diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index d0e507d..cb3e7b6 100644
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import cStringIO
+import functools
 import numpy as np
 
 import logging
@@ -68,6 +68,33 @@ def iterate(data, bufsize, offset=0, advance=1, func=None):
             buf_index = max(0, buf_index - advance)
             offset += advance
 
+class Splitter(object):
+    def __init__(self, iterable, n):
+        self.iterable = iter(iterable)
+        self.read = [True] * n
+        self.last = None
+        self.generators = [functools.partial(self._gen, i)() for i in range(n)]
+        self.n = n
+
+    def _gen(self, index):
+        while True:
+            if all(self.read):
+                try:
+                    self.last = self.iterable.next()
+                except StopIteration:
+                    return
+
+                assert len(self.last) == self.n
+                self.read = [False] * self.n
+
+            if self.read[index]:
+                raise IndexError(index)
+            self.read[index] = True
+            yield self.last[index]
+
+def split(iterable, n):
+    return Splitter(iterable, n).generators
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     import pylab
diff --git a/test_common.py b/test_common.py
index 5825ced..ea6c5b2 100644
--- a/test_common.py
+++ b/test_common.py
@@ -16,3 +16,16 @@ def test_iterate():
     assert iterlist(range(N), 2, offset=5) == [(i, [i, i+1]) for i in range(5, N-1)]
     assert iterlist(range(N), 1, func=lambda b: -b) == [(i, [-i]) for i in range(N)]
 
+def test_split():
+    L = [(i*2, i*2+1) for i in range(10)]
+    iters = common.split(L, n=2)
+    assert zip(*iters) == L
+
+    for i in [0, 1]:
+        iters = common.split(L, n=2)
+        iters[i].next()
+        try:
+            iters[i].next()
+            assert False
+        except IndexError as e:
+            assert e.args == (i,)