+{
+    char buffer[50];
+    strftime(buffer,49,"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%SZ",gmtime(&value));
+    return newstr(buffer);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/engine/output.h b/src/engine/output.h
index 079c048a7..6cd1b6c88 100644
--- a/src/engine/output.h
+++ b/src/engine/output.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #ifndef BJAM_OUTPUT_H
 #define BJAM_OUTPUT_H
 
+#include <time.h>
+
 #define EXIT_OK 0
 #define EXIT_FAIL 1
 #define EXIT_TIMEOUT 2
@@ -20,4 +22,8 @@ void out_action(
     int exit_reason
     );
 
+char * outf_int( int value );
+char * outf_double( double value );
+char * outf_time( time_t value );
+
 #endif