diff --git a/files-api/src/main/java/module-info.java b/files-api/src/main/java/module-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b41f910
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/java/module-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import org.xbib.files.DefaultFilesProvider;
+import org.xbib.files.Provider;
+
+module org.xbib.files {
+    exports org.xbib.files;
+    uses Provider;
+    provides Provider with DefaultFilesProvider;
+}
diff --git a/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFiles.java b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFiles.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f3f157
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFiles.java
@@ -0,0 +1,332 @@
+package org.xbib.files;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.OutputStream;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.channels.Channels;
+import java.nio.channels.ReadableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.channels.WritableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.file.CopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.DirectoryStream;
+import java.nio.file.OpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.StandardOpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileAttribute;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFileAttributeView;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermission;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermissions;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.UserPrincipal;
+import java.util.EnumSet;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+
+public class DefaultFiles implements org.xbib.files.Files {
+
+    private static final int READ_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final int WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rwxr-xr-x");
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rw-r--r--");
+
+    private final URI uri;
+
+    private final Map<String, ?> env;
+
+    public DefaultFiles(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        this.uri = uri;
+        this.env = env;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean exists(String path) {
+        return Files.exists(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isExecutable(String path) {
+        return Files.isExecutable(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isDirectory(String path) {
+        return Files.isDirectory(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isRegularFile(String path) {
+        return Files.isRegularFile(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isHidden(String path) throws IOException {
+        return Files.isHidden(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSameFile(String path1, String path2) throws IOException {
+        return Files.isSameFile(Paths.get(path1), Paths.get(path2));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSymbolicLink(String path) {
+        return Files.isSymbolicLink(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isReadable(String path) {
+        return Files.isReadable(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isWritable(String path) {
+        return Files.isWritable(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setAttribute(String path, String attribute, Object value) throws IOException {
+        Files.setAttribute(Paths.get(path), attribute, value);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Object getAttribute(String path, String attribute) throws IOException {
+        return Files.getAttribute(Paths.get(path), attribute);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setPermissions(String path, Set<PosixFilePermission> permissions) throws IOException {
+        Files.setPosixFilePermissions(Paths.get(path), permissions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Set<PosixFilePermission> getPermissions(String path) throws IOException {
+        return Files.getPosixFilePermissions(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setOwner(String path, UserPrincipal userPrincipal) throws IOException {
+        Files.setOwner(Paths.get(path), userPrincipal);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public UserPrincipal getOwner(String path) throws IOException {
+        return Files.getOwner(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setLastModifiedTime(String path, FileTime fileTime) throws IOException {
+        Files.setLastModifiedTime(Paths.get(path), fileTime);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FileTime getLastModifiedTime(String path) throws IOException {
+        return Files.getLastModifiedTime(Paths.get(path));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createFile(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        Files.createFile(Paths.get(path), attributes);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectory(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        Files.createDirectory(Paths.get(path), attributes);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectories(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        Files.createDirectories(Paths.get(path), attributes);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(Path source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, Paths.get(target), DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(InputStream source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(InputStream source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, Paths.get(target), DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        download(source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(String source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        download(Paths.get(source), target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(Path source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        download(source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(String source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        download(Paths.get(source), target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void rename(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        Files.move(Paths.get(source), Paths.get(target), copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void remove(String source) throws IOException {
+        Files.deleteIfExists(Paths.get(source));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void copy(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        Files.copy(Paths.get(source), Paths.get(target), copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> stream(String path, String glob) throws IOException {
+        return Files.newDirectoryStream(Paths.get(path), glob);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> filter(String path, DirectoryStream.Filter<Path> filter) throws IOException {
+        return Files.newDirectoryStream(Paths.get(path), filter);
+    }
+
+    private void upload(Path source, Path target,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                        CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(Files.newByteChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE, dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    private void upload(InputStream source, Path target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(Channels.newChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE, dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    private void upload(ReadableByteChannel source,
+                        Path target,
+                        int bufferSize,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                        CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForWrite(target, dirPerms, filePerms);
+        transfer(source, Files.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(Path source,
+                          OutputStream outputStream,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        download(source, Channels.newChannel(outputStream), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(Path source,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        transfer(Files.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions()), writableByteChannel,
+                bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(Path source,
+                          Path target,
+                          int bufferSize,
+                          CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForWrite(target);
+        transfer(Files.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions(copyOptions)),
+                Files.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForWrite(Path path) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForWrite(Path path,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+            PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                    Files.getFileAttributeView(parent, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+            posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(dirPerms);
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+        PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                Files.getFileAttributeView(path, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+        posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(filePerms);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareReadOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        // ignore user copy options
+        return EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.READ);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareWriteOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        Set<? extends OpenOption> options = null;
+        for (CopyOption copyOption : copyOptions) {
+            if (copyOption == StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING) {
+                options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE, StandardOpenOption.TRUNCATE_EXISTING);
+            }
+        }
+        if (options == null) {
+            // we can not use CREATE_NEW, file is already there because of prepareForWrite() -> Files.createFile()
+            options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE);
+        }
+        return options;
+    }
+
+    private void transfer(ReadableByteChannel readableByteChannel,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(bufferSize);
+        int read;
+        while ((read = readableByteChannel.read(buffer)) > 0) {
+            buffer.flip();
+            while (read > 0) {
+                read -= writableByteChannel.write(buffer);
+            }
+            buffer.clear();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFilesProvider.java b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFilesProvider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13f97bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/DefaultFilesProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package org.xbib.files;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+public class DefaultFilesProvider implements Provider {
+    @Override
+    public Files provide(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        return !uri.isAbsolute() || uri.getScheme().equals("file") ?  new DefaultFiles(uri, env) : null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Files.java b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Files.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b10afff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Files.java
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package org.xbib.files;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.OutputStream;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.file.CopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.DirectoryStream;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileAttribute;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermission;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.UserPrincipal;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.ServiceLoader;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+public interface Files {
+
+    class Holder {
+
+        private static Files createFiles(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+            ServiceLoader<Provider> serviceLoader = ServiceLoader.load(Provider.class);
+            Optional<Files> first = serviceLoader.stream()
+                    .map(ServiceLoader.Provider::get)
+                    .filter(Objects::nonNull)
+                    .map(p -> p.provide(uri, env))
+                    .filter(Objects::nonNull)
+                    .findFirst();
+            return first.orElse(null);
+        }
+    }
+
+    default Files newInstance(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        return Holder.createFiles(uri, env);
+    }
+
+    Boolean exists(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isExecutable(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isDirectory(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isRegularFile(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isHidden(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isSameFile(String path1, String path2) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isSymbolicLink(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isReadable(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    Boolean isWritable(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    void setAttribute(String path, String attribute, Object value) throws IOException;
+
+    Object getAttribute(String path, String attribute) throws IOException;
+
+    void setPermissions(String path, Set<PosixFilePermission> permissions) throws IOException;
+
+    Set<PosixFilePermission> getPermissions(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    void setOwner(String path, UserPrincipal userPrincipal) throws IOException;
+
+    UserPrincipal getOwner(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    void setLastModifiedTime(String path, FileTime fileTime) throws IOException;
+
+    FileTime getLastModifiedTime(String path) throws IOException;
+
+    void createFile(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException;
+
+    void createDirectory(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException;
+
+    void createDirectories(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException;
+
+    void upload(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void upload(Path source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws Exception;
+
+    void upload(InputStream source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void upload(InputStream source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void download(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void download(String source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void download(Path source, OutputStream target) throws IOException;
+
+    void download(String source, OutputStream target) throws IOException;
+
+    void rename(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    void remove(String source) throws IOException;
+
+    void copy(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException;
+
+    DirectoryStream<Path> stream(String path, String glob) throws IOException;
+
+    DirectoryStream<Path> filter(String path, DirectoryStream.Filter<Path> filter) throws IOException;
+}
diff --git a/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Provider.java b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Provider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cb8e83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/java/org/xbib/files/Provider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package org.xbib.files;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+public interface Provider {
+
+    Files provide(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env);
+}
diff --git a/files-api/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider b/files-api/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c9449a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-api/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+org.xbib.files.DefaultFilesProvider
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/build.gradle b/files-ftp-fs/build.gradle
index 23eaa6a..4be1784 100644
--- a/files-ftp-fs/build.gradle
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/build.gradle
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 dependencies {
+    api project(':files-api')
     api project(':files-ftp')
     testImplementation "org.mockftpserver:MockFtpServer:${project.property('mockftpserver.version')}"
     testImplementation "org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-params:${project.property('junit.version')}"
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
index 15186f8..ebcf219 100644
--- a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
+import java.nio.file.spi.FileSystemProvider;
+import org.xbib.files.Provider;
+import org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.FTPFileSystemProvider;
+import org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi.FTPFilesProvider;
+
 module org.xbib.files.ftp.fs {
+    requires org.xbib.files;
     requires org.xbib.files.ftp;
-    provides java.nio.file.spi.FileSystemProvider
-            with org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.FTPFileSystemProvider;
+    provides FileSystemProvider with FTPFileSystemProvider;
+    provides Provider with FTPFilesProvider;
 }
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPContext.java b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..734eab8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi;
+
+import org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.FTPEnvironment;
+import org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.FTPFileSystemProvider;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.file.FileSystem;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+class FTPContext {
+
+    final FTPFileSystemProvider provider;
+
+    final FileSystem fileSystem;
+
+    FTPContext(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) throws IOException {
+        this.provider = new FTPFileSystemProvider();
+        this.fileSystem = provider.newFileSystem(uri, env != null ? env : new FTPEnvironment());
+    }
+
+    void close() throws IOException {
+        fileSystem.close();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFiles.java b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFiles.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..795602f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFiles.java
@@ -0,0 +1,391 @@
+package org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.OutputStream;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.channels.Channels;
+import java.nio.channels.ReadableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.channels.WritableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.file.CopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.DirectoryStream;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.OpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.StandardOpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileAttribute;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFileAttributeView;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermission;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermissions;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.UserPrincipal;
+import java.util.EnumSet;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+public class FTPFiles implements org.xbib.files.Files {
+
+    private static final int READ_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final int WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rwxr-xr-x");
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rw-r--r--");
+
+    private final URI uri;
+
+    private final Map<String, ?> env;
+
+    public FTPFiles(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        this.uri = uri;
+        this.env = env;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean exists(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.exists(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isExecutable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isExecutable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isDirectory(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isDirectory(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isRegularFile(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isRegularFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isHidden(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isHidden(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSameFile(String path1, String path2) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isSameFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path1), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path2)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSymbolicLink(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isSymbolicLink(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isReadable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isReadable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isWritable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isWritable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createFile(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectory(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createDirectory(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectories(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createDirectories(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setAttribute(String path, String attribute, Object value) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setAttribute(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attribute, value));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Object getAttribute(String path, String attribute) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getAttribute(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attribute));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setPermissions(String path, Set<PosixFilePermission> permissions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setPosixFilePermissions(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), permissions));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Set<PosixFilePermission> getPermissions(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getPosixFilePermissions(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setLastModifiedTime(String path, FileTime fileTime) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setLastModifiedTime(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), fileTime));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FileTime getLastModifiedTime(String path) throws IOException{
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getLastModifiedTime(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setOwner(String path, UserPrincipal userPrincipal) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setOwner(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), userPrincipal));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public  UserPrincipal getOwner(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getOwner(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> stream(String path, String glob) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.newDirectoryStream(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), glob));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> filter(String path, DirectoryStream.Filter<Path> filter) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.newDirectoryStream(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), filter));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    public void upload(Path source, Path target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Files.newByteChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(Path source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    public void upload(Path source, String target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Files.newByteChannel(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, Path target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Channels.newChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, String target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Channels.newChannel(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPerms, filePerms, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void download(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void download(String source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void download(Path source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void download(String source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            Files.copy(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), target);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void copy(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            Files.copy(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void rename(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            Files.move(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void remove(String source) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            Files.deleteIfExists(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source));
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void upload(FTPContext ctx,
+                        ReadableByteChannel source,
+                        Path target,
+                        int bufferSize,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                        CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForWrite(target, dirPerms, filePerms);
+        transfer(source, ctx.provider.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(FTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          OutputStream outputStream,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        download(ctx, source, Channels.newChannel(outputStream), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(FTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        transfer(ctx.provider.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions()), writableByteChannel,
+                bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(FTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          Path target,
+                          int bufferSize,
+                          CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForWrite(target);
+        transfer(ctx.provider.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions(copyOptions)),
+                Files.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForWrite(Path path) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForWrite(Path path,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+            PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                    Files.getFileAttributeView(parent, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+            posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(dirPerms);
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+        PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                Files.getFileAttributeView(path, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+        posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(filePerms);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareReadOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        // ignore user copy options
+        return EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.READ);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareWriteOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        Set<? extends OpenOption> options = null;
+        for (CopyOption copyOption : copyOptions) {
+            if (copyOption == StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING) {
+                options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE, StandardOpenOption.TRUNCATE_EXISTING);
+            }
+        }
+        if (options == null) {
+            // we can not use CREATE_NEW, file is already there because of prepareForWrite() -> Files.createFile()
+            options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE);
+        }
+        return options;
+    }
+
+    private void transfer(ReadableByteChannel readableByteChannel,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(bufferSize);
+        int read;
+        while ((read = readableByteChannel.read(buffer)) > 0) {
+            buffer.flip();
+            while (read > 0) {
+                read -= writableByteChannel.write(buffer);
+            }
+            buffer.clear();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private <T> T performWithContext(WithContext<T> action) throws IOException {
+        FTPContext ctx = null;
+        try {
+            if (uri != null) {
+                ctx = new FTPContext(uri, env);
+                return action.perform(ctx);
+            } else {
+                return null;
+            }
+        } finally {
+            if (ctx != null) {
+                ctx.close();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFilesProvider.java b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFilesProvider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..994c41d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/FTPFilesProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi;
+
+import org.xbib.files.Files;
+import org.xbib.files.Provider;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+public class FTPFilesProvider implements Provider {
+    @Override
+    public Files provide(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        return !uri.isAbsolute() || uri.getScheme().equals("file") ?  new FTPFiles(uri, env) : null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/WithContext.java b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/WithContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b39eb16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/java/org/xbib/io/ftp/fs/spi/WithContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+interface WithContext<T> {
+    T perform(FTPContext ctx) throws IOException;
+}
diff --git a/files-ftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32d37d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-ftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+org.xbib.io.ftp.fs.spi.FTPFilesProvider
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/files-ftp/build.gradle b/files-ftp/build.gradle
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/build.gradle b/files-sftp-fs/build.gradle
index e05b722..6971ef4 100644
--- a/files-sftp-fs/build.gradle
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/build.gradle
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 dependencies {
+    api project(':files-api')
     api project(':files-sftp')
     testImplementation "org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on:${project.property('bouncycastle.version')}"
 }
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
index 9ce7d9e..d82facf 100644
--- a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/module-info.java
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import org.apache.sshd.fs.SftpFileSystemProvider;
 import java.nio.file.spi.FileSystemProvider;
+import org.xbib.files.Provider;
+import org.apache.sshd.fs.spi.SFTPFilesProvider;
 
 module org.xbib.files.sftp.fs {
     exports org.apache.sshd.fs;
+    exports org.apache.sshd.fs.spi;
+    requires org.xbib.files;
     requires transitive org.xbib.files.sftp;
     provides FileSystemProvider with SftpFileSystemProvider;
+    provides Provider with SFTPFilesProvider;
 }
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPContext.java b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d03f1c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package org.apache.sshd.fs.spi;
+
+import org.apache.sshd.client.ClientBuilder;
+import org.apache.sshd.client.SshClient;
+import org.apache.sshd.fs.SftpFileSystem;
+import org.apache.sshd.fs.SftpFileSystemProvider;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+class SFTPContext {
+
+    private final SshClient sshClient;
+
+    final SftpFileSystemProvider provider;
+
+    final SftpFileSystem fileSystem;
+
+    SFTPContext(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) throws IOException {
+        this.sshClient = ClientBuilder.builder().build();
+        Object object = env.get("workers");
+        if (object instanceof Integer) {
+            sshClient.setNioWorkers((Integer) object);
+        } else if (object instanceof String) {
+            sshClient.setNioWorkers(Integer.parseInt((String) object));
+        } else {
+            // we do not require a vast pool of threads
+            sshClient.setNioWorkers(1);
+        }
+        sshClient.start();
+        this.provider = new SftpFileSystemProvider(sshClient);
+        this.fileSystem = provider.newFileSystem(uri, env);
+    }
+
+    void close() throws IOException {
+        sshClient.stop();
+        fileSystem.close();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFiles.java b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFiles.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4af113
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFiles.java
@@ -0,0 +1,392 @@
+package org.apache.sshd.fs.spi;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.OutputStream;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.nio.channels.Channels;
+import java.nio.channels.ReadableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.channels.WritableByteChannel;
+import java.nio.file.CopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.DirectoryStream;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.OpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
+import java.nio.file.StandardOpenOption;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileAttribute;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFileAttributeView;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermission;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermissions;
+import java.nio.file.attribute.UserPrincipal;
+import java.util.EnumSet;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+public class SFTPFiles implements org.xbib.files.Files {
+
+    private static final int READ_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final int WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE = 128 * 1024;
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rwxr-xr-x");
+
+    private static final Set<PosixFilePermission> DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS =
+            PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rw-r--r--");
+
+    private final URI uri;
+
+    private final Map<String, ?> env;
+
+    public SFTPFiles(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        this.uri = uri;
+        this.env = env;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean exists(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.exists(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isExecutable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isExecutable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isDirectory(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isDirectory(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isRegularFile(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isRegularFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isHidden(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isHidden(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSameFile(String path1, String path2) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isSameFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path1), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path2)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isSymbolicLink(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isSymbolicLink(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isReadable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isReadable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Boolean isWritable(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.isWritable(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createFile(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createFile(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectory(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createDirectory(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void createDirectories(String path, FileAttribute<?>... attributes) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.createDirectories(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attributes));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setAttribute(String path, String attribute, Object value) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setAttribute(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attribute, value));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Object getAttribute(String path, String attribute) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getAttribute(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), attribute));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setPermissions(String path, Set<PosixFilePermission> permissions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setPosixFilePermissions(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), permissions));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Set<PosixFilePermission> getPermissions(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getPosixFilePermissions(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setLastModifiedTime(String path, FileTime fileTime) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setLastModifiedTime(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), fileTime));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FileTime getLastModifiedTime(String path) throws IOException{
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getLastModifiedTime(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setOwner(String path, UserPrincipal userPrincipal) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.setOwner(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), userPrincipal));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public UserPrincipal getOwner(String path) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.getOwner(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path)));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> stream(String path, String glob) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.newDirectoryStream(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), glob));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DirectoryStream<Path> filter(String path, DirectoryStream.Filter<Path> filter) throws IOException {
+        return performWithContext(ctx -> Files.newDirectoryStream(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(path), filter));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(Path source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(InputStream source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void upload(InputStream source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        upload(source, target, DEFAULT_DIR_PERMISSIONS, DEFAULT_FILE_PERMISSIONS, copyOptions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(Path source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(String source, Path target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(Path source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, source, target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void download(String source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            download(ctx, ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), target, READ_BUFFER_SIZE);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void copy(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.copy(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), copyOptions));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void rename(String source, String target, CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.move(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), copyOptions));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void remove(String source) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> Files.deleteIfExists(ctx.fileSystem.getPath(source)));
+    }
+
+    public void upload(Path source, Path target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPermissions,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePermissions,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Files.newByteChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPermissions, filePermissions, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(Path source, String target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPermissions,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePermissions,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Files.newByteChannel(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPermissions, filePermissions, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, Path target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPermissions,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePermissions,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Channels.newChannel(source), target, WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPermissions, filePermissions, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    public void upload(InputStream source, String target,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPermissions,
+                       Set<PosixFilePermission> filePermissions,
+                       CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        performWithContext(ctx -> {
+            upload(ctx, Channels.newChannel(source), ctx.fileSystem.getPath(target), WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE,
+                    dirPermissions, filePermissions, copyOptions);
+            return null;
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void upload(SFTPContext ctx,
+                        ReadableByteChannel source,
+                        Path target,
+                        int bufferSize,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                        Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms,
+                        CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForWrite(target, dirPerms, filePerms);
+        transfer(source, ctx.provider.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(SFTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          OutputStream outputStream,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        download(ctx, source, Channels.newChannel(outputStream), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(SFTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        transfer(ctx.provider.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions()), writableByteChannel,
+                bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void download(SFTPContext ctx,
+                          Path source,
+                          Path target,
+                          int bufferSize,
+                          CopyOption... copyOptions) throws IOException {
+        prepareForRead(target);
+        transfer(ctx.provider.newByteChannel(source, prepareReadOptions(copyOptions)),
+                Files.newByteChannel(target, prepareWriteOptions(copyOptions)), bufferSize);
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForRead(Path path) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void prepareForWrite(Path path,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> dirPerms,
+                                 Set<PosixFilePermission> filePerms) throws IOException {
+        if (path == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Path parent = path.getParent();
+        if (parent != null) {
+            if (!Files.exists(parent)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(parent);
+            }
+            PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                    Files.getFileAttributeView(parent, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+            posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(dirPerms);
+        }
+        if (!Files.exists(path)) {
+            Files.createFile(path);
+        }
+        PosixFileAttributeView posixFileAttributeView =
+                Files.getFileAttributeView(path, PosixFileAttributeView.class);
+        posixFileAttributeView.setPermissions(filePerms);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareReadOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        // ignore user copy options
+        return EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.READ);
+    }
+
+    private Set<? extends OpenOption> prepareWriteOptions(CopyOption... copyOptions) {
+        Set<? extends OpenOption> options = null;
+        for (CopyOption copyOption : copyOptions) {
+            if (copyOption == StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING) {
+                options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE, StandardOpenOption.TRUNCATE_EXISTING);
+            }
+        }
+        if (options == null) {
+            // we can not use CREATE_NEW, file is already there because of prepareForWrite() -> Files.createFile()
+            options = EnumSet.of(StandardOpenOption.CREATE, StandardOpenOption.WRITE);
+        }
+        return options;
+    }
+
+    private void transfer(ReadableByteChannel readableByteChannel,
+                          WritableByteChannel writableByteChannel,
+                          int bufferSize) throws IOException {
+        ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(bufferSize);
+        int read;
+        while ((read = readableByteChannel.read(buffer)) > 0) {
+            buffer.flip();
+            while (read > 0) {
+                read -= writableByteChannel.write(buffer);
+            }
+            buffer.clear();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private <T> T performWithContext(WithContext<T> action) throws IOException {
+        SFTPContext ctx = null;
+        try {
+            if (uri != null) {
+                ctx = new SFTPContext(uri, env);
+                return action.perform(ctx);
+            } else {
+                return null;
+            }
+        } finally {
+            if (ctx != null) {
+                ctx.close();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFilesProvider.java b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFilesProvider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4210243
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/SFTPFilesProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package org.apache.sshd.fs.spi;
+
+import org.xbib.files.Files;
+import org.xbib.files.Provider;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+public class SFTPFilesProvider implements Provider {
+    @Override
+    public Files provide(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) {
+        return !uri.isAbsolute() || uri.getScheme().equals("file") ?  new SFTPFiles(uri, env) : null;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/WithContext.java b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/WithContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c11eeba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/java/org/apache/sshd/fs/spi/WithContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package org.apache.sshd.fs.spi;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+interface WithContext<T> {
+    T perform(SFTPContext ctx) throws IOException;
+}
diff --git a/files-sftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74789f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files-sftp-fs/src/main/resources/META-INF/services/org.xbib.files.Provider
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+org.apache.sshd.fs.spi.SFTPFilesProvider
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/settings.gradle b/settings.gradle
index 03e1221..24290ee 100644
--- a/settings.gradle
+++ b/settings.gradle
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+include 'files-api'
 include 'files-eddsa'
 include 'files-zlib'
 include 'files-ftp'