diff --git a/commands/cli/parse.go b/commands/cli/parse.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..08df7955bad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/cli/parse.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/commands"
+)
+
+// Parse parses the input commandline string (cmd, flags, and args).
+// returns the corresponding command Request object.
+func Parse(input []string, root *commands.Command) (commands.Request, error) {
+	path, input := parsePath(input, root)
+	opts, args, err := parseOptions(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return commands.NewRequest(path, opts, args, nil), nil
+}
+
+// parsePath gets the command path from the command line input
+func parsePath(input []string, root *commands.Command) ([]string, []string) {
+	cmd := root
+	i := 0
+
+	for _, blob := range input {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(blob, "-") {
+			break
+		}
+
+		cmd := cmd.Subcommand(blob)
+		if cmd == nil {
+			break
+		}
+
+		i++
+	}
+
+	return input[:i], input[i:]
+}
+
+// parseOptions parses the raw string values of the given options
+// returns the parsed options as strings, along with the CLI args
+func parseOptions(input []string) (map[string]interface{}, []string, error) {
+	opts := make(map[string]interface{})
+	args := []string{}
+
+	for i := 0; i < len(input); i++ {
+		blob := input[i]
+
+		if strings.HasPrefix(blob, "-") {
+			name := blob[1:]
+			value := ""
+
+			// support single and double dash
+			if strings.HasPrefix(name, "-") {
+				name = name[1:]
+			}
+
+			if strings.Contains(name, "=") {
+				split := strings.SplitN(name, "=", 2)
+				name = split[0]
+				value = split[1]
+			}
+
+			if _, ok := opts[name]; ok {
+				return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("Duplicate values for option '%s'", name)
+			}
+
+			opts[name] = value
+
+		} else {
+			args = append(args, blob)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return opts, args, nil
+}
diff --git a/commands/cli/parse_test.go b/commands/cli/parse_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1c5e1ff413d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/cli/parse_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	//"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/commands"
+)
+
+func TestOptionParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := &commands.Command{
+		Options: []commands.Option{
+			commands.Option{Names: []string{"b"}, Type: commands.String},
+		},
+		Subcommands: map[string]*commands.Command{
+			"test": &commands.Command{},
+		},
+	}
+
+	opts, input, err := parseOptions([]string{"--beep", "-boop=lol", "test2", "-c", "beep", "--foo=5"})
+	/*for k, v := range opts {
+	    fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", k, v)
+	  }
+	  fmt.Printf("%s\n", input)*/
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+	if len(opts) != 4 || opts["beep"] != "" || opts["boop"] != "lol" || opts["c"] != "" || opts["foo"] != "5" {
+		t.Error("Returned options were defferent than expected: %v", opts)
+	}
+	if len(input) != 2 || input[0] != "test2" || input[1] != "beep" {
+		t.Error("Returned input was different than expected: %v", input)
+	}
+
+	_, _, err = parseOptions([]string{"-beep=1", "-boop=2", "-beep=3"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (duplicate option name)")
+	}
+
+	path, args := parsePath([]string{"test", "beep", "boop"}, cmd)
+	if len(path) != 1 || path[0] != "test" {
+		t.Error("Returned path was defferent than expected: %v", path)
+	}
+	if len(args) != 2 || args[0] != "beep" || args[1] != "boop" {
+		t.Error("Returned args were different than expected: %v", args)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/commands/command.go b/commands/command.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b01a579e74b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/command.go
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	u "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/util"
+)
+
+var log = u.Logger("command")
+
+// Function is the type of function that Commands use.
+// It reads from the Request, and writes results to the Response.
+type Function func(Request, Response)
+
+// Command is a runnable command, with input arguments and options (flags).
+// It can also have Subcommands, to group units of work into sets.
+type Command struct {
+	Help        string
+	Options     []Option
+	Run         Function
+	Subcommands map[string]*Command
+}
+
+// ErrNotCallable signals a command that cannot be called.
+var ErrNotCallable = errors.New("This command can't be called directly. Try one of its subcommands.")
+
+// Call invokes the command for the given Request
+func (c *Command) Call(req Request) Response {
+	res := NewResponse(req)
+
+	cmds, err := c.Resolve(req.Path())
+	if err != nil {
+		res.SetError(err, ErrClient)
+		return res
+	}
+	cmd := cmds[len(cmds)-1]
+
+	if cmd.Run == nil {
+		res.SetError(ErrNotCallable, ErrClient)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	options, err := c.GetOptions(req.Path())
+	if err != nil {
+		res.SetError(err, ErrClient)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	err = req.ConvertOptions(options)
+	if err != nil {
+		res.SetError(err, ErrClient)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	cmd.Run(req, res)
+
+	return res
+}
+
+// Resolve gets the subcommands at the given path
+func (c *Command) Resolve(path []string) ([]*Command, error) {
+	cmds := make([]*Command, len(path)+1)
+	cmds[0] = c
+
+	cmd := c
+	for i, name := range path {
+		cmd = cmd.Subcommand(name)
+
+		if cmd == nil {
+			pathS := strings.Join(path[0:i], "/")
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Undefined command: '%s'", pathS)
+		}
+
+		cmds[i+1] = cmd
+	}
+
+	return cmds, nil
+}
+
+// Get resolves and returns the Command addressed by path
+func (c *Command) Get(path []string) (*Command, error) {
+	cmds, err := c.Resolve(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return cmds[len(cmds)-1], nil
+}
+
+// GetOptions gets the options in the given path of commands
+func (c *Command) GetOptions(path []string) (map[string]Option, error) {
+	options := make([]Option, len(c.Options))
+
+	cmds, err := c.Resolve(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cmds = append(cmds, globalCommand)
+
+	for _, cmd := range cmds {
+		options = append(options, cmd.Options...)
+	}
+
+	optionsMap := make(map[string]Option)
+	for _, opt := range options {
+		for _, name := range opt.Names {
+			if _, found := optionsMap[name]; found {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Option name '%s' used multiple times", name)
+			}
+
+			optionsMap[name] = opt
+		}
+	}
+
+	return optionsMap, nil
+}
+
+// Subcommand returns the subcommand with the given id
+func (c *Command) Subcommand(id string) *Command {
+	return c.Subcommands[id]
+}
diff --git a/commands/command_test.go b/commands/command_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..63a3112be66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/command_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+package commands
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestOptionValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := Command{
+		Options: []Option{
+			Option{[]string{"b", "beep"}, Int},
+			Option{[]string{"B", "boop"}, String},
+		},
+		Run: func(req Request, res Response) {},
+	}
+
+	req := NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("foo", 5)
+	res := cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (unrecognized option)")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("beep", 5)
+	req.SetOption("b", 10)
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (duplicate options)")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("beep", "foo")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (incorrect type)")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("beep", 5)
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() != nil {
+		t.Error(res.Error(), "Should have passed")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("beep", 5)
+	req.SetOption("boop", "test")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("b", 5)
+	req.SetOption("B", "test")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption(EncShort, "json")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("b", "100")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error() != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+
+	req = NewEmptyRequest()
+	req.SetOption("b", ":)")
+	res = cmd.Call(req)
+	if res.Error == nil {
+		t.Error(res.Error, "Should have failed (string value not convertible to int)")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegistration(t *testing.T) {
+	noop := func(req Request, res Response) {}
+
+	cmdA := &Command{
+		Options: []Option{
+			Option{[]string{"beep"}, Int},
+		},
+		Run: noop,
+	}
+
+	cmdB := &Command{
+		Options: []Option{
+			Option{[]string{"beep"}, Int},
+		},
+		Run: noop,
+		Subcommands: map[string]*Command{
+			"a": cmdA,
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmdC := &Command{
+		Options: []Option{
+			Option{[]string{"encoding"}, String},
+		},
+		Run: noop,
+	}
+
+	res := cmdB.Call(NewRequest([]string{"a"}, nil, nil, nil))
+	if res.Error() == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (option name collision)")
+	}
+
+	res = cmdC.Call(NewEmptyRequest())
+	if res.Error() == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (option name collision with global options)")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolving(t *testing.T) {
+	cmdC := &Command{}
+	cmdB := &Command{
+		Subcommands: map[string]*Command{
+			"c": cmdC,
+		},
+	}
+	cmdB2 := &Command{}
+	cmdA := &Command{
+		Subcommands: map[string]*Command{
+			"b": cmdB,
+			"B": cmdB2,
+		},
+	}
+	cmd := &Command{
+		Subcommands: map[string]*Command{
+			"a": cmdA,
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmds, err := cmd.Resolve([]string{"a", "b", "c"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+	if len(cmds) != 4 || cmds[0] != cmd || cmds[1] != cmdA || cmds[2] != cmdB || cmds[3] != cmdC {
+		t.Error("Returned command path is different than expected", cmds)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/commands/option.go b/commands/option.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8dbf3c1bd54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/option.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package commands
+
+import "reflect"
+
+// Types of Command options
+const (
+	Invalid = reflect.Invalid
+	Bool    = reflect.Bool
+	Int     = reflect.Int
+	Uint    = reflect.Uint
+	Float   = reflect.Float64
+	String  = reflect.String
+)
+
+// Option is used to specify a field that will be provided by a consumer
+type Option struct {
+	Names []string     // a list of unique names to
+	Type  reflect.Kind // value must be this type
+
+	// TODO: add more features(?):
+	//Default interface{} // the default value (ignored if `Required` is true)
+	//Required bool       // whether or not the option must be provided
+}
+
+// Flag names
+const (
+	EncShort = "enc"
+	EncLong  = "encoding"
+)
+
+// options that are used by this package
+var globalOptions = []Option{
+	Option{[]string{EncShort, EncLong}, String},
+}
+
+// the above array of Options, wrapped in a Command
+var globalCommand = &Command{
+	Options: globalOptions,
+}
diff --git a/commands/request.go b/commands/request.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab6c0dc2b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/request.go
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+type optMap map[string]interface{}
+
+// Request represents a call to a command from a consumer
+type Request interface {
+	Path() []string
+	Option(name string) (interface{}, bool)
+	SetOption(name string, val interface{})
+	Arguments() []string
+	Stream() io.Reader
+	SetStream(io.Reader)
+
+	ConvertOptions(options map[string]Option) error
+}
+
+type request struct {
+	path      []string
+	options   optMap
+	arguments []string
+	in        io.Reader
+}
+
+// Path returns the command path of this request
+func (r *request) Path() []string {
+	return r.path
+}
+
+// Option returns the value of the option for given name.
+func (r *request) Option(name string) (interface{}, bool) {
+	val, err := r.options[name]
+	return val, err
+}
+
+// SetOption sets the value of the option for given name.
+func (r *request) SetOption(name string, val interface{}) {
+	r.options[name] = val
+}
+
+// Arguments returns the arguments slice
+func (r *request) Arguments() []string {
+	return r.arguments
+}
+
+// Stream returns the input stream Reader
+func (r *request) Stream() io.Reader {
+	return r.in
+}
+
+// SetStream sets the value of the input stream Reader
+func (r *request) SetStream(in io.Reader) {
+	r.in = in
+}
+
+type converter func(string) (interface{}, error)
+
+var converters = map[reflect.Kind]converter{
+	Bool: func(v string) (interface{}, error) {
+		if v == "" {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+		return strconv.ParseBool(v)
+	},
+	Int: func(v string) (interface{}, error) {
+		return strconv.ParseInt(v, 0, 32)
+	},
+	Uint: func(v string) (interface{}, error) {
+		return strconv.ParseInt(v, 0, 32)
+	},
+	Float: func(v string) (interface{}, error) {
+		return strconv.ParseFloat(v, 64)
+	},
+}
+
+func (r *request) ConvertOptions(options map[string]Option) error {
+	converted := make(map[string]interface{})
+
+	for k, v := range r.options {
+		opt, ok := options[k]
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Unrecognized option: '%s'", k)
+		}
+
+		kind := reflect.TypeOf(v).Kind()
+		var value interface{}
+
+		if kind != opt.Type {
+			if kind == String {
+				convert := converters[opt.Type]
+				val, err := convert(v.(string))
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("Could not convert string value '%s' to type '%s'",
+						v, opt.Type.String())
+				}
+				value = val
+
+			} else {
+				return fmt.Errorf("Option '%s' should be type '%s', but got type '%s'",
+					k, opt.Type.String(), kind.String())
+			}
+		} else {
+			value = v
+		}
+
+		for _, name := range opt.Names {
+			if _, ok := r.options[name]; name != k && ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("Duplicate command options were provided ('%s' and '%s')",
+					k, name)
+			}
+
+			converted[name] = value
+		}
+	}
+
+	r.options = converted
+	return nil
+}
+
+// NewEmptyRequest initializes an empty request
+func NewEmptyRequest() Request {
+	return NewRequest(nil, nil, nil, nil)
+}
+
+// NewRequest returns a request initialized with given arguments
+func NewRequest(path []string, opts optMap, args []string, in io.Reader) Request {
+	if path == nil {
+		path = make([]string, 0)
+	}
+	if opts == nil {
+		opts = make(map[string]interface{})
+	}
+	if args == nil {
+		args = make([]string, 0)
+	}
+	return &request{path, opts, args, in}
+}
diff --git a/commands/response.go b/commands/response.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..61dede6e2f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/response.go
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"encoding/xml"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// ErrorType signfies a category of errors
+type ErrorType uint
+
+// ErrorTypes convey what category of error ocurred
+const (
+	ErrNormal ErrorType = iota // general errors
+	ErrClient                  // error was caused by the client, (e.g. invalid CLI usage)
+	// TODO: add more types of errors for better error-specific handling
+)
+
+// Error is a struct for marshalling errors
+type Error struct {
+	Message string
+	Code    ErrorType
+}
+
+func (e Error) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%d error: %s", e.Code, e.Message)
+}
+
+// EncodingType defines a supported encoding
+type EncodingType string
+
+// Supported EncodingType constants.
+const (
+	JSON = "json"
+	XML  = "xml"
+	// TODO: support more encoding types
+)
+
+// Marshaller is a function used by coding types.
+// TODO this should just be a `coding.Codec`
+type Marshaller func(v interface{}) ([]byte, error)
+
+var marshallers = map[EncodingType]Marshaller{
+	JSON: json.Marshal,
+	XML:  xml.Marshal,
+}
+
+// Response is the result of a command request. Handlers write to the response,
+// setting Error or Value. Response is returned to the client.
+type Response interface {
+	Request() Request
+
+	// Set/Return the response Error
+	SetError(err error, code ErrorType)
+	Error() error
+
+	// Sets/Returns the response value
+	SetValue(interface{})
+	Value() interface{}
+
+	// Marshal marshals out the response into a buffer. It uses the EncodingType
+	// on the Request to chose a Marshaller (Codec).
+	Marshal() ([]byte, error)
+}
+
+type response struct {
+	req   Request
+	err   *Error
+	value interface{}
+	out   io.Writer
+}
+
+func (r *response) Request() Request {
+	return r.req
+}
+
+func (r *response) Value() interface{} {
+	return r.value
+}
+
+func (r *response) SetValue(v interface{}) {
+	r.value = v
+}
+
+func (r *response) Stream() io.Writer {
+	return r.out
+}
+
+func (r *response) Error() error {
+	if r.err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return r.err
+}
+
+func (r *response) SetError(err error, code ErrorType) {
+	r.err = &Error{Message: err.Error(), Code: code}
+}
+
+func (r *response) Marshal() ([]byte, error) {
+	if r.err == nil && r.value == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("No error or value set, there is nothing to marshal")
+	}
+
+	enc, ok := r.req.Option(EncShort)
+	if !ok || enc.(string) == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("No encoding type was specified")
+	}
+	encType := EncodingType(strings.ToLower(enc.(string)))
+
+	marshaller, ok := marshallers[encType]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("No marshaller found for encoding type '%s'", enc)
+	}
+
+	if r.err != nil {
+		return marshaller(r.err)
+	}
+	return marshaller(r.value)
+}
+
+// NewResponse returns a response to match given Request
+func NewResponse(req Request) Response {
+	return &response{req: req}
+}
diff --git a/commands/response_test.go b/commands/response_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..058cead0702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/response_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+type TestOutput struct {
+	Foo, Bar string
+	Baz      int
+}
+
+func TestMarshalling(t *testing.T) {
+	req := NewEmptyRequest()
+
+	res := NewResponse(req)
+	res.SetValue(TestOutput{"beep", "boop", 1337})
+
+	// get command global options so we can set the encoding option
+	cmd := Command{}
+	options, err := cmd.GetOptions(nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = res.Marshal()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Should have failed (no encoding type specified in request)")
+	}
+
+	req.SetOption(EncShort, JSON)
+	req.ConvertOptions(options)
+
+	bytes, err := res.Marshal()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err, "Should have passed")
+	}
+	output := string(bytes)
+	if output != "{\"Foo\":\"beep\",\"Bar\":\"boop\",\"Baz\":1337}" {
+		t.Error("Incorrect JSON output")
+	}
+
+	res.SetError(fmt.Errorf("You broke something!"), ErrClient)
+	bytes, err = res.Marshal()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("Should have passed")
+	}
+	output = string(bytes)
+	if output != "{\"Message\":\"You broke something!\",\"Code\":1}" {
+		t.Error("Incorrect JSON output")
+	}
+}