diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/linux_vst_support.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/linux_vst_support.h
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..31f8bafe51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/linux_vst_support.h
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#ifndef __vstfx_h__
+#define __vstfx_h__
+
+#include <setjmp.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+#include <pthread.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "ardour/vst_types.h"
+
+/******************************************************************************************/
+/*VSTFX - an engine to manage native linux VST plugins - derived from FST for Windows VSTs*/
+/******************************************************************************************/
+ 
+extern void (*vstfx_error_callback)(const char *msg);
+
+void vstfx_set_error_function (void (*func)(const char *));
+
+void  vstfx_error (const char *fmt, ...);
+
+/*API to vstfx*/
+
+extern int	    vstfx_launch_editor (VSTState *);
+extern int          vstfx_init (void *);
+extern void         vstfx_exit ();
+extern VSTHandle *  vstfx_load (const char*);
+extern int          vstfx_unload (VSTHandle *);
+extern VSTState *   vstfx_instantiate (VSTHandle *, audioMasterCallback, void *);
+extern void         vstfx_close (VSTState*);
+
+extern int          vstfx_create_editor (VSTState *);
+extern int          vstfx_run_editor (VSTState *);
+extern void         vstfx_destroy_editor (VSTState *);
+
+extern VSTInfo *    vstfx_get_info (char *);
+extern void         vstfx_free_info (VSTInfo *);
+extern void         vstfx_event_loop_remove_plugin (VSTState *);
+extern int          vstfx_call_dispatcher (VSTState *, int, int, int, void *, float);
+
+/** Load a plugin state from a file.**/
+
+extern int vstfx_load_state (VSTState* vstfx, char * filename);
+
+/** Save a plugin state to a file.**/
+
+extern bool vstfx_save_state (VSTState* vstfx, char * filename);
+
+
+#endif /* __vstfx_h__ */