diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ca46c84..954bdcc 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 *.hex
 *.log
+*.out
 *env
 .dep
 **/target/
diff --git a/argh/argh.go b/argh/argh.go
index 085cc76..4077aa6 100644
--- a/argh/argh.go
+++ b/argh/argh.go
@@ -1,5 +1,35 @@
 package argh
 
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+)
+
+// NOTE: much of this is lifted from
+// https://blog.gopheracademy.com/advent-2014/parsers-lexers/
+
+var (
+	tracingEnabled = os.Getenv("ARGH_TRACING") == "enabled"
+)
+
 type Argh struct {
-	AST *AST
+	ParseTree *ParseTree `json:"parse_tree"`
+}
+
+func (a *Argh) AST() []TypedNode {
+	return a.ParseTree.toAST()
+}
+
+/*
+func (a *Argh) String() string {
+	return a.ParseTree.String()
+}
+*/
+
+func tracef(format string, v ...any) {
+	if !tracingEnabled {
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Printf(format, v...)
 }
diff --git a/argh/ast.go b/argh/ast.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 30834f8..0000000
--- a/argh/ast.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-package argh
-
-type AST struct {
-	Nodes []*Node `json:"nodes"`
-}
-
-type Node struct {
-	Token   string `json:"token"`
-	Literal string `json:"literal"`
-}
diff --git a/argh/cmd/argh/main.go b/argh/cmd/argh/main.go
index 2b77e52..bd9b32c 100644
--- a/argh/cmd/argh/main.go
+++ b/argh/cmd/argh/main.go
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	ast, err := argh.ParseArgs(os.Args)
+	log.SetFlags(0)
+
+	ast, err := argh.ParseArgs(os.Args, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/argh/go.mod b/argh/go.mod
index f70b654..7091c9a 100644
--- a/argh/go.mod
+++ b/argh/go.mod
@@ -3,3 +3,10 @@ module git.meatballhat.com/x/box-o-sand/argh
 go 1.18
 
 require github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1
+
+require (
+	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0 // indirect
+	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c // indirect
+)
diff --git a/argh/go.sum b/argh/go.sum
index 7c401c3..842edf5 100644
--- a/argh/go.sum
+++ b/argh/go.sum
@@ -1,2 +1,12 @@
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0 h1:ZDRjVQ15GmhC3fiQ8ni8+OwkZQO4DARzQgrnXU1Liz8=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1 h1:FEBLx1zS214owpjy7qsBeixbURkuhQAwrK5UwLGTwt4=
 github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1/go.mod h1:bwawxfHBFNV+L2hUp1rHADufV3IMtnDRdf1r5NINEl0=
+github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 h1:4DBwDE0NGyQoBHbLQYPwSUPoCMWR5BEzIk/f1lZbAQM=
+github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
+github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1 h1:5TQK59W5E3v0r2duFAb7P95B6hEeOyEnHRa8MjYSMTY=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c h1:dUUwHk2QECo/6vqA44rthZ8ie2QXMNeKRTHCNY2nXvo=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
diff --git a/argh/parse_tree.go b/argh/parse_tree.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ffb182
--- /dev/null
+++ b/argh/parse_tree.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package argh
+
+import "fmt"
+
+type ParseTree struct {
+	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
+}
+
+func (pt *ParseTree) toAST() []TypedNode {
+	ret := []TypedNode{}
+
+	for _, node := range pt.Nodes {
+		if _, ok := node.(ArgDelimiter); ok {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if _, ok := node.(StopFlag); ok {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		ret = append(
+			ret,
+			TypedNode{
+				Type: fmt.Sprintf("%T", node),
+				Node: node,
+			},
+		)
+	}
+
+	return ret
+}
+
+type Node interface{}
+
+type TypedNode struct {
+	Type string `json:"type"`
+	Node Node   `json:"node"`
+}
+
+type Args struct {
+	Pos   int    `json:"pos"`
+	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
+}
+
+type Statement struct {
+	Pos   int    `json:"pos"`
+	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
+}
+
+type Program struct {
+	Pos  int    `json:"pos"`
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+type Ident struct {
+	Pos     int    `json:"pos"`
+	Literal string `json:"literal"`
+}
+
+type Command struct {
+	Pos   int    `json:"pos"`
+	Name  string `json:"name"`
+	Nodes []Node `json:"nodes"`
+}
+
+type Flag struct {
+	Pos   int     `json:"pos"`
+	Name  string  `json:"name"`
+	Value *string `json:"value,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type StdinFlag struct {
+	Pos int `json:"pos"`
+}
+
+type StopFlag struct {
+	Pos int `json:"pos"`
+}
+
+type ArgDelimiter struct {
+	Pos int `json:"pos"`
+}
diff --git a/argh/parser.go b/argh/parser.go
index cf74b87..211ce9c 100644
--- a/argh/parser.go
+++ b/argh/parser.go
@@ -7,76 +7,220 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
-// NOTE: much of this is lifted from
-// https://blog.gopheracademy.com/advent-2014/parsers-lexers/
-
 var (
 	errSyntax = errors.New("syntax error")
+
+	DefaultParserConfig = &ParserConfig{
+		Commands:      []string{},
+		ValueFlags:    []string{},
+		ScannerConfig: DefaultScannerConfig,
+	}
 )
 
-func ParseArgs(args []string) (*Argh, error) {
+func ParseArgs(args []string, pCfg *ParserConfig) (*Argh, error) {
 	reEncoded := strings.Join(args, string(nul))
 
 	return NewParser(
 		strings.NewReader(reEncoded),
-		nil,
+		pCfg,
 	).Parse()
 }
 
 type Parser struct {
 	s   *Scanner
 	buf ParserBuffer
+
+	commands   map[string]struct{}
+	valueFlags map[string]struct{}
+
+	nodes    []Node
+	stopSeen bool
 }
 
 type ParserBuffer struct {
 	tok Token
 	lit string
+	pos int
 	n   int
 }
 
-func NewParser(r io.Reader, cfg *ScannerConfig) *Parser {
-	return &Parser{s: NewScanner(r, cfg)}
+type ParserConfig struct {
+	Commands      []string
+	ValueFlags    []string
+	ScannerConfig *ScannerConfig
 }
 
-func (p *Parser) Parse() (*Argh, error) {
-	arghOut := &Argh{
-		AST: &AST{
-			Nodes: []*Node{},
-		},
+type parseDirective struct {
+	Break bool
+}
+
+func NewParser(r io.Reader, pCfg *ParserConfig) *Parser {
+	if pCfg == nil {
+		pCfg = DefaultParserConfig
 	}
 
+	parser := &Parser{
+		s:          NewScanner(r, pCfg.ScannerConfig),
+		commands:   map[string]struct{}{},
+		valueFlags: map[string]struct{}{},
+	}
+
+	for _, command := range pCfg.Commands {
+		parser.commands[command] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	for _, valueFlag := range pCfg.ValueFlags {
+		parser.valueFlags[valueFlag] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	tracef("NewParser parser=%+#v", parser)
+	tracef("NewParser pCfg=%+#v", pCfg)
+
+	return parser
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) Parse() (*Argh, error) {
+	p.nodes = []Node{}
+
 	for {
-		tok, lit := p.scan()
-		if tok == ILLEGAL {
-			return nil, errors.Wrapf(errSyntax, "illegal value %q", lit)
+		pd, err := p.parseArg()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if tok == EOL {
+		if pd != nil && pd.Break {
 			break
 		}
+	}
+
+	return &Argh{ParseTree: &ParseTree{Nodes: p.nodes}}, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) parseArg() (*parseDirective, error) {
+	tok, lit, pos := p.scan()
+	if tok == ILLEGAL {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(errSyntax, "illegal value %q at pos=%v", lit, pos)
+	}
+
+	if tok == EOL {
+		return &parseDirective{Break: true}, nil
+	}
+
+	p.unscan()
+
+	node, err := p.nodify()
+
+	tracef("parseArg node=%+#v err=%+#v", node, err)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "value %q at pos=%v", lit, pos)
+	}
+
+	if node != nil {
+		p.nodes = append(p.nodes, node)
+	}
+
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) nodify() (Node, error) {
+	tok, lit, pos := p.scan()
+
+	tracef("nodify tok=%s lit=%q pos=%v", tok, lit, pos)
+
+	switch tok {
+	case IDENT:
+		if len(p.nodes) == 0 {
+			return Program{Name: lit, Pos: pos - len(lit)}, nil
+		}
+		return Ident{Literal: lit, Pos: pos - len(lit)}, nil
+	case ARG_DELIMITER:
+		return ArgDelimiter{Pos: pos - 1}, nil
+	case COMPOUND_SHORT_FLAG:
+		flagNodes := []Node{}
+
+		for i, r := range lit[1:] {
+			flagNodes = append(
+				flagNodes,
+				Flag{
+					Pos:  pos + i + 1,
+					Name: string(r),
+				},
+			)
+		}
+
+		return Statement{Pos: pos, Nodes: flagNodes}, nil
+	case SHORT_FLAG:
+		flagName := string(lit[1:])
+		if _, ok := p.valueFlags[flagName]; ok {
+			return p.scanValueFlag(flagName, pos)
+		}
+
+		return Flag{Name: flagName, Pos: pos - len(flagName) - 1}, nil
+	case LONG_FLAG:
+		flagName := string(lit[2:])
+		if _, ok := p.valueFlags[flagName]; ok {
+			return p.scanValueFlag(flagName, pos)
+		}
 
-		arghOut.AST.Nodes = append(
-			arghOut.AST.Nodes,
-			&Node{Token: tok.String(), Literal: lit},
-		)
+		return Flag{Name: flagName, Pos: pos - len(flagName) - 2}, nil
+	default:
 	}
 
-	return arghOut, nil
+	return Ident{Literal: lit, Pos: pos - len(lit)}, nil
 }
 
-func (p *Parser) scan() (Token, string) {
+func (p *Parser) scanValueFlag(flagName string, pos int) (Node, error) {
+	tracef("scanValueFlag flagName=%q pos=%v", flagName, pos)
+
+	lit, err := p.scanIdent()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	flagSepLen := len("--") + 1
+
+	return Flag{Name: flagName, Pos: pos - len(lit) - flagSepLen, Value: ptr(lit)}, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) scanIdent() (string, error) {
+	tok, lit, pos := p.scan()
+
+	nUnscan := 0
+
+	if tok == ASSIGN || tok == ARG_DELIMITER {
+		nUnscan++
+		tok, lit, pos = p.scan()
+	}
+
+	if tok == IDENT {
+		return lit, nil
+	}
+
+	for i := 0; i < nUnscan; i++ {
+		p.unscan()
+	}
+
+	return "", errors.Wrapf(errSyntax, "expected ident at pos=%v but got %s (%q)", pos, tok, lit)
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) scan() (Token, string, int) {
 	if p.buf.n != 0 {
 		p.buf.n = 0
-		return p.buf.tok, p.buf.lit
+		return p.buf.tok, p.buf.lit, p.buf.pos
 	}
 
-	tok, lit := p.s.Scan()
+	tok, lit, pos := p.s.Scan()
 
-	p.buf.tok, p.buf.lit = tok, lit
+	p.buf.tok, p.buf.lit, p.buf.pos = tok, lit, pos
 
-	return tok, lit
+	return tok, lit, pos
 }
 
 func (p *Parser) unscan() {
 	p.buf.n = 1
 }
+
+func ptr[T any](v T) *T {
+	return &v
+}
diff --git a/argh/parser_test.go b/argh/parser_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f95be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/argh/parser_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package argh_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.meatballhat.com/x/box-o-sand/argh"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func ptr[T any](v T) *T {
+	return &v
+}
+
+func TestParser(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		args        []string
+		cfg         *argh.ParserConfig
+		expected    *argh.Argh
+		expectedErr error
+		skip        bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "bare",
+			args: []string{"pizzas"},
+			expected: &argh.Argh{
+				ParseTree: &argh.ParseTree{
+					Nodes: []argh.Node{
+						argh.Program{Name: "pizzas"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "long value-less flags",
+			args: []string{"pizzas", "--tasty", "--fresh", "--super-hot-right-now"},
+			expected: &argh.Argh{
+				ParseTree: &argh.ParseTree{
+					Nodes: []argh.Node{
+						argh.Program{Name: "pizzas", Pos: 0},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 6},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "tasty", Pos: 7},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 14},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "fresh", Pos: 15},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 22},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "super-hot-right-now", Pos: 23},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "long flags mixed",
+			args: []string{"pizzas", "--tasty", "--fresh", "soon", "--super-hot-right-now"},
+			cfg: &argh.ParserConfig{
+				Commands:   []string{},
+				ValueFlags: []string{"fresh"},
+			},
+			expected: &argh.Argh{
+				ParseTree: &argh.ParseTree{
+					Nodes: []argh.Node{
+						argh.Program{Name: "pizzas", Pos: 0},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 6},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "tasty", Pos: 7},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 14},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "fresh", Pos: 15, Value: ptr("soon")},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 27},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "super-hot-right-now", Pos: 28},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			skip: true,
+
+			name: "typical",
+			args: []string{"pizzas", "-a", "--ca", "-b", "1312", "-lol"},
+			cfg: &argh.ParserConfig{
+				Commands:   []string{},
+				ValueFlags: []string{"b"},
+			},
+			expected: &argh.Argh{
+				ParseTree: &argh.ParseTree{
+					Nodes: []argh.Node{
+						argh.Program{Name: "pizzas", Pos: 0},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 6},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "a", Pos: 7},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 9},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "ca", Pos: 10},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 14},
+						argh.Flag{Name: "b", Pos: 15, Value: ptr("1312")},
+						argh.ArgDelimiter{Pos: 22},
+						argh.Statement{
+							Pos: 23,
+							Nodes: []argh.Node{
+								argh.Flag{Name: "l", Pos: 29},
+								argh.Flag{Name: "o", Pos: 30},
+								argh.Flag{Name: "l", Pos: 31},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		if tc.skip {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(ct *testing.T) {
+			actual, err := argh.ParseArgs(tc.args, tc.cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				assert.ErrorIs(ct, err, tc.expectedErr)
+				return
+			}
+
+			assert.Equal(ct, tc.expected, actual)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/argh/scanner.go b/argh/scanner.go
index 02e1267..cc24842 100644
--- a/argh/scanner.go
+++ b/argh/scanner.go
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 package argh
 
-// NOTE: much of this is lifted from
-// https://blog.gopheracademy.com/advent-2014/parsers-lexers/
-
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
@@ -27,6 +24,7 @@ var (
 
 type Scanner struct {
 	r   *bufio.Reader
+	i   int
 	cfg *ScannerConfig
 }
 
@@ -34,8 +32,6 @@ type ScannerConfig struct {
 	AssignmentOperator rune
 	FlagPrefix         rune
 	MultiValueDelim    rune
-
-	Commands []string
 }
 
 func NewScanner(r io.Reader, cfg *ScannerConfig) *Scanner {
@@ -49,52 +45,56 @@ func NewScanner(r io.Reader, cfg *ScannerConfig) *Scanner {
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *Scanner) Scan() (Token, string) {
-	ch := s.read()
+func (s *Scanner) Scan() (Token, string, int) {
+	ch, pos := s.read()
 
 	if s.isBlankspace(ch) {
-		s.unread()
+		_ = s.unread()
 		return s.scanBlankspace()
 	}
 
 	if s.isAssignmentOperator(ch) {
-		return ASSIGN, string(ch)
+		return ASSIGN, string(ch), pos
 	}
 
 	if s.isMultiValueDelim(ch) {
-		return MULTI_VALUE_DELIMITER, string(ch)
+		return MULTI_VALUE_DELIMITER, string(ch), pos
 	}
 
 	if ch == eol {
-		return EOL, ""
+		return EOL, "", pos
 	}
 
 	if ch == nul {
-		return ARG_DELIMITER, string(ch)
+		return ARG_DELIMITER, string(ch), pos
 	}
 
 	if unicode.IsGraphic(ch) {
-		s.unread()
+		_ = s.unread()
 		return s.scanArg()
 	}
 
-	return ILLEGAL, string(ch)
+	return ILLEGAL, string(ch), pos
 }
 
-func (s *Scanner) read() rune {
+func (s *Scanner) read() (rune, int) {
 	ch, _, err := s.r.ReadRune()
+	s.i++
+
 	if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
-		return eol
+		return eol, s.i
 	} else if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("unknown scanner error=%+v", err)
-		return eol
+		return eol, s.i
 	}
 
-	return ch
+	return ch, s.i
 }
 
-func (s *Scanner) unread() {
+func (s *Scanner) unread() int {
 	_ = s.r.UnreadRune()
+	s.i--
+	return s.i
 }
 
 func (s *Scanner) isBlankspace(ch rune) bool {
@@ -117,33 +117,37 @@ func (s *Scanner) isAssignmentOperator(ch rune) bool {
 	return ch == s.cfg.AssignmentOperator
 }
 
-func (s *Scanner) scanBlankspace() (Token, string) {
+func (s *Scanner) scanBlankspace() (Token, string, int) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	buf.WriteRune(s.read())
+	ch, pos := s.read()
+	buf.WriteRune(ch)
 
 	for {
-		if ch := s.read(); ch == eol {
+		ch, pos = s.read()
+
+		if ch == eol {
 			break
 		} else if !s.isBlankspace(ch) {
-			s.unread()
+			pos = s.unread()
 			break
 		} else {
 			_, _ = buf.WriteRune(ch)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return BS, buf.String()
+	return BS, buf.String(), pos
 }
 
-func (s *Scanner) scanArg() (Token, string) {
+func (s *Scanner) scanArg() (Token, string, int) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	buf.WriteRune(s.read())
+	ch, pos := s.read()
+	buf.WriteRune(ch)
 
 	for {
-		ch := s.read()
+		ch, pos = s.read()
 
 		if ch == eol || ch == nul || s.isAssignmentOperator(ch) || s.isMultiValueDelim(ch) {
-			s.unread()
+			pos = s.unread()
 			break
 		}
 
@@ -153,38 +157,38 @@ func (s *Scanner) scanArg() (Token, string) {
 	str := buf.String()
 
 	if len(str) == 0 {
-		return EMPTY, str
+		return EMPTY, str, pos
 	}
 
 	ch0 := rune(str[0])
 
 	if len(str) == 1 {
 		if s.isFlagPrefix(ch0) {
-			return STDIN_FLAG, str
+			return STDIN_FLAG, str, pos
 		}
 
-		return IDENT, str
+		return IDENT, str, pos
 	}
 
 	ch1 := rune(str[1])
 
 	if len(str) == 2 {
 		if str == string(s.cfg.FlagPrefix)+string(s.cfg.FlagPrefix) {
-			return STOP_FLAG, str
+			return STOP_FLAG, str, pos
 		}
 
 		if s.isFlagPrefix(ch0) {
-			return SHORT_FLAG, str
+			return SHORT_FLAG, str, pos
 		}
 	}
 
 	if s.isFlagPrefix(ch0) {
 		if s.isFlagPrefix(ch1) {
-			return LONG_FLAG, str
+			return LONG_FLAG, str, pos
 		}
 
-		return COMPOUND_SHORT_FLAG, str
+		return COMPOUND_SHORT_FLAG, str, pos
 	}
 
-	return IDENT, str
+	return IDENT, str, pos
 }