diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4621310..2453c1a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -137,7 +137,11 @@ Setting and querying flags is simple.
 ``` go
 ...
 app.Flags = []cli.Flag {
-  cli.StringFlag{"lang", "english", "language for the greeting"},
+  cli.StringFlag{
+    Name: "lang",
+    Value: "english",
+    Usage: "language for the greeting",
+  },
 }
 app.Action = func(c *cli.Context) {
   name := "someone"
@@ -159,7 +163,26 @@ You can set alternate (or short) names for flags by providing a comma-delimited
 
 ``` go
 app.Flags = []cli.Flag {
-  cli.StringFlag{"lang, l", "english", "language for the greeting"},
+  cli.StringFlag{
+    Name: "lang, l",
+    Value: "english",
+    Usage: "language for the greeting",
+  },
+}
+```
+
+#### Values from the Environment
+
+You can also have the default value set from the environment via EnvVar.  e.g.
+
+``` go
+app.Flags = []cli.Flag {
+  cli.StringFlag{
+    Name: "lang, l",
+    Value: "english",
+    Usage: "language for the greeting",
+    EnvVar: "APP_LANG",
+  },
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/app_test.go b/app_test.go
index cf0e3d0..26c674a 100644
--- a/app_test.go
+++ b/app_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,11 @@ func ExampleAppSubcommand() {
 					Usage:       "sends a greeting in english",
 					Description: "greets someone in english",
 					Flags: []cli.Flag{
-						cli.StringFlag{"name", "Bob", "Name of the person to greet"},
+						cli.StringFlag{
+							Name:  "name",
+							Value: "Bob",
+							Usage: "Name of the person to greet",
+						},
 					},
 					Action: func(c *cli.Context) {
 						fmt.Println("Hello,", c.String("name"))
diff --git a/cli_test.go b/cli_test.go
index 30f3c13..71dd5a4 100644
--- a/cli_test.go
+++ b/cli_test.go
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ func ExampleSubcommand() {
 					Usage:       "sends a greeting in english",
 					Description: "greets someone in english",
 					Flags: []cli.Flag{
-						cli.StringFlag{"name", "Bob", "Name of the person to greet"},
+						cli.StringFlag{
+							Name:  "name",
+							Value: "Bob",
+							Usage: "Name of the person to greet",
+						},
 					},
 					Action: func(c *cli.Context) {
 						println("Hello, ", c.String("name"))
@@ -57,7 +61,11 @@ func ExampleSubcommand() {
 					ShortName: "sp",
 					Usage:     "sends a greeting in spanish",
 					Flags: []cli.Flag{
-						cli.StringFlag{"surname", "Jones", "Surname of the person to greet"},
+						cli.StringFlag{
+							Name:  "surname",
+							Value: "Jones",
+							Usage: "Surname of the person to greet",
+						},
 					},
 					Action: func(c *cli.Context) {
 						println("Hola, ", c.String("surname"))
@@ -67,7 +75,11 @@ func ExampleSubcommand() {
 					ShortName: "fr",
 					Usage:     "sends a greeting in french",
 					Flags: []cli.Flag{
-						cli.StringFlag{"nickname", "Stevie", "Nickname of the person to greet"},
+						cli.StringFlag{
+							Name:  "nickname",
+							Value: "Stevie",
+							Usage: "Nickname of the person to greet",
+						},
 					},
 					Action: func(c *cli.Context) {
 						println("Bonjour, ", c.String("nickname"))
diff --git a/flag.go b/flag.go
index 50f192f..60353e2 100644
--- a/flag.go
+++ b/flag.go
@@ -9,13 +9,21 @@ import (
 )
 
 // This flag enables bash-completion for all commands and subcommands
-var BashCompletionFlag = BoolFlag{"generate-bash-completion", "", ""}
+var BashCompletionFlag = BoolFlag{
+	Name: "generate-bash-completion",
+}
 
 // This flag prints the version for the application
-var VersionFlag = BoolFlag{"version, v", "print the version", ""}
+var VersionFlag = BoolFlag{
+	Name:  "version, v",
+	Usage: "print the version",
+}
 
 // This flag prints the help for all commands and subcommands
-var HelpFlag = BoolFlag{"help, h", "show help", ""}
+var HelpFlag = BoolFlag{
+	Name:  "help, h",
+	Usage: "show help",
+}
 
 // Flag is a common interface related to parsing flags in cli.
 // For more advanced flag parsing techniques, it is recomended that
diff --git a/flag_test.go b/flag_test.go
index 1c05f01..76dad72 100644
--- a/flag_test.go
+++ b/flag_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/codegangsta/cli"
 
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -52,6 +53,55 @@ func TestStringFlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestStringFlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_FOO", "derp")
+	for _, test := range stringFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.StringFlag{Name: test.name, Value: test.value, EnvVar: "APP_FOO"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_FOO]") {
+			t.Errorf("%s does not end with [$APP_FOO]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var stringSliceFlagTests = []struct {
+	name     string
+	value    *cli.StringSlice
+	expected string
+}{
+	{"help", &cli.StringSlice{""}, "--help '--help option --help option'\t"},
+	{"h", &cli.StringSlice{""}, "-h '-h option -h option'\t"},
+	{"h", &cli.StringSlice{""}, "-h '-h option -h option'\t"},
+	{"test", &cli.StringSlice{"Something"}, "--test '--test option --test option'\t"},
+}
+
+func TestStringSliceFlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	for _, test := range stringSliceFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.StringSliceFlag{Name: test.name, Value: test.value}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if output != test.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%q does not match %q", output, test.expected)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStringSliceFlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_QWWX", "11,4")
+	for _, test := range stringSliceFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.StringSliceFlag{Name: test.name, Value: test.value, EnvVar: "APP_QWWX"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_QWWX]") {
+			t.Errorf("%q does not end with [$APP_QWWX]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 var intFlagTests = []struct {
 	name     string
 	expected string
@@ -72,6 +122,55 @@ func TestIntFlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIntFlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_BAR", "2")
+	for _, test := range intFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.IntFlag{Name: test.name, EnvVar: "APP_BAR"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_BAR]") {
+			t.Errorf("%s does not end with [$APP_BAR]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var intSliceFlagTests = []struct {
+	name     string
+	value    *cli.IntSlice
+	expected string
+}{
+	{"help", &cli.IntSlice{}, "--help '--help option --help option'\t"},
+	{"h", &cli.IntSlice{}, "-h '-h option -h option'\t"},
+	{"h", &cli.IntSlice{}, "-h '-h option -h option'\t"},
+	{"test", &cli.IntSlice{9}, "--test '--test option --test option'\t"},
+}
+
+func TestIntSliceFlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	for _, test := range intSliceFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.IntSliceFlag{Name: test.name, Value: test.value}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if output != test.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%q does not match %q", output, test.expected)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIntSliceFlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_SMURF", "42,3")
+	for _, test := range intSliceFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.IntSliceFlag{Name: test.name, Value: test.value, EnvVar: "APP_SMURF"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_SMURF]") {
+			t.Errorf("%q does not end with [$APP_SMURF]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 var float64FlagTests = []struct {
 	name     string
 	expected string
@@ -92,6 +191,54 @@ func TestFloat64FlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFloat64FlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_BAZ", "99.4")
+	for _, test := range float64FlagTests {
+		flag := cli.Float64Flag{Name: test.name, EnvVar: "APP_BAZ"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_BAZ]") {
+			t.Errorf("%s does not end with [$APP_BAZ]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var genericFlagTests = []struct {
+	name     string
+	value    cli.Generic
+	expected string
+}{
+	{"help", &Parser{}, "--help <nil>\t`-help option -help option` "},
+	{"h", &Parser{}, "-h <nil>\t`-h option -h option` "},
+	{"test", &Parser{}, "--test <nil>\t`-test option -test option` "},
+}
+
+func TestGenericFlagHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	for _, test := range genericFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.GenericFlag{Name: test.name}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if output != test.expected {
+			t.Errorf("%q does not match %q", output, test.expected)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGenericFlagWithEnvVarHelpOutput(t *testing.T) {
+
+	os.Setenv("APP_ZAP", "3")
+	for _, test := range genericFlagTests {
+		flag := cli.GenericFlag{Name: test.name, EnvVar: "APP_ZAP"}
+		output := flag.String()
+
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(output, " [$APP_ZAP]") {
+			t.Errorf("%s does not end with [$APP_ZAP]", output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestParseMultiString(t *testing.T) {
 	(&cli.App{
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
@@ -108,6 +255,23 @@ func TestParseMultiString(t *testing.T) {
 	}).Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10"})
 }
 
+func TestParseMultiStringFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_COUNT", "20")
+	(&cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.StringFlag{Name: "count, c", EnvVar: "APP_COUNT"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.String("count") != "20" {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if ctx.String("c") != "20" {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}).Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
 func TestParseMultiStringSlice(t *testing.T) {
 	(&cli.App{
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
@@ -124,6 +288,24 @@ func TestParseMultiStringSlice(t *testing.T) {
 	}).Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10", "-s", "20"})
 }
 
+func TestParseMultiStringSliceFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_INTERVALS", "20,30,40")
+
+	(&cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.StringSliceFlag{Name: "intervals, i", Value: &cli.StringSlice{}, EnvVar: "APP_INTERVALS"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.StringSlice("intervals"), []string{"20", "30", "40"}) {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set from env")
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.StringSlice("i"), []string{"20", "30", "40"}) {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set from env")
+			}
+		},
+	}).Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
 func TestParseMultiInt(t *testing.T) {
 	a := cli.App{
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
@@ -141,6 +323,93 @@ func TestParseMultiInt(t *testing.T) {
 	a.Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10"})
 }
 
+func TestParseMultiIntFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "10")
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.IntFlag{Name: "timeout, t", EnvVar: "APP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.Int("timeout") != 10 {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if ctx.Int("t") != 10 {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiIntSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	(&cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.IntSliceFlag{Name: "serve, s", Value: &cli.IntSlice{}},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.IntSlice("serve"), []int{10, 20}) {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.IntSlice("s"), []int{10, 20}) {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}).Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10", "-s", "20"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiIntSliceFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_INTERVALS", "20,30,40")
+
+	(&cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.IntSliceFlag{Name: "intervals, i", Value: &cli.IntSlice{}, EnvVar: "APP_INTERVALS"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.IntSlice("intervals"), []int{20, 30, 40}) {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set from env")
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.IntSlice("i"), []int{20, 30, 40}) {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set from env")
+			}
+		},
+	}).Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiFloat64(t *testing.T) {
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.Float64Flag{Name: "serve, s"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.Float64("serve") != 10.2 {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if ctx.Float64("s") != 10.2 {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10.2"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiFloat64FromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", "15.5")
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.Float64Flag{Name: "timeout, t", EnvVar: "APP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.Float64("timeout") != 15.5 {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if ctx.Float64("t") != 15.5 {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
 func TestParseMultiBool(t *testing.T) {
 	a := cli.App{
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
@@ -158,6 +427,59 @@ func TestParseMultiBool(t *testing.T) {
 	a.Run([]string{"run", "--serve"})
 }
 
+func TestParseMultiBoolFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_DEBUG", "1")
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.BoolFlag{Name: "debug, d", EnvVar: "APP_DEBUG"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.Bool("debug") != true {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set from env")
+			}
+			if ctx.Bool("d") != true {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set from env")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiBoolT(t *testing.T) {
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.BoolTFlag{Name: "serve, s"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.BoolT("serve") != true {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set")
+			}
+			if ctx.BoolT("s") != true {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run", "--serve"})
+}
+
+func TestParseMultiBoolTFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_DEBUG", "0")
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.BoolTFlag{Name: "debug, d", EnvVar: "APP_DEBUG"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if ctx.BoolT("debug") != false {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set from env")
+			}
+			if ctx.BoolT("d") != false {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set from env")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run"})
+}
+
 type Parser [2]string
 
 func (p *Parser) Set(value string) error {
@@ -192,3 +514,21 @@ func TestParseGeneric(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	a.Run([]string{"run", "-s", "10,20"})
 }
+
+func TestParseGenericFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("APP_SERVE", "20,30")
+	a := cli.App{
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			cli.GenericFlag{Name: "serve, s", Value: &Parser{}, EnvVar: "APP_SERVE"},
+		},
+		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) {
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.Generic("serve"), &Parser{"20", "30"}) {
+				t.Errorf("main name not set from env")
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(ctx.Generic("s"), &Parser{"20", "30"}) {
+				t.Errorf("short name not set from env")
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	a.Run([]string{"run"})
+}