diff mbox

[06/29] monitor: New format for handlers argument types

Message ID 1250723280-3509-7-git-send-email-lcapitulino@redhat.com
State Superseded
Headers show

Commit Message

Luiz Capitulino Aug. 19, 2009, 11:07 p.m. UTC 
Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
many arguments a given handler accepts.

This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
a name for each argument.

For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:

{ "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }

With the new format it becomes:

{ "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }

This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.

This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.

Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
change.

Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>
---
 monitor.c       |   48 ++++++++++++++++++++++---
 qemu-monitor.hx |  109 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------------
 2 files changed, 98 insertions(+), 59 deletions(-)

Comments

Markus Armbruster Aug. 24, 2009, 4:21 p.m. UTC | #1 
Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com> writes:

> Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
> are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
> of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
> many arguments a given handler accepts.
>
> This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
> a name for each argument.
>
> For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:
>
> { "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }
>
> With the new format it becomes:
>
> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
>
> This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
> each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.
>
> This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
> next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.
>
> Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
> discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
> change.
>
> Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>

Encoding the parameter list in a single args_type made perfect sense
when a parameter was encoded in one or two characters.  But having
syntax and a parser... I don't know.  Switch to an array of parameter
descriptions that don't need to be parsed?

There's some overlap between args_type (machine-readable description)
and params (human readable help text).  Could the latter be assembled
from the former?

Just ideas...
Luiz Capitulino Aug. 24, 2009, 5 p.m. UTC | #2 
On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:21:17 +0200
Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com> wrote:

> Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com> writes:
> 
> > Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
> > are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
> > of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
> > many arguments a given handler accepts.
> >
> > This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
> > a name for each argument.
> >
> > For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:
> >
> > { "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }
> >
> > With the new format it becomes:
> >
> > { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
> >
> > This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
> > each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.
> >
> > This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
> > next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.
> >
> > Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
> > discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
> > change.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>
> 
> Encoding the parameter list in a single args_type made perfect sense
> when a parameter was encoded in one or two characters.  But having
> syntax and a parser... I don't know.  Switch to an array of parameter
> descriptions that don't need to be parsed?

 I don't see how to do this w/o parsing, but anyway I think we should
be practical here and use what already exists.

> There's some overlap between args_type (machine-readable description)
> and params (human readable help text).  Could the latter be assembled
> from the former?

 I'm not sure this is desirable as the help text may have a list
of possible arguments accepted by the handler, this information is
internal to each handler and not part of args_type.

 For example, 'singlestep' has a 'option:s?' arg_type, but 'option'
has to be 'on' or 'off'.

 In the future though, we could think in ways of merging them
somehow.
Anthony Liguori Sept. 4, 2009, 2:06 p.m. UTC | #3 
Luiz Capitulino wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:21:17 +0200
> Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com> writes:
>>
>>     
>>> Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
>>> are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
>>> of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
>>> many arguments a given handler accepts.
>>>
>>> This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
>>> a name for each argument.
>>>
>>> For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:
>>>
>>> { "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }
>>>
>>> With the new format it becomes:
>>>
>>> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
>>>
>>> This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
>>> each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.
>>>
>>> This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
>>> next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.
>>>
>>> Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
>>> discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
>>> change.
>>>
>>> Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>
>>>       
>> Encoding the parameter list in a single args_type made perfect sense
>> when a parameter was encoded in one or two characters.  But having
>> syntax and a parser... I don't know.  Switch to an array of parameter
>> descriptions that don't need to be parsed?
>>     
>
>  I don't see how to do this w/o parsing, but anyway I think we should
> be practical here and use what already exists.
>   
I agree with Markus.  I think we can start with this approach but I'd 
like to see it changed in the near future.  Instead of having:

{ "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }

I would expect something like:

{ .name = "eject",
   .args = (MonitorArgs[]){
       { .name = "force",
          .short = 'f',
          .type = MON_FLAG },
    {}},
   .func = do_eject,
}

Macros can be used to simplify things but I think this is the general 
idea that Markus was suggesting.

Regards,

Anthony Liguori
Luiz Capitulino Sept. 4, 2009, 2:48 p.m. UTC | #4 
On Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:06:23 -0500
Anthony Liguori <anthony@codemonkey.ws> wrote:

> Luiz Capitulino wrote:
> > On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:21:17 +0200
> > Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com> writes:
> >>
> >>     
> >>> Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
> >>> are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
> >>> of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
> >>> many arguments a given handler accepts.
> >>>
> >>> This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
> >>> a name for each argument.
> >>>
> >>> For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:
> >>>
> >>> { "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }
> >>>
> >>> With the new format it becomes:
> >>>
> >>> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
> >>>
> >>> This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
> >>> each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.
> >>>
> >>> This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
> >>> next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.
> >>>
> >>> Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
> >>> discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
> >>> change.
> >>>
> >>> Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>
> >>>       
> >> Encoding the parameter list in a single args_type made perfect sense
> >> when a parameter was encoded in one or two characters.  But having
> >> syntax and a parser... I don't know.  Switch to an array of parameter
> >> descriptions that don't need to be parsed?
> >>     
> >
> >  I don't see how to do this w/o parsing, but anyway I think we should
> > be practical here and use what already exists.
> >   
> I agree with Markus.  I think we can start with this approach but I'd 
> like to see it changed in the near future.  Instead of having:
> 
> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
> 
> I would expect something like:
> 
> { .name = "eject",
>    .args = (MonitorArgs[]){
>        { .name = "force",
>           .short = 'f',
>           .type = MON_FLAG },
>     {}},
>    .func = do_eject,
> }
> 
> Macros can be used to simplify things but I think this is the general 
> idea that Markus was suggesting.

 It's a good improvement indeed, couldn't see at first, sorry
about that.
Markus Armbruster Sept. 4, 2009, 3:18 p.m. UTC | #5 
Anthony Liguori <anthony@codemonkey.ws> writes:

> Luiz Capitulino wrote:
>> On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:21:17 +0200
>> Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com> wrote:
>>
>>   
>>> Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com> writes:
>>>
>>>     
>>>> Current handlers argument types, as defined in qemu-monitor.hx file,
>>>> are a sequence of chars where each one represents one argument type
>>>> of the command handler. The number of chars is also used to know how
>>>> many arguments a given handler accepts.
>>>>
>>>> This commit defines a new format, which makes mandatory the use of
>>>> a name for each argument.
>>>>
>>>> For example, do_eject() command handler is currently defined as:
>>>>
>>>> { "eject", "-fB", do_eject, ... }
>>>>
>>>> With the new format it becomes:
>>>>
>>>> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
>>>>
>>>> This way the Monitor will be capable of setting up a dictionary, using
>>>> each argument's name as the key and the argument itself as the value.
>>>>
>>>> This commit also adds two new functions: key_get_info() and
>>>> next_arg_type(), both are used to parse the new format.
>>>>
>>>> Currently key_get_info() consumes the 'key' part of the new format and
>>>> discards it, this way the current parsing code is not affected by this
>>>> change.
>>>>
>>>> Signed-off-by: Luiz Capitulino <lcapitulino@redhat.com>
>>>>       
>>> Encoding the parameter list in a single args_type made perfect sense
>>> when a parameter was encoded in one or two characters.  But having
>>> syntax and a parser... I don't know.  Switch to an array of parameter
>>> descriptions that don't need to be parsed?
>>>     
>>
>>  I don't see how to do this w/o parsing, but anyway I think we should
>> be practical here and use what already exists.
>>   
> I agree with Markus.  I think we can start with this approach but I'd
> like to see it changed in the near future.  Instead of having:
>
> { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject, ... }
>
> I would expect something like:
>
> { .name = "eject",
>   .args = (MonitorArgs[]){
>       { .name = "force",
>          .short = 'f',
>          .type = MON_FLAG },
>    {}},
>   .func = do_eject,
> }
>
> Macros can be used to simplify things but I think this is the general
> idea that Markus was suggesting.

Yes.
diff mbox

Patch

diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 73f6c36..89b9467 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -2555,6 +2555,33 @@  static const char *get_command_name(const char *cmdline,
     return p;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Read key of 'type' into 'key' and return the current
+ * 'type' pointer.
+ */
+static char *key_get_info(const char *type, char **key)
+{
+    size_t len;
+    char *p, *str;
+
+    if (*type == ',')
+        type++;
+
+    p = strchr(type, ':');
+    if (!p) {
+        *key = NULL;
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    len = p - type;
+
+    str = qemu_malloc(len + 1);
+    memcpy(str, type, len);
+    str[len] = '\0';
+
+    *key = str;
+    return ++p;
+}
+
 static int default_fmt_format = 'x';
 static int default_fmt_size = 4;
 
@@ -2567,6 +2594,7 @@  static void monitor_handle_command(Monitor *mon, const char *cmdline)
     const mon_cmd_t *cmd;
     char cmdname[256];
     char buf[1024];
+    char *key;
     void *str_allocated[MAX_ARGS];
     void *args[MAX_ARGS];
     void (*handler_0)(Monitor *mon);
@@ -2618,9 +2646,10 @@  static void monitor_handle_command(Monitor *mon, const char *cmdline)
     typestr = cmd->args_type;
     nb_args = 0;
     for(;;) {
-        c = *typestr;
-        if (c == '\0')
+        typestr = key_get_info(typestr, &key);
+        if (!typestr)
             break;
+        c = *typestr;
         typestr++;
         switch(c) {
         case 'F':
@@ -2834,6 +2863,8 @@  static void monitor_handle_command(Monitor *mon, const char *cmdline)
             monitor_printf(mon, "%s: unknown type '%c'\n", cmdname, c);
             goto fail;
         }
+        qemu_free(key);
+        key = NULL;
     }
     /* check that all arguments were parsed */
     while (qemu_isspace(*p))
@@ -2898,6 +2929,7 @@  static void monitor_handle_command(Monitor *mon, const char *cmdline)
         goto fail;
     }
  fail:
+    qemu_free(key);
     for(i = 0; i < MAX_ARGS; i++)
         qemu_free(str_allocated[i]);
 }
@@ -3016,6 +3048,12 @@  static void parse_cmdline(const char *cmdline,
     *pnb_args = nb_args;
 }
 
+static const char *next_arg_type(const char *typestr)
+{
+    const char *p = strchr(typestr, ':');
+    return (p != NULL ? ++p : typestr);
+}
+
 static void monitor_find_completion(const char *cmdline)
 {
     const char *cmdname;
@@ -3058,12 +3096,12 @@  static void monitor_find_completion(const char *cmdline)
         }
         return;
     found:
-        ptype = cmd->args_type;
+        ptype = next_arg_type(cmd->args_type);
         for(i = 0; i < nb_args - 2; i++) {
             if (*ptype != '\0') {
-                ptype++;
+                ptype = next_arg_type(ptype);
                 while (*ptype == '?')
-                    ptype++;
+                    ptype = next_arg_type(ptype);
             }
         }
         str = args[nb_args - 1];
diff --git a/qemu-monitor.hx b/qemu-monitor.hx
index 8936e93..5c0159c 100644
--- a/qemu-monitor.hx
+++ b/qemu-monitor.hx
@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@  STEXI
 @table @option
 ETEXI
 
-    { "help|?", "s?", do_help_cmd, "[cmd]", "show the help" },
+    { "help|?", "name:s?", do_help_cmd, "[cmd]", "show the help" },
 STEXI
 @item help or ? [@var{cmd}]
 Show the help for all commands or just for command @var{cmd}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "commit", "s", do_commit,
+    { "commit", "device:s", do_commit,
       "device|all", "commit changes to the disk images (if -snapshot is used) or backing files" },
 STEXI
 @item commit
 Commit changes to the disk images (if -snapshot is used) or backing files.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "info", "s?", do_info,
+    { "info", "item:s?", do_info,
       "[subcommand]", "show various information about the system state" },
 STEXI
 @item info @var{subcommand}
@@ -103,14 +103,14 @@  STEXI
 Quit the emulator.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "eject", "-fB", do_eject,
+    { "eject", "force:-f,filename:B", do_eject,
       "[-f] device", "eject a removable medium (use -f to force it)" },
 STEXI
 @item eject [-f] @var{device}
 Eject a removable medium (use -f to force it).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "change", "BFs?", do_change,
+    { "change", "device:B,target:F,arg:s?", do_change,
       "device filename [format]", "change a removable medium, optional format" },
 STEXI
 @item change @var{device} @var{setting}
@@ -149,28 +149,28 @@  Password: ********
 @end table
 ETEXI
 
-    { "screendump", "F", do_screen_dump,
+    { "screendump", "filename:F", do_screen_dump,
       "filename", "save screen into PPM image 'filename'" },
 STEXI
 @item screendump @var{filename}
 Save screen into PPM image @var{filename}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "logfile", "F", do_logfile,
+    { "logfile", "filename:F", do_logfile,
       "filename", "output logs to 'filename'" },
 STEXI
 @item logfile @var{filename}
 Output logs to @var{filename}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "log", "s", do_log,
+    { "log", "items:s", do_log,
       "item1[,...]", "activate logging of the specified items to '/tmp/qemu.log'" },
 STEXI
 @item log @var{item1}[,...]
 Activate logging of the specified items to @file{/tmp/qemu.log}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "savevm", "s?", do_savevm,
+    { "savevm", "name:s?", do_savevm,
       "[tag|id]", "save a VM snapshot. If no tag or id are provided, a new snapshot is created" },
 STEXI
 @item savevm [@var{tag}|@var{id}]
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@  a snapshot with the same tag or ID, it is replaced. More info at
 @ref{vm_snapshots}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "loadvm", "s", do_loadvm,
+    { "loadvm", "name:s", do_loadvm,
       "tag|id", "restore a VM snapshot from its tag or id" },
 STEXI
 @item loadvm @var{tag}|@var{id}
@@ -188,14 +188,14 @@  Set the whole virtual machine to the snapshot identified by the tag
 @var{tag} or the unique snapshot ID @var{id}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "delvm", "s", do_delvm,
+    { "delvm", "name:s", do_delvm,
       "tag|id", "delete a VM snapshot from its tag or id" },
 STEXI
 @item delvm @var{tag}|@var{id}
 Delete the snapshot identified by @var{tag} or @var{id}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "singlestep", "s?", do_singlestep,
+    { "singlestep", "option:s?", do_singlestep,
       "[on|off]", "run emulation in singlestep mode or switch to normal mode", },
 STEXI
 @item singlestep [off]
@@ -217,21 +217,21 @@  STEXI
 Resume emulation.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "gdbserver", "s?", do_gdbserver,
+    { "gdbserver", "device:s?", do_gdbserver,
       "[device]", "start gdbserver on given device (default 'tcp::1234'), stop with 'none'", },
 STEXI
 @item gdbserver [@var{port}]
 Start gdbserver session (default @var{port}=1234)
 ETEXI
 
-    { "x", "/l", do_memory_dump,
+    { "x", "fmt:/,addr:l", do_memory_dump,
       "/fmt addr", "virtual memory dump starting at 'addr'", },
 STEXI
 @item x/fmt @var{addr}
 Virtual memory dump starting at @var{addr}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "xp", "/l", do_physical_memory_dump,
+    { "xp", "fmt:/,addr:l", do_physical_memory_dump,
       "/fmt addr", "physical memory dump starting at 'addr'", },
 STEXI
 @item xp /@var{fmt} @var{addr}
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@  Dump 80 16 bit values at the start of the video memory.
 @end itemize
 ETEXI
 
-    { "p|print", "/l", do_print,
+    { "p|print", "fmt:/,val:l", do_print,
       "/fmt expr", "print expression value (use $reg for CPU register access)", },
 STEXI
 @item p or print/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
@@ -300,19 +300,19 @@  Print expression value. Only the @var{format} part of @var{fmt} is
 used.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "i", "/ii.", do_ioport_read,
+    { "i", "fmt:/,addr:i,index:i.", do_ioport_read,
       "/fmt addr", "I/O port read" },
 STEXI
 Read I/O port.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "o", "/ii", do_ioport_write,
+    { "o", "fmt:/,addr:i,val:i", do_ioport_write,
       "/fmt addr value", "I/O port write" },
 STEXI
 Write to I/O port.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "sendkey", "si?", do_sendkey,
+    { "sendkey", "string:s,hold_time:i?", do_sendkey,
       "keys [hold_ms]", "send keys to the VM (e.g. 'sendkey ctrl-alt-f1', default hold time=100 ms)" },
 STEXI
 @item sendkey @var{keys}
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@  STEXI
 Power down the system (if supported).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "sum", "ii", do_sum,
+    { "sum", "start:i,size:i", do_sum,
       "addr size", "compute the checksum of a memory region" },
 STEXI
 @item sum @var{addr} @var{size}
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@  STEXI
 Compute the checksum of a memory region.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "usb_add", "s", do_usb_add,
+    { "usb_add", "devname:s", do_usb_add,
       "device", "add USB device (e.g. 'host:bus.addr' or 'host:vendor_id:product_id')" },
 STEXI
 @item usb_add @var{devname}
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@  Add the USB device @var{devname}.  For details of available devices see
 @ref{usb_devices}
 ETEXI
 
-    { "usb_del", "s", do_usb_del,
+    { "usb_del", "devname:s", do_usb_del,
       "device", "remove USB device 'bus.addr'" },
 STEXI
 @item usb_del @var{devname}
@@ -371,13 +371,13 @@  hub. @var{devname} has the syntax @code{bus.addr}. Use the monitor
 command @code{info usb} to see the devices you can remove.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "cpu", "i", do_cpu_set,
+    { "cpu", "index:i", do_cpu_set,
       "index", "set the default CPU" },
 STEXI
 Set the default CPU.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "mouse_move", "sss?", do_mouse_move,
+    { "mouse_move", "dx_str:s,dy_str:s,dz_str:s?", do_mouse_move,
       "dx dy [dz]", "send mouse move events" },
 STEXI
 @item mouse_move @var{dx} @var{dy} [@var{dz}]
@@ -385,14 +385,14 @@  Move the active mouse to the specified coordinates @var{dx} @var{dy}
 with optional scroll axis @var{dz}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "mouse_button", "i", do_mouse_button,
+    { "mouse_button", "button_state:i", do_mouse_button,
       "state", "change mouse button state (1=L, 2=M, 4=R)" },
 STEXI
 @item mouse_button @var{val}
 Change the active mouse button state @var{val} (1=L, 2=M, 4=R).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "mouse_set", "i", do_mouse_set,
+    { "mouse_set", "index:i", do_mouse_set,
       "index", "set which mouse device receives events" },
 STEXI
 @item mouse_set @var{index}
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@  info mice
 ETEXI
 
 #ifdef HAS_AUDIO
-    { "wavcapture", "si?i?i?", do_wav_capture,
+    { "wavcapture", "path:s,freq:i?,bits:i?,nchannels:i?", do_wav_capture,
       "path [frequency [bits [channels]]]",
       "capture audio to a wave file (default frequency=44100 bits=16 channels=2)" },
 #endif
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@  Defaults:
 ETEXI
 
 #ifdef HAS_AUDIO
-    { "stopcapture", "i", do_stop_capture,
+    { "stopcapture", "n:i", do_stop_capture,
       "capture index", "stop capture" },
 #endif
 STEXI
@@ -433,21 +433,21 @@  info capture
 @end example
 ETEXI
 
-    { "memsave", "lis", do_memory_save,
+    { "memsave", "val:l,size:i,filename:s", do_memory_save,
       "addr size file", "save to disk virtual memory dump starting at 'addr' of size 'size'", },
 STEXI
 @item memsave @var{addr} @var{size} @var{file}
 save to disk virtual memory dump starting at @var{addr} of size @var{size}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "pmemsave", "lis", do_physical_memory_save,
+    { "pmemsave", "val:l,size:i,filename:s", do_physical_memory_save,
       "addr size file", "save to disk physical memory dump starting at 'addr' of size 'size'", },
 STEXI
 @item pmemsave @var{addr} @var{size} @var{file}
 save to disk physical memory dump starting at @var{addr} of size @var{size}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "boot_set", "s", do_boot_set,
+    { "boot_set", "bootdevice:s", do_boot_set,
       "bootdevice", "define new values for the boot device list" },
 STEXI
 @item boot_set @var{bootdevicelist}
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@  the same that can be specified in the @code{-boot} command line option.
 ETEXI
 
 #if defined(TARGET_I386)
-    { "nmi", "i", do_inject_nmi,
+    { "nmi", "cpu_index:i", do_inject_nmi,
       "cpu", "inject an NMI on the given CPU", },
 #endif
 STEXI
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@  STEXI
 Inject an NMI on the given CPU (x86 only).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "migrate", "-ds", do_migrate,
+    { "migrate", "detach:-d,uri:s", do_migrate,
       "[-d] uri", "migrate to URI (using -d to not wait for completion)" },
 STEXI
 @item migrate [-d] @var{uri}
@@ -482,14 +482,14 @@  STEXI
 Cancel the current VM migration.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "migrate_set_speed", "s", do_migrate_set_speed,
+    { "migrate_set_speed", "value:s", do_migrate_set_speed,
       "value", "set maximum speed (in bytes) for migrations" },
 STEXI
 @item migrate_set_speed @var{value}
 Set maximum speed to @var{value} (in bytes) for migrations.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "migrate_set_downtime", "s", do_migrate_set_downtime,
+    { "migrate_set_downtime", "value:s", do_migrate_set_downtime,
       "value", "set maximum tolerated downtime (in seconds) for migrations" },
 
 STEXI
@@ -498,8 +498,9 @@  Set maximum tolerated downtime (in seconds) for migration.
 ETEXI
 
 #if defined(TARGET_I386)
-    { "drive_add", "ss", drive_hot_add, "[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot>\n"
-                                         "[file=file][,if=type][,bus=n]\n"
+    { "drive_add", "pci_addr:s,opts:s", drive_hot_add,
+                                        "[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot>\n"
+                                        "[file=file][,if=type][,bus=n]\n"
                                         "[,unit=m][,media=d][index=i]\n"
                                         "[,cyls=c,heads=h,secs=s[,trans=t]]\n"
                                         "[snapshot=on|off][,cache=on|off]",
@@ -511,7 +512,7 @@  Add drive to PCI storage controller.
 ETEXI
 
 #if defined(TARGET_I386)
-    { "pci_add", "sss?", pci_device_hot_add, "auto|[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot> nic|storage [[vlan=n][,macaddr=addr][,model=type]] [file=file][,if=type][,bus=nr]...", "hot-add PCI device" },
+    { "pci_add", "pci_addr:s,type:s,opts:s?", pci_device_hot_add, "auto|[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot> nic|storage [[vlan=n][,macaddr=addr][,model=type]] [file=file][,if=type][,bus=nr]...", "hot-add PCI device" },
 #endif
 STEXI
 @item pci_add
@@ -519,21 +520,21 @@  Hot-add PCI device.
 ETEXI
 
 #if defined(TARGET_I386)
-    { "pci_del", "s", do_pci_device_hot_remove, "[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot>", "hot remove PCI device" },
+    { "pci_del", "pci_addr:s", do_pci_device_hot_remove, "[[<domain>:]<bus>:]<slot>", "hot remove PCI device" },
 #endif
 STEXI
 @item pci_del
 Hot remove PCI device.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "host_net_add", "ss?", net_host_device_add,
+    { "host_net_add", "device:s,opts:s?", net_host_device_add,
       "tap|user|socket|vde|dump [options]", "add host VLAN client" },
 STEXI
 @item host_net_add
 Add host VLAN client.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "host_net_remove", "is", net_host_device_remove,
+    { "host_net_remove", "vlan_id:i,device:s", net_host_device_remove,
       "vlan_id name", "remove host VLAN client" },
 STEXI
 @item host_net_remove
@@ -541,10 +542,10 @@  Remove host VLAN client.
 ETEXI
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SLIRP
-    { "hostfwd_add", "ss?s?", net_slirp_hostfwd_add,
+    { "hostfwd_add", "arg1:s,arg2:s?,arg3:s?", net_slirp_hostfwd_add,
       "[vlan_id name] [tcp|udp]:[hostaddr]:hostport-[guestaddr]:guestport",
       "redirect TCP or UDP connections from host to guest (requires -net user)" },
-    { "hostfwd_remove", "ss?s?", net_slirp_hostfwd_remove,
+    { "hostfwd_remove", "arg1:s,arg2:s?,arg3:s?", net_slirp_hostfwd_remove,
       "[vlan_id name] [tcp|udp]:[hostaddr]:hostport",
       "remove host-to-guest TCP or UDP redirection" },
 #endif
@@ -553,28 +554,28 @@  STEXI
 Redirect TCP or UDP connections from host to guest (requires -net user).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "balloon", "i", do_balloon,
+    { "balloon", "value:i", do_balloon,
       "target", "request VM to change it's memory allocation (in MB)" },
 STEXI
 @item balloon @var{value}
 Request VM to change its memory allocation to @var{value} (in MB).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "set_link", "ss", do_set_link,
+    { "set_link", "name:s,up_or_down:s", do_set_link,
       "name up|down", "change the link status of a network adapter" },
 STEXI
 @item set_link @var{name} [up|down]
 Set link @var{name} up or down.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "watchdog_action", "s", do_watchdog_action,
+    { "watchdog_action", "action:s", do_watchdog_action,
       "[reset|shutdown|poweroff|pause|debug|none]", "change watchdog action" },
 STEXI
 @item watchdog_action
 Change watchdog action.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "acl_show", "s", do_acl_show, "aclname",
+    { "acl_show", "aclname:s", do_acl_show, "aclname",
       "list rules in the access control list" },
 STEXI
 @item acl_show @var{aclname}
@@ -584,7 +585,7 @@  policy. There are currently two named access control lists,
 certificate distinguished name, and SASL username respectively.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "acl_policy", "ss", do_acl_policy, "aclname allow|deny",
+    { "acl_policy", "aclname:s,policy:s", do_acl_policy, "aclname allow|deny",
       "set default access control list policy" },
 STEXI
 @item acl_policy @var{aclname} @code{allow|deny}
@@ -593,7 +594,7 @@  none of the explicit rules match. The default policy at startup is
 always @code{deny}.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "acl_add", "sssi?", do_acl_add, "aclname match allow|deny [index]",
+    { "acl_add", "aclname:s,match:s,policy:s,index:i?", do_acl_add, "aclname match allow|deny [index]",
       "add a match rule to the access control list" },
 STEXI
 @item acl_allow @var{aclname} @var{match} @code{allow|deny} [@var{index}]
@@ -605,14 +606,14 @@  normally be appended to the end of the ACL, but can be inserted
 earlier in the list if the optional @var{index} parameter is supplied.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "acl_remove", "ss", do_acl_remove, "aclname match",
+    { "acl_remove", "aclname:s,match:s", do_acl_remove, "aclname match",
       "remove a match rule from the access control list" },
 STEXI
 @item acl_remove @var{aclname} @var{match}
 Remove the specified match rule from the access control list.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "acl_reset", "s", do_acl_reset, "aclname",
+    { "acl_reset", "aclname:s", do_acl_reset, "aclname",
       "reset the access control list" },
 STEXI
 @item acl_remove @var{aclname} @var{match}
@@ -621,14 +622,14 @@  policy back to @code{deny}.
 ETEXI
 
 #if defined(TARGET_I386)
-    { "mce", "iillll", do_inject_mce, "cpu bank status mcgstatus addr misc", "inject a MCE on the given CPU"},
+    { "mce", "cpu_index:i,bank:i,status:l,mcg_status:l,addr:l,misc:l", do_inject_mce, "cpu bank status mcgstatus addr misc", "inject a MCE on the given CPU"},
 #endif
 STEXI
 @item mce @var{cpu} @var{bank} @var{status} @var{mcgstatus} @var{addr} @var{misc}
 Inject an MCE on the given CPU (x86 only).
 ETEXI
 
-    { "getfd", "s", do_getfd, "getfd name",
+    { "getfd", "fdname:s", do_getfd, "getfd name",
       "receive a file descriptor via SCM rights and assign it a name" },
 STEXI
 @item getfd @var{fdname}
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@  mechanism on unix sockets, it is stored using the name @var{fdname} for
 later use by other monitor commands.
 ETEXI
 
-    { "closefd", "s", do_closefd, "closefd name",
+    { "closefd", "fdname:s", do_closefd, "closefd name",
       "close a file descriptor previously passed via SCM rights" },
 STEXI
 @item closefd @var{fdname}