diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..20ec932fb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=UTF-8:ts=4:sw=4:sta:et:sts=4:ai
+
+__license__   = 'GPL v3'
+__copyright__ = '2010, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
+__docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
+
+from PyQt4.Qt import QWidget, pyqtSignal
+
+class PreferenceWidget(QWidget):
+
+    category = None
+    name     = None
+
+    changed_signal = pyqtSignal()
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        QWidget.__init__(self, parent)
+
+        self.has_changed = False
+        self.changed.connect(lambda : setattr(self, 'has_changed', True))
+        self.setupUi(self)
+
+    def genesis(self, gui):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    def reset_to_defaults(self):
+        pass
+
+    def commit(self):
+        pass
+
+    def add_boolean(self, widget_name, preference_interface, pref_name):
+        pass