diff --git a/crates/wasi-c2/src/lib.rs b/crates/wasi-c2/src/lib.rs
index 82aa0e263a..eb581d06dc 100644
--- a/crates/wasi-c2/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/wasi-c2/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ pub mod snapshots;
 pub mod stdio;
 mod string_array;
 pub mod table;
+pub mod virt;
 
 pub use ctx::WasiCtx;
 pub use dir::{DirCaps, WasiDir};
diff --git a/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/mod.rs b/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..97a59c2c4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub mod pipe;
diff --git a/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/pipe.rs b/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/pipe.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cda5383dc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/wasi-c2/src/virt/pipe.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,349 @@
+// This is mostly stubs
+#![allow(unused_variables, dead_code)]
+//! Virtual pipes.
+//!
+//! These types provide easy implementations of `WasiFile` that mimic much of the behavior of Unix
+//! pipes. These are particularly helpful for redirecting WASI stdio handles to destinations other
+//! than OS files.
+//!
+//! Some convenience constructors are included for common backing types like `Vec<u8>` and `String`,
+//! but the virtual pipes can be instantiated with any `Read` or `Write` type.
+//!
+use crate::file::{FdFlags, Filestat, Filetype, OFlags, WasiFile};
+use crate::Error;
+use std::io::{self, Read, Write};
+use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
+use system_interface::fs::{Advice, FileIoExt};
+
+/// A virtual pipe read end.
+///
+/// A variety of `From` impls are provided so that common pipe types are easy to create. For example:
+///
+/// ```
+/// # use wasi_c2::WasiCtxBuilder;
+/// # use wasi_c2::virt::pipe::ReadPipe;
+/// let mut ctx = WasiCtx::builder();
+/// let stdin = ReadPipe::from("hello from stdin!");
+/// ctx.stdin(stdin);
+/// ```
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ReadPipe<R: Read> {
+    reader: Arc<RwLock<R>>,
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> Clone for ReadPipe<R> {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            reader: self.reader.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> ReadPipe<R> {
+    /// Create a new pipe from a `Read` type.
+    ///
+    /// All `Handle` read operations delegate to reading from this underlying reader.
+    pub fn new(r: R) -> Self {
+        Self::from_shared(Arc::new(RwLock::new(r)))
+    }
+
+    /// Create a new pipe from a shareable `Read` type.
+    ///
+    /// All `Handle` read operations delegate to reading from this underlying reader.
+    pub fn from_shared(reader: Arc<RwLock<R>>) -> Self {
+        Self { reader }
+    }
+
+    /// Try to convert this `ReadPipe<R>` back to the underlying `R` type.
+    ///
+    /// This will fail with `Err(self)` if multiple references to the underlying `R` exist.
+    pub fn try_into_inner(mut self) -> Result<R, Self> {
+        match Arc::try_unwrap(self.reader) {
+            Ok(rc) => Ok(RwLock::into_inner(rc).unwrap()),
+            Err(reader) => {
+                self.reader = reader;
+                Err(self)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    fn borrow(&self) -> std::sync::RwLockWriteGuard<R> {
+        RwLock::write(&self.reader).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Vec<u8>> for ReadPipe<io::Cursor<Vec<u8>>> {
+    fn from(r: Vec<u8>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(io::Cursor::new(r))
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&[u8]> for ReadPipe<io::Cursor<Vec<u8>>> {
+    fn from(r: &[u8]) -> Self {
+        Self::from(r.to_vec())
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<String> for ReadPipe<io::Cursor<String>> {
+    fn from(r: String) -> Self {
+        Self::new(io::Cursor::new(r))
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&str> for ReadPipe<io::Cursor<String>> {
+    fn from(r: &str) -> Self {
+        Self::from(r.to_string())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> FileIoExt for ReadPipe<R> {
+    fn advise(&self, offset: u64, len: u64, advice: Advice) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // advice cant be taken. do we ignore or throw error?
+    }
+    fn allocate(&self, offset: u64, len: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write, seek
+    }
+    fn read(&self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().read(buf)
+    }
+    fn read_exact(&self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.borrow().read_exact(buf)
+    }
+    fn read_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn read_exact_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn read_vectored(&self, bufs: &mut [io::IoSliceMut]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().read_vectored(bufs)
+    }
+    fn read_to_end(&self, buf: &mut Vec<u8>) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().read_to_end(buf)
+    }
+    fn read_to_string(&self, buf: &mut String) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().read_to_string(buf)
+    }
+    fn bytes(self) -> io::Bytes<std::fs::File> {
+        todo!() // impossible to construct this concrete iterator, fix in system-interface
+    }
+    fn take(self, limit: u64) -> io::Take<std::fs::File> {
+        todo!() // impossible to construct this concrete iterator, fix in system-interface
+    }
+    fn write(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write
+    }
+    fn write_all(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write
+    }
+    fn write_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write, seek
+    }
+    fn write_all_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write, seek
+    }
+    fn write_vectored(&self, bufs: &[io::IoSlice]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write
+    }
+    fn write_fmt(&mut self, fmt: std::fmt::Arguments) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write
+    }
+    fn flush(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires write
+    }
+    fn seek(&self, pos: std::io::SeekFrom) -> io::Result<u64> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn stream_position(&self) -> io::Result<u64> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> fs_set_times::SetTimes for ReadPipe<R> {
+    fn set_times(
+        &self,
+        _: Option<fs_set_times::SystemTimeSpec>,
+        _: Option<fs_set_times::SystemTimeSpec>,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+}
+impl<R: Read> WasiFile for ReadPipe<R> {
+    fn datasync(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        Ok(()) // trivial: no implementation needed
+    }
+    fn sync(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        Ok(()) // trivial
+    }
+    fn get_filetype(&self) -> Result<Filetype, Error> {
+        Ok(Filetype::CharacterDevice) // XXX wrong
+    }
+    fn get_fdflags(&self) -> Result<FdFlags, Error> {
+        todo!() // do later
+    }
+    fn get_oflags(&self) -> Result<OFlags, Error> {
+        todo!() // do later
+    }
+    fn set_oflags(&self, _flags: OFlags) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        todo!() // impossible?
+    }
+    fn get_filestat(&self) -> Result<Filestat, Error> {
+        todo!() // do later
+    }
+    fn set_filestat_size(&self, _size: u64) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        todo!() // impossible?
+    }
+}
+
+/// A virtual pipe write end.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct WritePipe<W: Write> {
+    writer: Arc<RwLock<W>>,
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> Clone for WritePipe<W> {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            writer: self.writer.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> WritePipe<W> {
+    /// Create a new pipe from a `Write` type.
+    ///
+    /// All `Handle` write operations delegate to writing to this underlying writer.
+    pub fn new(w: W) -> Self {
+        Self::from_shared(Arc::new(RwLock::new(w)))
+    }
+
+    /// Create a new pipe from a shareable `Write` type.
+    ///
+    /// All `Handle` write operations delegate to writing to this underlying writer.
+    pub fn from_shared(writer: Arc<RwLock<W>>) -> Self {
+        Self { writer }
+    }
+
+    /// Try to convert this `WritePipe<W>` back to the underlying `W` type.
+    ///
+    /// This will fail with `Err(self)` if multiple references to the underlying `W` exist.
+    pub fn try_into_inner(mut self) -> Result<W, Self> {
+        match Arc::try_unwrap(self.writer) {
+            Ok(rc) => Ok(RwLock::into_inner(rc).unwrap()),
+            Err(writer) => {
+                self.writer = writer;
+                Err(self)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn borrow(&self) -> std::sync::RwLockWriteGuard<W> {
+        RwLock::write(&self.writer).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl WritePipe<io::Cursor<Vec<u8>>> {
+    /// Create a new writable virtual pipe backed by a `Vec<u8>` buffer.
+    pub fn new_in_memory() -> Self {
+        Self::new(io::Cursor::new(vec![]))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> FileIoExt for WritePipe<W> {
+    fn advise(&self, offset: u64, len: u64, advice: Advice) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+    fn allocate(&self, offset: u64, len: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn read(&self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn read_exact(&self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn read_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read, seek
+    }
+    fn read_exact_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read, seek
+    }
+    fn read_vectored(&self, bufs: &mut [io::IoSliceMut]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn read_to_end(&self, buf: &mut Vec<u8>) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn read_to_string(&self, buf: &mut String) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn bytes(self) -> io::Bytes<std::fs::File> {
+        todo!() // error: requires read
+    }
+    fn take(self, limit: u64) -> io::Take<std::fs::File> {
+        todo!() // error::requires read
+    }
+    fn write(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().write(buf)
+    }
+    fn write_all(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.borrow().write_all(buf)
+    }
+    fn write_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn write_all_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn write_vectored(&self, bufs: &[io::IoSlice]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.borrow().write_vectored(bufs)
+    }
+    fn write_fmt(&mut self, fmt: std::fmt::Arguments) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.borrow().write_fmt(fmt)
+    }
+    fn flush(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.borrow().flush()
+    }
+    fn seek(&self, pos: std::io::SeekFrom) -> io::Result<u64> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+    fn stream_position(&self) -> io::Result<u64> {
+        todo!() // error: requires seek
+    }
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> fs_set_times::SetTimes for WritePipe<W> {
+    fn set_times(
+        &self,
+        _: Option<fs_set_times::SystemTimeSpec>,
+        _: Option<fs_set_times::SystemTimeSpec>,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        todo!() //
+    }
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> WasiFile for WritePipe<W> {
+    fn datasync(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    fn sync(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    fn get_filetype(&self) -> Result<Filetype, Error> {
+        Ok(Filetype::CharacterDevice) // XXX
+    }
+    fn get_fdflags(&self) -> Result<FdFlags, Error> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+    fn get_oflags(&self) -> Result<OFlags, Error> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+    fn set_oflags(&self, _flags: OFlags) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+    fn get_filestat(&self) -> Result<Filestat, Error> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+    fn set_filestat_size(&self, _size: u64) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+}