diff --git a/lib/compass/actions.rb b/lib/compass/actions.rb
index 9cf75914..511fe34b 100644
--- a/lib/compass/actions.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/actions.rb
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ module Compass
       end          
     end
 
+    # Write a file given the file contents as a string
     def write_file(file_name, contents, options = nil)
       options ||= self.options if self.respond_to?(:options)
       if File.exists?(file_name) && !options[:force]
@@ -54,6 +55,26 @@ module Compass
       end
     end
 
+    # Compile one Sass file
+    def compile(sass_filename, css_filename, options)
+      target_directory = File.dirname(css_filename)
+      directory target_directory
+      logger.record :compile, basename(sass_filename)
+      if File.exists?(css_filename)
+        logger.record :overwrite, basename(css_filename)
+      else
+        logger.record :create, basename(css_filename)
+      end
+      engine = ::Sass::Engine.new(open(sass_filename).read,
+                                  :filename => sass_filename,
+                                  :line_comments => options[:environment] == :development,
+                                  :style => options[:style],
+                                  :css_filename => css_filename,
+                                  :load_paths => options[:load_paths])
+      css_content = engine.render
+      open(css_filename,'w') {|output| output.write(css_content)} unless options[:dry_run]
+    end
+
     def basename(file)
       relativize(file) {|f| File.basename(file)}
     end
@@ -68,5 +89,10 @@ module Compass
       end
     end
 
+    # Write paths like we're on unix and then fix it
+    def separate(path)
+      path.gsub(%r{/}, File::SEPARATOR)
+    end
+
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/base.rb b/lib/compass/commands/base.rb
index 259a50a9..9e4502c5 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/base.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/base.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 module Compass
   module Commands
     class Base
-      attr_accessor :working_directory, :options
-      def initialize(working_directory, options)
-        self.working_directory = working_directory
+
+      include Actions
+
+      attr_accessor :working_path, :options
+
+      def initialize(working_path, options)
+        self.working_path = working_path
         self.options = options
       end
       
@@ -13,66 +17,6 @@ module Compass
 
       protected
 
-      def relativize(path)
-        if path.index(working_directory+File::SEPARATOR) == 0
-          path[(working_directory+File::SEPARATOR).length..-1]
-        else
-          path
-        end
-      end
-
-      # create a directory and all the directories necessary to reach it.
-      def directory(dir, options = nil)
-        options ||= self.options
-        if File.exists?(dir) && File.directory?(dir) && options[:force]
-            print_action :exists, basename(dir) + File::SEPARATOR
-        elsif File.exists?(dir) && File.directory?(dir)
-          msg = "Directory #{basename(dir)} already exists. Run with --force to force creation."
-          raise ::Compass::Exec::DirectoryExistsError.new(msg)
-        elsif File.exists?(dir)
-          msg = "#{basename(dir)} already exists and is not a directory."
-          raise ::Compass::Exec::ExecError.new(msg)
-        else
-          print_action :directory, basename(dir) + File::SEPARATOR
-          FileUtils.mkdir_p(dir) unless options[:dry_run]
-        end          
-      end
-
-      def absolute_path?(path)
-        # This is only going to work on unix, gonna need a better implementation.
-        path.index(File::SEPARATOR) == 0
-      end
-
-      # copy/process a template in the compass template directory to the project directory.
-      def template(from, to, options)
-        from = File.join(templates_directory, separate(from))
-        if File.exists?(to) && !options[:force]
-          #TODO: Detect differences & provide an overwrite prompt
-          msg = "#{basename(to)} already exists."
-          raise ::Compass::Exec::ExecError.new(msg)
-        elsif File.exists?(to)
-          print_action :remove, basename(to)
-          FileUtils.rm to unless options[:dry_run]
-        end
-        print_action :create, basename(to)
-        FileUtils.cp from, to unless options[:dry_run]
-      end
-
-      def write_file(file_name, contents)
-        if File.exists?(file_name) && !options[:force]
-          msg = "File #{basename(file_name)} already exists. Run with --force to force creation."
-          raise ::Compass::Exec::ExecError.new(msg)
-        end
-        if File.exists?(file_name)
-          print_action :overwrite, basename(file_name)
-        else
-          print_action :create, basename(file_name)
-        end
-        output = open(file_name,'w')
-        output.write(contents)
-        output.close
-      end
-
       # returns the path to the templates directory and caches it
       def templates_directory
         @templates_directory ||= framework.templates_directory
@@ -82,25 +26,6 @@ module Compass
         Compass::Frameworks[options[:framework]]
       end
 
-      # Write paths like we're on unix and then fix it
-      def separate(path)
-        path.gsub(%r{/}, File::SEPARATOR)
-      end
-      
-      def basename(file)
-        if file.length > working_directory.length
-          relativize(file)
-        else
-          File.basename(file)
-        end
-      end
-      
-      ACTIONS = [:directory, :exists, :remove, :create, :overwrite]
-      MAX_ACTION_LENGTH = ACTIONS.inject(0){|memo, a| [memo, a.to_s.length].max}
-      def print_action(action, extra)
-        puts "#{' ' * (MAX_ACTION_LENGTH - action.to_s.length)}#{action} #{extra}" if !options[:quiet] || options[:dry_run]
-      end
-      
     end
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/create_project.rb b/lib/compass/commands/create_project.rb
index 065abc8d..3382f6ac 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/create_project.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/create_project.rb
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ module Compass
 
       attr_accessor :installer
 
-      def initialize(working_directory, options)
-        super(working_directory, options)
+      def initialize(working_path, options)
+        super(working_path, options)
         installer_args = [project_template_directory, project_directory, self.options]
         @installer = case options[:project_type]
         when :stand_alone
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ module Compass
       def perform
         installer.init
         installer.run(:skip_finalization => true)
-        UpdateProject.new(working_directory, options).perform if installer.compilation_required?
+        UpdateProject.new(working_path, options).perform if installer.compilation_required?
         installer.finalize(:create => true)
       end
 
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@ module Compass
         File.join(framework.templates_directory, "project")
       end
 
-      def skip_project_directory_assertion?
-        true
-      end
-
     end
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/list_frameworks.rb b/lib/compass/commands/list_frameworks.rb
index dd8bbbe5..fe7f6088 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/list_frameworks.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/list_frameworks.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module Compass
   module Commands
     class ListFrameworks
       attr_accessor :options
-      def initialize(working_directory, options)
+      def initialize(working_path, options)
         self.options = options
       end
   
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/print_version.rb b/lib/compass/commands/print_version.rb
index ef4037a0..244616ba 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/print_version.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/print_version.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module Compass
   module Commands
     class PrintVersion
       attr_accessor :options
-      def initialize(working_directory, options)
+      def initialize(working_path, options)
         self.options = options
       end
   
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/project_base.rb b/lib/compass/commands/project_base.rb
index 11f096f7..96350820 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/project_base.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/project_base.rb
@@ -9,31 +9,14 @@ module Compass
     class ProjectBase < Base
       attr_accessor :project_directory, :project_name, :options
 
-      def initialize(working_directory, options = {})
-        super(working_directory, options)
-        self.project_name = determine_project_name(working_directory, options)
-        Compass.configuration.project_path = determine_project_directory(working_directory, options)
-        assert_project_directory_exists!
+      def initialize(working_path, options = {})
+        super(working_path, options)
+        self.project_name = determine_project_name(working_path, options)
+        Compass.configuration.project_path = determine_project_directory(working_path, options)
       end
-      
+
       protected
 
-      def directory(subdir, options = nil)
-        subdir ||= project_directory
-        subdir = projectize(subdir) unless absolute_path?(subdir)
-        super(subdir, options)
-      end
-
-      def template(from, to, options)
-        to = projectize(to) unless absolute_path?(to)
-        super(from, to, options)
-      end
-
-      def write_file(path, contents)
-        path = projectize(path) unless absolute_path?(path)
-        super(path, contents)
-      end
-
       def projectize(path)
         File.join(project_directory, separate(path))
       end
@@ -45,9 +28,11 @@ module Compass
       def project_css_subdirectory
         Compass.configuration.css_dir
       end
+
       def project_src_subdirectory
         Compass.configuration.sass_dir
       end
+
       # Read the configuration file for this project
       def read_project_configuration
         if File.exists?(projectize('config.rb'))
@@ -58,37 +43,30 @@ module Compass
       end
 
       private
-      
-      def determine_project_name(working_directory, options)
+
+      def determine_project_name(working_path, options)
         if options[:project_name]
           File.basename(strip_trailing_separator(options[:project_name]))
         else
-          File.basename(working_directory)
+          File.basename(working_path)
         end
       end
 
-      def determine_project_directory(working_directory, options)
+      def determine_project_directory(working_path, options)
         if options[:project_name]
           if absolute_path?(options[:project_name])
             options[:project_name]
           else
-            File.join(working_directory, options[:project_name])
+            File.join(working_path, options[:project_name])
           end
         else
-          working_directory          
+          working_path
         end
       end
 
-      def assert_project_directory_exists!
-        if File.exists?(project_directory) && !File.directory?(project_directory)
-          raise Compass::Exec::ExecError.new("#{project_directory} is not a directory.")
-        elsif !File.directory?(project_directory) && !skip_project_directory_assertion?
-          raise ::Compass::Exec::ExecError.new("#{project_directory} does not exist.")
-        end
-      end
-
-      def skip_project_directory_assertion?
-        options[:force] || options[:dry_run]
+      def absolute_path?(path)
+        # This is only going to work on unix, gonna need a better implementation.
+        path.index(File::SEPARATOR) == 0
       end
 
       def strip_trailing_separator(path)
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/update_project.rb b/lib/compass/commands/update_project.rb
index ad7dc4af..ef227d6c 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/update_project.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/update_project.rb
@@ -4,45 +4,26 @@ module Compass
   module Commands
     class UpdateProject < ProjectBase
       
-      Base::ACTIONS << :compile
-      Base::ACTIONS << :overwrite
+      def initialize(working_path, options)
+        super
+        assert_project_directory_exists!
+      end
 
       def perform
         read_project_configuration
+        default_options = { :style => default_output_style }
+        compilation_options = default_options.merge(options).merge(:load_paths => sass_load_paths)
         Dir.glob(separate("#{project_src_directory}/**/[^_]*.sass")).each do |sass_file|
           stylesheet_name = sass_file[("#{project_src_directory}/".length)..-6]
-          compile "#{project_src_subdirectory}/#{stylesheet_name}.sass", "#{project_css_subdirectory}/#{stylesheet_name}.css", options
-        end
-      end
 
-      # Compile one Sass file
-      def compile(sass_filename, css_filename, options)
-        sass_filename = projectize(sass_filename)
-        css_filename = projectize(css_filename)
-        if !File.directory?(File.dirname(css_filename))
-          directory basename(File.dirname(css_filename)), options.merge(:force => true) unless options[:dry_run]
-        end
-        print_action :compile, basename(sass_filename)
-        if File.exists?(css_filename)
-          print_action :overwrite, basename(css_filename)
-        else
-          print_action :create, basename(css_filename)
-        end
-        unless options[:dry_run]
-          engine = ::Sass::Engine.new(open(sass_filename).read,
-                                      :filename => sass_filename,
-                                      :line_comments => options[:environment] == :development,
-                                      :style => output_style,
-                                      :css_filename => css_filename,
-                                      :load_paths => sass_load_paths)
-          output = open(css_filename,'w')
-          output.write(engine.render)
-          output.close
+          sass_filename = projectize("#{project_src_subdirectory}/#{stylesheet_name}.sass")
+          css_filename = projectize("#{project_css_subdirectory}/#{stylesheet_name}.css")
+          compile sass_filename, css_filename, compilation_options
         end
       end
       
-      def output_style
-        @output_style ||= options[:style] || if options[:environment] == :development
+      def default_output_style
+        if options[:environment] == :development
           :expanded
         else
           :compact
@@ -51,7 +32,7 @@ module Compass
 
       # where to load sass files from
       def sass_load_paths
-        @sass_load_paths ||= [project_src_directory] + Compass::Frameworks::ALL.map{|f| f.stylesheets_directory}
+        [project_src_directory] + Compass::Frameworks::ALL.map{|f| f.stylesheets_directory}
       end
       
       # The subdirectory where the sass source is kept.
@@ -69,6 +50,14 @@ module Compass
         @project_src_directory ||= separate("#{project_directory}/#{project_src_subdirectory}")
       end
 
+      def assert_project_directory_exists!
+        if File.exists?(project_directory) && !File.directory?(project_directory)
+          raise Compass::Exec::ExecError.new("#{project_directory} is not a directory.")
+        elsif !File.directory?(project_directory)
+          raise ::Compass::Exec::ExecError.new("#{project_directory} does not exist.")
+        end
+      end
+
     end
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/compass/commands/watch_project.rb b/lib/compass/commands/watch_project.rb
index a787a808..078666b2 100644
--- a/lib/compass/commands/watch_project.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/commands/watch_project.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'update_project')
 module Compass
   module Commands
     class WatchProject < UpdateProject
+
       attr_accessor :last_update_time
+
       def perform
         puts ">>> Compiling all stylesheets."
         super
@@ -34,9 +36,11 @@ module Compass
           end
         end
       end
+
       def most_recent_update_time
         Dir.glob(separate("#{project_src_directory}/**/*.sass")).map {|sass_file| File.stat(sass_file).mtime}.max
       end
+
       def should_update?
         t = most_recent_update_time
         if t > last_update_time
diff --git a/lib/compass/installers/base.rb b/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
index 9148790c..328d74d6 100644
--- a/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/installers/base.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module Compass
 
     class Base
 
-      include Compass::Actions
+      include Actions
 
       attr_accessor :template_path, :target_path, :working_path
       attr_accessor :options
@@ -109,11 +109,6 @@ module Compass
         File.join(template_path, separate(path))
       end
 
-      # Write paths like we're on unix and then fix it
-      def separate(path)
-        path.gsub(%r{/}, File::SEPARATOR)
-      end
-
       def stylesheet_links
         html = "<head>\n"
         manifest.each_stylesheet do |stylesheet|
diff --git a/lib/compass/logger.rb b/lib/compass/logger.rb
index eb0a184e..152ed72e 100644
--- a/lib/compass/logger.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/logger.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module Compass
   class Logger
 
-    DEFAULT_ACTIONS = [:directory, :exists, :remove, :create, :overwrite]
+    DEFAULT_ACTIONS = [:directory, :exists, :remove, :create, :overwrite, :compile]
 
     attr_accessor :actions, :options