diff --git a/.idea/csv-plugin.xml b/.idea/csv-plugin.xml
index 7f1c68a..b2eb9b1 100644
--- a/.idea/csv-plugin.xml
+++ b/.idea/csv-plugin.xml
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@
             </Attribute>
           </value>
         </entry>
+        <entry key="/src/formats.rs">
+          <value>
+            <Attribute>
+              <option name="separator" value="&#9;" />
+            </Attribute>
+          </value>
+        </entry>
         <entry key="/src/inspectors.rs">
           <value>
             <Attribute>
@@ -38,6 +45,13 @@
             </Attribute>
           </value>
         </entry>
+        <entry key="/src/tests/mod.rs">
+          <value>
+            <Attribute>
+              <option name="separator" value="&#9;" />
+            </Attribute>
+          </value>
+        </entry>
       </map>
     </option>
   </component>
diff --git a/src/findings.rs b/src/findings.rs
index 0190569..05df884 100644
--- a/src/findings.rs
+++ b/src/findings.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use mime_guess::Mime;
+use smartstring::alias::*;
 
 use crate::inspectors::mime_extension_lookup;
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ pub struct Findings {
 }
 
 impl Findings {
-	pub fn recommended_extension(&self) -> Option<&str> {
-		mime_extension_lookup(self.mime.clone()).map(|extensions| &*extensions[0])
+	pub fn recommended_extension(&self) -> Option<String> {
+		mime_extension_lookup(self.mime.clone()).map(|extensions| extensions[0].to_owned())
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/formats.rs b/src/formats.rs
index 4f02a0b..c669852 100644
--- a/src/formats.rs
+++ b/src/formats.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use std::io::{self, Write};
 #[cfg(unix)]
 use std::os::unix::ffi::OsStrExt;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path};
 
 use snailquote::escape;
 
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ use crate::{Findings, BACKEND};
 const VERSION: Option<&'static str> = option_env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
 
 #[doc(hidden)]
-type Entries = [Result<Findings, ScanError>];
+type Entries<'a> = [Result<Findings, ScanError<'a>>];
 
 enum Writable<'a> {
 	String(&'a str),
-	Path(&'a PathBuf),
+	Path(&'a Path),
 	Space,
 	Newline,
 }
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ impl<'a> From<&'a str> for Writable<'a> {
 	}
 }
 
-impl<'a> From<&'a PathBuf> for Writable<'a> {
-	fn from(p: &'a PathBuf) -> Writable<'a> {
+impl<'a> From<&'a Path> for Writable<'a> {
+	fn from(p: &'a Path) -> Writable<'a> {
 		Writable::Path(p)
 	}
 }
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ fn smart_write<W: Write>(f: &mut W, writeables: &[Writable]) -> io::Result<()> {
 
 pub trait Format {
 	fn new() -> Self;
-	fn rename<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, from: &PathBuf, to: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()>;
-	fn no_known_extension<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()>;
-	fn unreadable<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()>;
-	fn unknown_type<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()>;
+	fn rename<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, from: &Path, to: &Path) -> io::Result<()>;
+	fn no_known_extension<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()>;
+	fn unreadable<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()>;
+	fn unknown_type<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()>;
 	fn header<W: Write>(&self, entries: &Entries, f: &mut W) -> io::Result<()>;
 	fn footer<W: Write>(&self, entries: &Entries, f: &mut W) -> io::Result<()>;
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ impl Format for Script {
 		Self {}
 	}
 
-	fn rename<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, from: &PathBuf, to: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+	fn rename<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, from: &Path, to: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
 		smart_write(
 			f,
 			&[
@@ -122,18 +122,18 @@ impl Format for Script {
 		)
 	}
 
-	fn no_known_extension<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+	fn no_known_extension<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
 		smart_write(
 			f,
 			&["echo No known extension for ".into(), path.into(), Writable::Newline],
 		)
 	}
 
-	fn unreadable<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+	fn unreadable<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
 		smart_write(f, &["# Failed to read ".into(), path.into(), Writable::Newline])
 	}
 
-	fn unknown_type<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+	fn unknown_type<W: Write>(&self, f: &mut W, path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
 		smart_write(
 			f,
 			&[
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index c458a59..2b63ae6 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -211,14 +211,14 @@ fn scan_file(entry: &DirEntry) -> Result<Findings, ScanError> {
 	if result.is_err() {
 		// an error occurred while trying to read the file
 		// error!("{}: {}", entry.path().to_string_lossy(), error);
-		return Err(ScanError::File(entry.path().to_path_buf()));
+		return Err(ScanError::File(entry.path()));
 	}
 
 	let result = result.unwrap();
 	if result.is_none() {
 		// the file was read successfully, but we were unable to determine its mimetype
 		// warn!("Couldn't determine mimetype for {}", entry.path().to_string_lossy());
-		return Err(ScanError::Mime(entry.path().to_path_buf()));
+		return Err(ScanError::Mime(entry.path()));
 	}
 
 	let result = result.unwrap();
diff --git a/src/scan_error.rs b/src/scan_error.rs
index de26b29..c4fc785 100644
--- a/src/scan_error.rs
+++ b/src/scan_error.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter, Result};
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub enum ScanError {
+pub enum ScanError<'a> {
 	/// Something went wrong while trying to read the given file.
-	File(PathBuf),
+	File(&'a Path),
 	/// Failed to determine the mimetype of the given file.
-	Mime(PathBuf),
+	Mime(&'a Path),
 }
 
-impl Display for ScanError {
+impl<'a> Display for ScanError<'a> {
 	fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> Result {
 		write!(
 			f,
diff --git a/src/tests/mod.rs b/src/tests/mod.rs
index 60e63d8..7290164 100644
--- a/src/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/src/tests/mod.rs
@@ -125,14 +125,14 @@ fn simple_directory() {
 			// 3. ensure recommended extension is in the list of known extensions for PNG files
 			assert!(mime_extension_lookup(IMAGE_PNG)
 				.unwrap()
-				.contains(&result.recommended_extension().unwrap()));
+				.contains(&result.recommended_extension().unwrap().into()));
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		// check if the recommended extension for this file is in the list of known extensions for its mimetype
 		assert!(mime_extension_lookup(result.mime.clone())
 			.unwrap()
-			.contains(&result.recommended_extension().unwrap()));
+			.contains(&result.recommended_extension().unwrap().into()));
 
 		// make sure the guessed mimetype is correct based on the extension of the scanned file
 		assert_eq!(