testsuite: Added unit tests for new option parsing

26 files changed, 1593 insertions, 219 deletions

diff --git a/doc/development/option_parsing.txt b/doc/development/option_parsing.txt
index 091f43cdd..642b9a36c 100644
--- a/doc/development/option_parsing.txt
+++ b/doc/development/option_parsing.txt
@@ -174,28 +174,31 @@ The normal implementation pattern is this:
 
 #. Define all of your subcommands as children of
    :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand`.
-#. Define a :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry` object that will be
+#. Create a :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry` object that will be
    used to register all of the commands.  Registering a command
    collect its options and adds it as a
    :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subparser` option group to the main option
    parser.
 #. Register your commands with
-   :func:`Bcfg2.Options.register_commands`, parse options, and run.
+   :func:`Bcfg2.Options.register_commands`.
+#. Add options from the
+   :attr:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.command_options`
+   attribute to the option parser.
+#. Parse options, and run.
 
 :mod:`Bcfg2.Server.Admin` provides a fairly simple implementation,
-where the CLI class is itself the command registry:
+where the CLI class subclasses the command registry:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
     class CLI(Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
         def __init__(self):
             Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
-            Bcfg2.Options.register_commands(self.__class__,
-                                            globals().values(),
-                                            parent=AdminCmd)
+            self.register_commands(globals().values(), parent=AdminCmd)
             parser = Bcfg2.Options.get_parser(
                 description="Manage a running Bcfg2 server",
                 components=[self])
+            parser.add_options(self.subcommand_options)
             parser.parse()
 
 In this case, commands are collected from amongst all global variables
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Actions.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Actions.py
index 8b941f2bb..2916cc194 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Actions.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Actions.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 import sys
 import argparse
-from Bcfg2.Options.Parser import get_parser
+from Bcfg2.Options.Parser import get_parser, OptionParserException
+from Bcfg2.Options.Options import _debug
 
 __all__ = ["ConfigFileAction", "ComponentAction", "PluginsAction"]
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ class ComponentAction(FinalizableAction):
     fail_silently = False
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        if self.mapping:
+        if self.mapping and not self.islist:
             if 'choices' not in kwargs:
                 kwargs['choices'] = self.mapping.keys()
         FinalizableAction.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ class ComponentAction(FinalizableAction):
         if cls:
             get_parser().add_component(cls)
         elif not self.fail_silently:
-            print("Could not load component %s" % name)
+            raise OptionParserException("Could not load component %s" % name)
         return cls
 
     def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
@@ -168,7 +169,10 @@ class ConfigFileAction(FinalizableAction):
     ``bcfg2-lint.conf``). """
 
     def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
-        parser.add_config_file(self.dest, values, reparse=False)
+        if values:
+            parser.add_config_file(self.dest, values, reparse=False)
+        else:
+            _debug("No config file passed for %s" % self)
         FinalizableAction.__call__(self, parser, namespace, values,
                                    option_string=option_string)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/OptionGroups.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/OptionGroups.py
index 465358fab..426ee5dc0 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/OptionGroups.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/OptionGroups.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ __all__ = ["OptionGroup", "ExclusiveOptionGroup", "Subparser",
            "WildcardSectionGroup"]
 
 
-class OptionContainer(list):
+class _OptionContainer(list):
     """ Parent class of all option groups """
 
     def list_options(self):
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class OptionContainer(list):
             opt.add_to_parser(parser)
 
 
-class OptionGroup(OptionContainer):
+class OptionGroup(_OptionContainer):
     """ Generic option group that is used only to organize options.
     This uses :meth:`argparse.ArgumentParser.add_argument_group`
     behind the scenes. """
@@ -43,16 +43,16 @@ class OptionGroup(OptionContainer):
         :param description: A longer description of the option group
         :param description: string
         """
-        OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
+        _OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
         self.title = kwargs.pop('title')
         self.description = kwargs.pop('description', None)
 
     def add_to_parser(self, parser):
         group = parser.add_argument_group(self.title, self.description)
-        OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, group)
+        _OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, group)
 
 
-class ExclusiveOptionGroup(OptionContainer):
+class ExclusiveOptionGroup(_OptionContainer):
     """ Option group that ensures that only one argument in the group
     is present.  This uses
     :meth:`argparse.ArgumentParser.add_mutually_exclusive_group`
@@ -66,15 +66,15 @@ class ExclusiveOptionGroup(OptionContainer):
                          specified.
         :type required: boolean
         """
-        OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
+        _OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
         self.required = kwargs.pop('required', False)
 
     def add_to_parser(self, parser):
         group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=self.required)
-        OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, group)
+        _OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, group)
 
 
-class Subparser(OptionContainer):
+class Subparser(_OptionContainer):
     """ Option group that adds options in it to a subparser.  This
     uses a lot of functionality tied to `argparse Sub-commands
     <http://docs.python.org/dev/library/argparse.html#sub-commands>`_.
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Subparser(OptionContainer):
         """
         self.name = kwargs.pop('name')
         self.help = kwargs.pop('help', None)
-        OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
+        _OptionContainer.__init__(self, items)
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "%s %s(%s)" % (self.__class__.__name__,
@@ -111,11 +111,11 @@ class Subparser(OptionContainer):
             self._subparsers[parser] = parser.add_subparsers(dest='subcommand')
         subparser = self._subparsers[parser].add_parser(self.name,
                                                         help=self.help)
-        OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, subparser)
+        _OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, subparser)
 
 
-class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
-    """ WildcardSectionGroups contain options that may exist in
+class WildcardSectionGroup(_OptionContainer, Option):
+    """WildcardSectionGroups contain options that may exist in
     several different sections of the config that match a glob.  It
     works by creating options on the fly to match the sections
     described in the glob.  For example, consider:
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
     .. code-block:: python
 
         >>> Bcfg2.Options.setup
-        Namespace(myplugin_bar_description='Bar description', myplugin_bar_number=2, myplugin_foo_description='Foo description', myplugin_foo_number=1, myplugin_sections=['myplugin:foo', 'myplugin:bar'])
+        Namespace(myplugin_bar_description='Bar description', myplugin_myplugin_bar_number=2, myplugin_myplugin_foo_description='Foo description', myplugin_myplugin_foo_number=1, myplugin_sections=['myplugin:foo', 'myplugin:bar'])
 
     All options must have the same section glob.
 
@@ -146,10 +146,10 @@ class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
     ``<destination>`` is the original `dest
     <http://docs.python.org/dev/library/argparse.html#dest>`_ of the
     option. ``<section>`` is the section that it's found in.
-    ``<prefix>`` is automatically generated from the section glob by
-    replacing all consecutive characters disallowed in Python variable
-    names into underscores.  (This can be overridden with the
-    constructor.)
+    ``<prefix>`` is automatically generated from the section glob.
+    (This can be overridden with the constructor.)  Both ``<section>``
+    and ``<prefix>`` have had all consecutive characters disallowed in
+    Python variable names replaced with underscores.
 
     This group stores an additional option, the sections themselves,
     in an option given by ``<prefix>sections``.
@@ -171,17 +171,17 @@ class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
                      that match the glob.
         :param dest: string
         """
-        OptionContainer.__init__(self, [])
+        _OptionContainer.__init__(self, [])
         self._section_glob = items[0].cf[0]
         # get a default destination
         self._prefix = kwargs.get("prefix",
                                   self._dest_re.sub('_', self._section_glob))
         Option.__init__(self, dest=kwargs.get('dest',
                                               self._prefix + "sections"))
-        self._options = items
+        self.option_templates = items
 
     def list_options(self):
-        return [self] + OptionContainer.list_options(self)
+        return [self] + _OptionContainer.list_options(self)
 
     def from_config(self, cfp):
         sections = []
@@ -189,10 +189,12 @@ class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
             if fnmatch.fnmatch(section, self._section_glob):
                 sections.append(section)
                 newopts = []
-                for opt_tmpl in self._options:
+                for opt_tmpl in self.option_templates:
                     option = copy.deepcopy(opt_tmpl)
                     option.cf = (section, option.cf[1])
-                    option.dest = self._prefix + section + "_" + option.dest
+                    option.dest = "%s%s_%s" % (self._prefix,
+                                               self._dest_re.sub('_', section),
+                                               option.dest)
                     newopts.append(option)
                 self.extend(newopts)
                 for parser in self.parsers:
@@ -201,4 +203,17 @@ class WildcardSectionGroup(OptionContainer, Option):
 
     def add_to_parser(self, parser):
         Option.add_to_parser(self, parser)
-        OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, parser)
+        _OptionContainer.add_to_parser(self, parser)
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        return (_OptionContainer.__eq__(self, other) and
+                self.option_templates == getattr(other, "option_templates",
+                                                 None))
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        if len(self) == 0:
+            return "%s(%s)" % (self.__class__.__name__,
+                               ", ".join(".".join(o.cf)
+                                         for o in self.option_templates))
+        else:
+            return _OptionContainer.__repr__(self)
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Options.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Options.py
index 3874f810d..4efd76929 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Options.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Options.py
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
-""" The base :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Option` object represents an
-option.  Unlike options in :mod:`argparse`, an Option object does not
-need to be associated with an option parser; it exists on its own."""
+"""Base :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Option` object to represent an option.
 
-import os
+Unlike options in :mod:`argparse`, an Option object does not need to
+be associated with an option parser; it exists on its own.
+"""
+
+import argparse
 import copy
 import fnmatch
-import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+
 from Bcfg2.Options import Types
 from Bcfg2.Compat import ConfigParser
 
@@ -19,8 +23,9 @@ def _debug(msg):
     they're options, after all -- so option parsing verbosity is
     enabled by changing this to True. The verbosity here is primarily
     of use to developers. """
-    if os.environ.get('BCFG2_OPTIONS_DEBUG', '0') == '1':
-        print(msg)
+    if os.environ.get('BCFG2_OPTIONS_DEBUG', '0').lower() in ["true", "yes",
+                                                              "on", "1"]:
+        sys.stderr.write("%s\n" % msg)
 
 
 #: A dict that records a mapping of argparse action name (e.g.,
@@ -133,10 +138,11 @@ class Option(object):
             self._dest = None
             if 'dest' in self._kwargs:
                 self._dest = self._kwargs.pop('dest')
-            elif self.cf is not None:
-                self._dest = self.cf[1]
             elif self.env is not None:
                 self._dest = self.env
+            elif self.cf is not None:
+                self._dest = self.cf[1]
+            self._dest = self._dest.lower().replace("-", "_")
             kwargs = copy.copy(self._kwargs)
             kwargs.pop("action", None)
             self.actions[None] = action_cls(self._dest, self._dest, **kwargs)
@@ -175,6 +181,17 @@ class Option(object):
                     _debug("Finalizing %s" % self)
                 action.finalize(parser, namespace)
 
+    @property
+    def _type_func(self):
+        """get a function for converting a value to the option type.
+
+        this always returns a callable, even when ``type`` is None.
+        """
+        if self.type:
+            return self.type
+        else:
+            return lambda x: x
+
     def from_config(self, cfp):
         """ Get the value of this option from the given
         :class:`ConfigParser.ConfigParser`.  If it is not found in the
@@ -201,21 +218,33 @@ class Option(object):
                                                    self.cf[1])
                            if o not in exclude])
             else:
-                rv = dict()
+                rv = {}
         else:
-            if self.type:
-                rtype = self.type
-            else:
-                rtype = lambda x: x
             try:
-                rv = rtype(cfp.getboolean(*self.cf))
-            except ValueError:
-                rv = rtype(cfp.get(*self.cf))
+                rv = self._type_func(self.get_config_value(cfp))
             except (ConfigParser.NoSectionError, ConfigParser.NoOptionError):
                 rv = None
         _debug("Setting %s from config file(s): %s" % (self, rv))
         return rv
 
+    def get_config_value(self, cfp):
+        """fetch a value from the config file.
+
+        This is passed the config parser. Its result is passed to the
+        type function for this option. It can be overridden to, e.g.,
+        handle boolean options.
+        """
+        return cfp.get(*self.cf)
+
+    def get_environ_value(self, value):
+        """fetch a value from the environment.
+
+        This is passed the raw value from the environment variable,
+        and its result is passed to the type function for this
+        option. It can be overridden to, e.g., handle boolean options.
+        """
+        return value
+
     def default_from_config(self, cfp):
         """ Set the default value of this option from the config file
         or from the environment.
@@ -224,7 +253,8 @@ class Option(object):
         :type cfp: ConfigParser.ConfigParser
         """
         if self.env and self.env in os.environ:
-            self.default = os.environ[self.env]
+            self.default = self._type_func(
+                self.get_environ_value(os.environ[self.env]))
             _debug("Setting the default of %s from environment: %s" %
                    (self, self.default))
         else:
@@ -257,6 +287,13 @@ class Option(object):
         for action in self.actions.values():
             action.dest = value
 
+    def early_parsing_hook(self, early_opts):  # pylint: disable=C0111
+        """Hook called at the end of early option parsing.
+
+        This can be used to save option values for macro fixup.
+        """
+        pass
+
     #: The namespace destination of this option (see `dest
     #: <http://docs.python.org/dev/library/argparse.html#dest>`_)
     dest = property(_get_dest, _set_dest)
@@ -289,8 +326,8 @@ class PathOption(Option):
     :meth:`Bcfg2.Options.Types.path` to transform the argument into a
     canonical path.
 
-    The type of a path option can also be overridden to return an
-    option file-like object.  For example:
+    The type of a path option can also be overridden to return a
+    file-like object. For example:
 
     .. code-block:: python
 
@@ -301,27 +338,52 @@ class PathOption(Option):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        kwargs.setdefault('type', Types.path)
+        self._original_type = kwargs.pop('type', lambda x: x)
+        kwargs['type'] = self._type
         kwargs.setdefault('metavar', '<path>')
         Option.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.repository = None
+
+    def early_parsing_hook(self, early_opts):
+        self.repository = early_opts.repository
+
+    def _type(self, value):
+        """Type function that fixes up <repository> macros."""
+        if self.repository is None:
+            rv = value
+        else:
+            rv = value.replace("<repository>", self.repository)
+        return self._original_type(Types.path(rv))
 
 
 class _BooleanOptionAction(argparse.Action):
-    """ BooleanOptionAction sets a boolean value in the following ways:
+    """BooleanOptionAction sets a boolean value.
+
     - if None is passed, store the default
     - if the option_string is not None, then the option was passed on the
       command line, thus store the opposite of the default (this is the
       argparse store_true and store_false behavior)
     - if a boolean value is passed, use that
 
+    Makes a copy of the initial default, because otherwise the default
+    can be changed by config file settings or environment
+    variables. For instance, if a boolean option that defaults to True
+    was set to False in the config file, specifying the option on the
+    CLI would then set it back to True.
+
     Defined here instead of :mod:`Bcfg2.Options.Actions` because otherwise
-    there is a circular import Options -> Actions -> Parser -> Options """
+    there is a circular import Options -> Actions -> Parser -> Options.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        argparse.Action.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.original = self.default
 
     def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
         if values is None:
             setattr(namespace, self.dest, self.default)
         elif option_string is not None:
-            setattr(namespace, self.dest, not self.default)
+            setattr(namespace, self.dest, not self.original)
         else:
             setattr(namespace, self.dest, bool(values))
 
@@ -340,9 +402,25 @@ class BooleanOption(Option):
         kwargs.setdefault('action', _BooleanOptionAction)
         kwargs.setdefault('nargs', 0)
         kwargs.setdefault('default', False)
-
         Option.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
+    def get_environ_value(self, value):
+        if value.lower() in ["false", "no", "off", "0"]:
+            return False
+        elif value.lower() in ["true", "yes", "on", "1"]:
+            return True
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Invalid boolean value %s" % value)
+
+    def get_config_value(self, cfp):
+        """fetch a value from the config file.
+
+        This is passed the config parser. Its result is passed to the
+        type function for this option. It can be overridden to, e.g.,
+        handle boolean options.
+        """
+        return cfp.getboolean(*self.cf)
+
 
 class PositionalArgument(Option):
     """ Shortcut for positional arguments. """
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Parser.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Parser.py
index 677a69e4c..ec470f8d3 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Parser.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Parser.py
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
-""" The option parser """
+"""The option parser."""
 
+import argparse
 import os
 import sys
-import argparse
+
 from Bcfg2.version import __version__
 from Bcfg2.Compat import ConfigParser
 from Bcfg2.Options import Option, PathOption, BooleanOption, _debug
 
-__all__ = ["setup", "OptionParserException", "Parser", "get_parser"]
+__all__ = ["setup", "OptionParserException", "Parser", "get_parser",
+           "new_parser"]
 
 
 #: The repository option.  This is specified here (and imported into
@@ -108,13 +110,28 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
             for component in components:
                 self.add_component(component)
 
+    def _check_duplicate_cf(self, option):
+        """Check for a duplicate config file option."""
+
     def add_options(self, options):
         """ Add an explicit list of options to the parser.  When
         possible, prefer :func:`Bcfg2.Options.Parser.add_component` to
         add a whole component instead."""
+        _debug("Adding options: %s" % options)
         self.parsed = False
         for option in options:
             if option not in self.option_list:
+                # check for duplicates
+                if (hasattr(option, "env") and option.env and
+                        option.env in [o.env for o in self.option_list]):
+                    raise OptionParserException(
+                        "Duplicate environment variable option: %s" %
+                        option.env)
+                if (hasattr(option, "cf") and option.cf and
+                        option.cf in [o.cf for o in self.option_list]):
+                    raise OptionParserException(
+                        "Duplicate config file option: %s" % (option.cf,))
+
                 self.option_list.extend(option.list_options())
                 option.add_to_parser(self)
 
@@ -169,8 +186,8 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
         _debug("Resetting namespace")
         for attr in dir(self.namespace):
             if (not attr.startswith("_") and
-                attr not in ['uri', 'version', 'name'] and
-                attr not in self._config_files):
+                    attr not in ['uri', 'version', 'name'] and
+                    attr not in self._config_files):
                 _debug("Deleting %s" % attr)
                 delattr(self.namespace, attr)
 
@@ -210,7 +227,7 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
         """
         _debug("Parsing options")
         if argv is None:
-            argv = sys.argv[1:]
+            argv = sys.argv[1:]  # pragma: nocover
         if self.parsed and self.argv == argv:
             _debug("Returning already parsed namespace")
             return self.namespace
@@ -231,8 +248,8 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
 
         # phase 2: re-parse command line for early options; currently,
         # that's database options
-        _debug("Option parsing phase 2: Parse early options")
         if not self._early:
+            _debug("Option parsing phase 2: Parse early options")
             early_opts = argparse.Namespace()
             early_parser = Parser(add_help=False, namespace=early_opts,
                                   early=True)
@@ -250,6 +267,10 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
                 if hasattr(component, "component_parsed_hook"):
                     _debug("Calling component_parsed_hook on %s" % component)
                     getattr(component, "component_parsed_hook")(early_opts)
+            for option in self.option_list:
+                option.early_parsing_hook(early_opts)
+        else:
+            _debug("Skipping parsing phase 2 in early mode")
 
         # phase 3: re-parse command line, loading additional
         # components, until all components have been loaded.  On each
@@ -275,29 +296,24 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
         # namespace and _parse_config_options will never look at them again.
         self._set_defaults_from_config()
         self._parse_config_options()
+        remaining = []
         while not self.parsed:
             self.parsed = True
             self._set_defaults_from_config()
-            self.parse_known_args(args=self.argv, namespace=self.namespace)
+            _debug("Parsing known arguments")
+            try:
+                _, remaining = self.parse_known_args(args=self.argv,
+                                                     namespace=self.namespace)
+            except OptionParserException:
+                self.error(sys.exc_info()[1])
             self._parse_config_options()
             self._finalize()
+        if len(remaining) and not self._early:
+            self.error("Unknown options: %s" % " ".join(remaining))
 
-        # phase 4: fix up <repository> macros
-        _debug("Option parsing phase 4: Fix up macros")
-        repo = getattr(self.namespace, "repository", repository.default)
-        for attr in dir(self.namespace):
-            value = getattr(self.namespace, attr)
-            if (not attr.startswith("_") and
-                hasattr(value, "replace") and
-                "<repository>" in value):
-                setattr(self.namespace, attr,
-                        value.replace("<repository>", repo, 1))
-                _debug("Fixing up macros in %s: %s -> %s" %
-                       (attr, value, getattr(self.namespace, attr)))
-
-        # phase 5: call post-parsing hooks
-        _debug("Option parsing phase 5: Call hooks")
+        # phase 4: call post-parsing hooks
         if not self._early:
+            _debug("Option parsing phase 4: Call hooks")
             for component in self.components:
                 if hasattr(component, "options_parsed_hook"):
                     _debug("Calling post-parsing hook on %s" % component)
@@ -311,23 +327,23 @@ class Parser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
 _parser = Parser()  # pylint: disable=C0103
 
 
+def new_parser():
+    """Create a new :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Parser` object.
+
+    The new object can be retrieved with
+    :func:`Bcfg2.Options.get_parser`.  This is useful for unit
+    testing.
+    """
+    global _parser
+    _parser = Parser()
+
+
 def get_parser(description=None, components=None, namespace=None):
-    """ Get an existing :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Parser` object.  (One is
-    created at the module level when :mod:`Bcfg2.Options` is
-    imported.)  If no arguments are given, then the existing parser is
-    simply fetched.
-
-    If arguments are given, then one of two things happens:
-
-    * If this is the first ``get_parser`` call with arguments, then
-      the values given are set accordingly in the parser, and it is
-      returned.
-    * If this is not the first such call, then
-      :class:`Bcfg2.Options.OptionParserException` is raised.
-
-    That is, a ``get_parser`` call with options is considered to
-    initialize the parser that already exists, and that can only
-    happen once.
+    """Get an existing :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Parser` object.
+
+    A Parser is created at the module level when :mod:`Bcfg2.Options`
+    is imported. If any arguments are given, then the existing parser
+    is modified before being returned.
 
     :param description: Set the parser description
     :type description: string
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Subcommands.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Subcommands.py
index 660bd5077..8972bde00 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Subcommands.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Subcommands.py
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ import sys
 import copy
 import shlex
 import logging
+
 from Bcfg2.Compat import StringIO
-from Bcfg2.Options import PositionalArgument
+from Bcfg2.Options import PositionalArgument, _debug
 from Bcfg2.Options.OptionGroups import Subparser
 from Bcfg2.Options.Parser import Parser, setup as master_setup
 
-__all__ = ["Subcommand", "HelpCommand", "CommandRegistry", "register_commands"]
+__all__ = ["Subcommand", "CommandRegistry"]
 
 
 class Subcommand(object):
@@ -96,8 +97,8 @@ class Subcommand(object):
             sio = StringIO()
             self.parser.print_usage(file=sio)
             usage = self._ws_re.sub(' ', sio.getvalue()).strip()[7:]
-            doc = self._ws_re.sub(' ', getattr(self, "__doc__")).strip()
-            if doc is None:
+            doc = self._ws_re.sub(' ', getattr(self, "__doc__") or "").strip()
+            if not doc:
                 self._usage = usage
             else:
                 self._usage = "%s - %s" % (usage, doc)
@@ -119,120 +120,130 @@ class Subcommand(object):
                       command from the interactive shell.
         :type setup: argparse.Namespace
         """
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        raise NotImplementedError  # pragma: nocover
 
     def shutdown(self):
-        """ Perform any necessary shtudown tasks for this command This
+        """ Perform any necessary shutdown tasks for this command This
         is called to when the program exits (*not* when this command
         is finished executing). """
-        pass
+        pass  # pragma: nocover
 
 
-class HelpCommand(Subcommand):
-    """ Get help on a specific subcommand.  This must be subclassed to
-    create the actual help command by overriding
-    :func:`Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand.command_registry` and giving the
-    command access to a :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry`. """
+class Help(Subcommand):
+    """List subcommands and usage, or get help on a specific subcommand."""
     options = [PositionalArgument("command", nargs='?')]
 
     # the interactive shell has its own help
     interactive = False
 
-    def command_registry(self):
-        """ Return a :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry` class.
-        All commands registered with the class will be included in the
-        help message. """
-        raise NotImplementedError
+    def __init__(self, registry):
+        Subcommand.__init__(self)
+        self._registry = registry
 
     def run(self, setup):
-        commands = self.command_registry()
+        commands = self._registry.commands
         if setup.command:
             try:
                 commands[setup.command].parser.print_help()
                 return 0
             except KeyError:
                 print("No such command: %s" % setup.command)
+                return 1
         for command in sorted(commands.keys()):
             print(commands[command].usage())
 
 
 class CommandRegistry(object):
-    """ A ``CommandRegistry`` is used to register subcommands and
-    provides a single interface to run them.  It's also used by
-    :class:`Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand` to produce help messages for
-    all available commands. """
+    """A ``CommandRegistry`` is used to register subcommands and provides
+    a single interface to run them.  It's also used by
+    :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommands.Help` to produce help messages
+    for all available commands.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        #: A dict of registered commands.  Keys are the class names,
+        #: lowercased (i.e., the command names), and values are instances
+        #: of the command objects.
+        self.commands = dict()
 
-    #: A dict of registered commands.  Keys are the class names,
-    #: lowercased (i.e., the command names), and values are instances
-    #: of the command objects.
-    commands = dict()
+        #: A list of options that should be added to the option parser
+        #: in order to handle registered subcommands.
+        self.subcommand_options = []
 
-    options = []
+        #: the help command
+        self.help = Help(self)
+        self.register_command(self.help)
 
     def runcommand(self):
         """ Run the single command named in
         ``Bcfg2.Options.setup.subcommand``, which is where
         :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subparser` groups store the
         subcommand. """
+        _debug("Running subcommand %s" % master_setup.subcommand)
         try:
             return self.commands[master_setup.subcommand].run(master_setup)
         finally:
             self.shutdown()
 
     def shutdown(self):
-        """ Perform shutdown tasks.  This calls the ``shutdown``
-        method of all registered subcommands. """
+        """Perform shutdown tasks.
+
+        This calls the ``shutdown`` method of the subcommand that was
+        run.
+        """
+        _debug("Shutting down subcommand %s" % master_setup.subcommand)
         self.commands[master_setup.subcommand].shutdown()
 
-    @classmethod
-    def register_command(cls, cmdcls):
+    def register_command(self, cls_or_obj):
         """ Register a single command.
 
-        :param cmdcls: The command class to register
-        :type cmdcls: type
+        :param cls_or_obj: The command class or object to register
+        :type cls_or_obj: type or Subcommand
         :returns: An instance of ``cmdcls``
         """
-        cmd_obj = cmdcls()
+        if isinstance(cls_or_obj, type):
+            cmdcls = cls_or_obj
+            cmd_obj = cmdcls()
+        else:
+            cmd_obj = cls_or_obj
+            cmdcls = cmd_obj.__class__
         name = cmdcls.__name__.lower()
-        cls.commands[name] = cmd_obj
+        self.commands[name] = cmd_obj
         # py2.5 can't mix *magic and non-magical keyword args, thus
         # the **dict(...)
-        cls.options.append(
+        self.subcommand_options.append(
             Subparser(*cmdcls.options, **dict(name=name, help=cmdcls.__doc__)))
-        if issubclass(cls, cmd.Cmd) and cmdcls.interactive:
-            setattr(cls, "do_%s" % name, cmd_obj)
-            setattr(cls, "help_%s" % name, cmd_obj.parser.print_help)
+        if issubclass(self.__class__, cmd.Cmd) and cmdcls.interactive:
+            setattr(self, "do_%s" % name, cmd_obj)
+            setattr(self, "help_%s" % name, cmd_obj.parser.print_help)
         return cmd_obj
 
-
-def register_commands(registry, candidates, parent=Subcommand):
-    """ Register all subcommands in ``candidates`` against the
-    :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry` subclass given in
-    ``registry``.  A command is registered if and only if:
-
-    * It is a subclass of the given ``parent`` (by default,
-      :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand`);
-    * It is not the parent class itself; and
-    * Its name does not start with an underscore.
-
-    :param registry: The :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry`
-                     subclass against which commands will be
-                     registered.
-    :type registry: Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry
-    :param candidates: A list of objects that will be considered for
-                       registration.  Only objects that meet the
-                       criteria listed above will be registered.
-    :type candidates: list
-    :param parent: Specify a parent class other than
-                   :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand` that all
-                   registered commands must subclass.
-    :type parent: type
-    """
-    for attr in candidates:
-        try:
-            if (issubclass(attr, parent) and
-                attr != parent and
-                not attr.__name__.startswith("_")):
-                registry.register_command(attr)
-        except TypeError:
-            pass
+    def register_commands(self, candidates, parent=Subcommand):
+        """ Register all subcommands in ``candidates`` against the
+        :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry` subclass given in
+        ``registry``.  A command is registered if and only if:
+
+        * It is a subclass of the given ``parent`` (by default,
+          :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand`);
+        * It is not the parent class itself; and
+        * Its name does not start with an underscore.
+
+        :param registry: The :class:`Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry`
+                         subclass against which commands will be
+                         registered.
+        :type registry: Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry
+        :param candidates: A list of objects that will be considered for
+                           registration.  Only objects that meet the
+                           criteria listed above will be registered.
+        :type candidates: list
+        :param parent: Specify a parent class other than
+                       :class:`Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand` that all
+                       registered commands must subclass.
+        :type parent: type
+        """
+        for attr in candidates:
+            if (isinstance(attr, type) and
+                    issubclass(attr, parent) and
+                    attr != parent and
+                    not attr.__name__.startswith("_")):
+                self.register_command(attr)
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Types.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Types.py
index d11e54fba..1c04fede3 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Types.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Options/Types.py
@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@ def comma_dict(value):
         for item in items:
             if '=' in item:
                 key, value = item.split(r'=', 1)
-                try:
-                    result[key] = bool(value)
-                except ValueError:
+                if value in ["true", "yes", "on"]:
+                    result[key] = True
+                elif value in ["false", "no", "off"]:
+                    result[key] = False
+                else:
                     try:
                         result[key] = int(value)
                     except ValueError:
@@ -107,8 +109,6 @@ def size(value):
     """ Given a number of bytes in a human-readable format (e.g.,
     '512m', '2g'), get the absolute number of bytes as an integer.
     """
-    if value == -1:
-        return value
     mat = _bytes_re.match(value)
     if not mat:
         raise ValueError("Not a valid size", value)
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Reporting/Reports.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Reporting/Reports.py
index 219d74584..3b9c83433 100755
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Reporting/Reports.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Reporting/Reports.py
@@ -267,10 +267,11 @@ class CLI(Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
 
     def __init__(self):
         Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
-        Bcfg2.Options.register_commands(self.__class__, globals().values())
+        self.register_commands(globals().values())
         parser = Bcfg2.Options.get_parser(
             description="Query the Bcfg2 reporting subsystem",
             components=[self])
+        parser.add_options(self.subcommand_options)
         parser.parse()
 
     def run(self):
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Admin.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Admin.py
index 0807fb2b0..b6dded175 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Admin.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Admin.py
@@ -439,15 +439,6 @@ class Compare(AdminCmd):
                 print("")
 
 
-class Help(AdminCmd, Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand):
-    """ Get help on a specific subcommand """
-    def command_registry(self):
-        return CLI.commands
-
-    def run(self, setup):
-        Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand.run(self, setup)
-
-
 class Init(AdminCmd):
     """Interactively initialize a new repository."""
 
@@ -1194,13 +1185,14 @@ class Xcmd(_ProxyAdminCmd):
 
 class CLI(Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
     """ CLI class for bcfg2-admin """
+
     def __init__(self):
         Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
-        Bcfg2.Options.register_commands(self.__class__, globals().values(),
-                                        parent=AdminCmd)
+        self.register_commands(globals().values(), parent=AdminCmd)
         parser = Bcfg2.Options.get_parser(
             description="Manage a running Bcfg2 server",
             components=[self])
+        parser.add_options(self.subcommand_options)
         parser.parse()
 
     def run(self):
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Info.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Info.py
index a5136f01d..0baa29a9f 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Info.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Info.py
@@ -123,15 +123,6 @@ class InfoCmd(Bcfg2.Options.Subcommand):  # pylint: disable=W0223
                                   list(self.core.metadata.groups.keys()))
 
 
-class Help(InfoCmd, Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand):
-    """ Get help on a specific subcommand """
-    def command_registry(self):
-        return self.core.commands
-
-    def run(self, setup):
-        Bcfg2.Options.HelpCommand.run(self, setup)
-
-
 class Debug(InfoCmd):
     """ Shell out to a Python interpreter """
     interpreters, default_interpreter = load_interpreters()
@@ -805,15 +796,12 @@ if HAS_PROFILE:
             display_trace(prof)
 
 
-class InfoCore(cmd.Cmd,
-               Bcfg2.Server.Core.Core,
-               Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
+class InfoCore(cmd.Cmd, Bcfg2.Server.Core.Core):
     """Main class for bcfg2-info."""
 
     def __init__(self):
         cmd.Cmd.__init__(self)
         Bcfg2.Server.Core.Core.__init__(self)
-        Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
         self.prompt = 'bcfg2-info> '
 
     def get_locals(self):
@@ -853,16 +841,17 @@ class InfoCore(cmd.Cmd,
         Bcfg2.Server.Core.Core.shutdown(self)
 
 
-class CLI(object):
+class CLI(Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
     """ The bcfg2-info CLI """
     options = [Bcfg2.Options.BooleanOption("-p", "--profile", help="Profile")]
 
     def __init__(self):
-        Bcfg2.Options.register_commands(InfoCore, globals().values(),
-                                        parent=InfoCmd)
+        Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
+        self.register_commands(globals().values(), parent=InfoCmd)
         parser = Bcfg2.Options.get_parser(
             description="Inspect a running Bcfg2 server",
             components=[self, InfoCore])
+        parser.add_options(self.subcommand_options)
         parser.parse()
 
         if Bcfg2.Options.setup.profile and HAS_PROFILE:
@@ -874,11 +863,11 @@ class CLI(object):
                 print("Profiling functionality not available.")
             self.core = InfoCore()
 
-        for command in self.core.commands.values():
+        for command in self.commands.values():
             command.core = self.core
 
     def run(self):
         """ Run bcfg2-info """
         if Bcfg2.Options.setup.subcommand != 'help':
             self.core.run()
-        return self.core.runcommand()
+        return self.runcommand()
diff --git a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Plugins/Packages/YumHelper.py b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Plugins/Packages/YumHelper.py
index 48304d26e..f26d6ba18 100644
--- a/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Plugins/Packages/YumHelper.py
+++ b/src/lib/Bcfg2/Server/Plugins/Packages/YumHelper.py
@@ -383,10 +383,10 @@ class CLI(Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry):
 
     def __init__(self):
         Bcfg2.Options.CommandRegistry.__init__(self)
-        Bcfg2.Options.register_commands(self.__class__, globals().values(),
-                                        parent=HelperSubcommand)
+        self.register_commands(globals().values(), parent=HelperSubcommand)
         parser = Bcfg2.Options.get_parser("Bcfg2 yum helper",
                                           components=[self])
+        parser.add_options(self.subcommand_options)
         parser.parse()
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(parser.prog)
 
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestClient/TestTools/Test_init.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestClient/TestTools/Test_init.py
index 0e9e3a141..b9de703ff 100644
--- a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestClient/TestTools/Test_init.py
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestClient/TestTools/Test_init.py
@@ -17,18 +17,17 @@ while path != "/":
     path = os.path.dirname(path)
 from common import *
 
-# try to find true
-if os.path.exists("/bin/true"):
-    TRUE = "/bin/true"
-elif os.path.exists("/usr/bin/true"):
-    TRUE = "/usr/bin/true"
-else:
-    TRUE = None
-
 
 class TestTool(Bcfg2TestCase):
     test_obj = Tool
 
+    if os.path.exists("/bin/true"):
+        true = "/bin/true"
+    elif os.path.exists("/usr/bin/true"):
+        true = "/usr/bin/true"
+    else:
+        true = None
+
     def setUp(self):
         set_setup_default('command_timeout')
         set_setup_default('interactive', False)
@@ -77,11 +76,11 @@ class TestTool(Bcfg2TestCase):
                               ["/test"] + [e.get("name") for e in important])
         t.getSupportedEntries.assert_called_with()
 
-    @skipIf(TRUE is None, "/bin/true or equivalent not found")
+    @skipIf(true is None, "/bin/true or equivalent not found")
     def test__check_execs(self):
         t = self.get_obj()
         if t.__execs__ == []:
-            t.__execs__.append(TRUE)
+            t.__execs__.append(self.true)
 
         @patch("os.stat")
         def inner(mock_stat):
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/One.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/One.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dac7f4558
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/One.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""Test module for component loading."""
+
+
+class One(object):
+    """Test class for component loading."""
+    pass
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestComponents.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestComponents.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d637d34c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestComponents.py
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+"""test component loading."""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, BooleanOption, ComponentAction, get_parser, \
+    new_parser, Types, ConfigFileAction
+
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import make_config, One, Two, \
+    OptionTestCase
+
+
+# create a bunch of fake components for testing component loading options
+
+class ChildOne(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [Option("--child-one")]
+
+
+class ChildTwo(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [Option("--child-two")]
+
+
+class ChildComponentAction(ComponentAction):
+    """child component loader action."""
+    islist = False
+    mapping = {"one": ChildOne,
+               "two": ChildTwo}
+
+
+class ComponentOne(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [BooleanOption("--one")]
+
+
+class ComponentTwo(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [Option("--child", default="one", action=ChildComponentAction)]
+
+
+class ComponentThree(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [BooleanOption("--three")]
+
+
+class ConfigFileComponent(object):
+    """fake component for testing component loading."""
+    options = [Option("--config2", action=ConfigFileAction),
+               Option(cf=("config", "test"), dest="config2_test",
+                      default="bar")]
+
+
+class ParentComponentAction(ComponentAction):
+    """parent component loader action."""
+    mapping = {"one": ComponentOne,
+               "two": ComponentTwo,
+               "three": ComponentThree,
+               "config": ConfigFileComponent}
+
+
+class TestComponentOptions(OptionTestCase):
+    """test cases for component loading."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = [
+            Option("--parent", type=Types.comma_list,
+                   default=["one", "two"], action=ParentComponentAction)]
+
+        self.result = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.result,
+                                 description="component testing parser")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_loading_components(self, config_file):
+        """load a single component during option parsing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--parent", "one"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentOne])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_component_option(self, config_file):
+        """use options from a component loaded during option parsing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["--one", "-C", config_file, "--parent", "one"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentOne])
+        self.assertTrue(self.result.one)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_multi_component_load(self, config_file):
+        """load multiple components during option parsing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--parent", "one,three"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentOne, ComponentThree])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_multi_component_options(self, config_file):
+        """use options from multiple components during option parsing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--three",
+                           "--parent", "one,three", "--one"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentOne, ComponentThree])
+        self.assertTrue(self.result.one)
+        self.assertTrue(self.result.three)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_component_default_not_loaded(self, config_file):
+        """options from default but unused components not available."""
+        self.assertRaises(
+            SystemExit,
+            self.parser.parse,
+            ["-C", config_file, "--child", "one", "--parent", "one"])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_tiered_components(self, config_file):
+        """load child component."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--parent", "two",
+                           "--child", "one"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentTwo])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.child, ChildOne)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_options_tiered_components(self, config_file):
+        """use options from child component."""
+        self.parser.parse(["--child-one", "foo", "-C", config_file, "--parent",
+                           "two", "--child", "one"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.parent, [ComponentTwo])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.child, ChildOne)
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.child_one, "foo")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_bogus_component(self, config_file):
+        """error out with bad component name."""
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self.parser.parse,
+                          ["-C", config_file, "--parent", "blargle"])
+
+    @make_config()
+    @make_config({"config": {"test": "foo"}})
+    def test_config_component(self, config1, config2):
+        """load component with alternative config file."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config1, "--config2", config2,
+                           "--parent", "config"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.config2, config2)
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.config2_test, "foo")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_config_component_no_file(self, config_file):
+        """load component with missing alternative config file."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--parent", "config"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.config2, None)
+
+
+class ImportComponentAction(ComponentAction):
+    """action that imports real classes for testing."""
+    islist = False
+    bases = ["testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions"]
+
+
+class ImportModuleAction(ImportComponentAction):
+    """action that only imports modules for testing."""
+    module = True
+
+
+class TestImportComponentOptions(OptionTestCase):
+    """test cases for component loading."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = [Option("--cls", action=ImportComponentAction),
+                        Option("--module", action=ImportModuleAction)]
+
+        self.result = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.result)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_component(self, config_file):
+        """load class components by importing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--cls", "One"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.cls, One.One)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_module(self, config_file):
+        """load module components by importing."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--module", "One"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.module, One)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_full_path(self, config_file):
+        """load components by importing the full path."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--cls", "os.path"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.cls, os.path)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_bogus_class(self, config_file):
+        """fail to load class component that cannot be imported."""
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self.parser.parse,
+                          ["-C", config_file, "--cls", "Three"])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_bogus_module(self, config_file):
+        """fail to load module component that cannot be imported."""
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self.parser.parse,
+                          ["-C", config_file, "--module", "Three"])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_import_bogus_path(self, config_file):
+        """fail to load component that cannot be imported by full path."""
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self.parser.parse,
+                          ["-C", config_file, "--cls", "Bcfg2.No.Such.Thing"])
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestConfigFiles.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestConfigFiles.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aee2ff666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestConfigFiles.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""test reading multiple config files."""
+
+import argparse
+
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, PathOption, ConfigFileAction, get_parser, \
+    new_parser
+
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import make_config, OptionTestCase
+
+
+class TestConfigFiles(OptionTestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = [
+            PathOption(cf=("test", "config2"), action=ConfigFileAction),
+            PathOption(cf=("test", "config3"), action=ConfigFileAction),
+            Option(cf=("test", "foo")),
+            Option(cf=("test", "bar")),
+            Option(cf=("test", "baz"))]
+        self.results = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.results)
+
+    @make_config({"test": {"baz": "baz"}})
+    def test_config_files(self, config3):
+        """read multiple config files."""
+        # Because make_config() generates temporary files for the
+        # configuration, we have to work backwards here.  first we
+        # generate config3, then we generate config2 (which includes a
+        # reference to config3), then we finally generate the main
+        # config file, which contains a reference to config2.  oh how
+        # I wish we could use context managers here...
+
+        @make_config({"test": {"bar": "bar", "config3": config3}})
+        def inner1(config2):
+            @make_config({"test": {"foo": "foo", "config2": config2}})
+            def inner2(config):
+                self.parser.parse(["-C", config])
+                self.assertEqual(self.results.foo, "foo")
+                self.assertEqual(self.results.bar, "bar")
+                self.assertEqual(self.results.baz, "baz")
+
+            inner2()
+
+        inner1()
+
+    def test_no_config_file(self):
+        """fail to read config file."""
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit, self.parser.parse, [])
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptionGroups.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptionGroups.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de1abbb1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptionGroups.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""test reading multiple config files."""
+
+import argparse
+
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, BooleanOption, Parser, OptionGroup, \
+    ExclusiveOptionGroup, WildcardSectionGroup, new_parser, get_parser
+
+from testsuite.common import Bcfg2TestCase
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import make_config, OptionTestCase
+
+
+class TestOptionGroups(Bcfg2TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = None
+
+    def _test_options(self, options):
+        """test helper."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(components=[self], namespace=result)
+        parser.parse(options)
+        return result
+
+    def test_option_group(self):
+        """basic option group functionality."""
+        self.options = [OptionGroup(BooleanOption("--foo"),
+                                    BooleanOption("--bar"),
+                                    BooleanOption("--baz"),
+                                    title="group")]
+        result = self._test_options(["--foo", "--bar"])
+        self.assertTrue(result.foo)
+        self.assertTrue(result.bar)
+        self.assertFalse(result.baz)
+
+    def test_exclusive_option_group(self):
+        """parse options from exclusive option group."""
+        self.options = [
+            ExclusiveOptionGroup(BooleanOption("--foo"),
+                                 BooleanOption("--bar"),
+                                 BooleanOption("--baz"))]
+        result = self._test_options(["--foo"])
+        self.assertTrue(result.foo)
+        self.assertFalse(result.bar)
+        self.assertFalse(result.baz)
+
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self._test_options, ["--foo", "--bar"])
+
+    def test_required_exclusive_option_group(self):
+        """parse options from required exclusive option group."""
+        self.options = [
+            ExclusiveOptionGroup(BooleanOption("--foo"),
+                                 BooleanOption("--bar"),
+                                 BooleanOption("--baz"),
+                                 required=True)]
+        result = self._test_options(["--foo"])
+        self.assertTrue(result.foo)
+        self.assertFalse(result.bar)
+        self.assertFalse(result.baz)
+
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit, self._test_options, [])
+
+    def test_option_group(self):
+        """nest option groups."""
+        self.options = [
+            OptionGroup(
+                BooleanOption("--foo"),
+                BooleanOption("--bar"),
+                OptionGroup(
+                    BooleanOption("--baz"),
+                    BooleanOption("--quux"),
+                    ExclusiveOptionGroup(
+                        BooleanOption("--test1"),
+                        BooleanOption("--test2")),
+                    title="inner"),
+                title="outer")]
+        result = self._test_options(["--foo", "--baz", "--test1"])
+        self.assertTrue(result.foo)
+        self.assertFalse(result.bar)
+        self.assertTrue(result.baz)
+        self.assertFalse(result.quux)
+        self.assertTrue(result.test1)
+        self.assertFalse(result.test2)
+
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self._test_options, ["--test1", "--test2"])
+
+
+class TestWildcardSectionGroups(OptionTestCase):
+    config = {
+        "four:one": {
+            "foo": "foo one",
+            "bar": "bar one",
+            "baz": "baz one"
+        },
+        "four:two": {
+            "foo": "foo two",
+            "bar": "bar two"
+        },
+        "five:one": {
+            "foo": "foo one",
+            "bar": "bar one"
+        },
+        "five:two": {
+            "foo": "foo two",
+            "bar": "bar two"
+        },
+        "five:three": {
+            "foo": "foo three",
+            "bar": "bar three"
+        }
+    }
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = [
+            WildcardSectionGroup(
+                Option(cf=("four:*", "foo")),
+                Option(cf=("four:*", "bar"))),
+            WildcardSectionGroup(
+                Option(cf=("five:*", "foo")),
+                Option(cf=("five:*", "bar")),
+                prefix="",
+                dest="sections")]
+        self.results = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.results)
+
+    @make_config(config)
+    def test_wildcard_section_groups(self, config_file):
+        """parse options from wildcard section groups."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.four_four_one_foo, "foo one")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.four_four_one_bar, "bar one")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.four_four_two_foo, "foo two")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.four_four_two_bar, "bar two")
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self.results.four_sections,
+                              ["four:one", "four:two"])
+
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_one_foo, "foo one")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_one_bar, "bar one")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_two_foo, "foo two")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_two_bar, "bar two")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_three_foo, "foo three")
+        self.assertEqual(self.results.five_three_bar, "bar three")
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self.results.sections,
+                              ["five:one", "five:two", "five:three"])
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptions.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptions.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b76cd6d3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestOptions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,469 @@
+"""basic option parsing tests."""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import tempfile
+
+import mock
+
+from Bcfg2.Compat import ConfigParser
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, PathOption, BooleanOption, Parser, \
+    PositionalArgument, OptionParserException, Common, new_parser, get_parser
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import OptionTestCase, \
+    make_config, clean_environment
+
+
+class TestBasicOptions(OptionTestCase):
+    """test basic option parsing."""
+    def setUp(self):
+        # parsing options can modify the Option objects themselves.
+        # that's probably bad -- and it's definitely bad if we ever
+        # want to do real on-the-fly config changes -- but it's easier
+        # to leave it as is and set the options on each test.
+        self.options = [
+            BooleanOption("--test-true-boolean", env="TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN",
+                          cf=("test", "true_boolean"), default=True),
+            BooleanOption("--test-false-boolean", env="TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN",
+                          cf=("test", "false_boolean"), default=False),
+            BooleanOption(cf=("test", "true_config_boolean"),
+                          default=True),
+            BooleanOption(cf=("test", "false_config_boolean"),
+                          default=False),
+            Option("--test-option", env="TEST_OPTION", cf=("test", "option"),
+                   default="foo"),
+            PathOption("--test-path-option", env="TEST_PATH_OPTION",
+                       cf=("test", "path"), default="/test")]
+
+    @clean_environment
+    def _test_options(self, options=None, env=None, config=None):
+        """helper to test a set of options.
+
+        returns the namespace from parsing the given CLI options with
+        the given config and environment.
+        """
+        if config is not None:
+            config = {"test": config}
+        if options is None:
+            options = []
+
+        @make_config(config)
+        def inner(config_file):
+            """do the actual tests, since py2.4 lacks context managers."""
+            result = argparse.Namespace()
+            parser = Parser(components=[self], namespace=result)
+            parser.parse(argv=["-C", config_file] + options)
+            return result
+
+        if env is not None:
+            for name, value in env.items():
+                os.environ[name] = value
+
+        return inner()
+
+    def test_expand_path(self):
+        """expand ~ in path option."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option",
+                                              "~/test"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option,
+                         os.path.expanduser("~/test"))
+
+    def test_canonicalize_path(self):
+        """get absolute path from path option."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option",
+                                              "./test"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option,
+                         os.path.abspath("./test"))
+
+    def test_default_bool(self):
+        """use the default value of boolean options."""
+        options = self._test_options()
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_false_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.true_config_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.false_config_boolean)
+
+    def test_default(self):
+        """use the default value of an option."""
+        options = self._test_options()
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "foo")
+
+    def test_default_path(self):
+        """use the default value of a path option."""
+        options = self._test_options()
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/test")
+
+    def test_invalid_boolean(self):
+        """set boolean to invalid values."""
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError,
+                          self._test_options,
+                          config={"true_boolean": "you betcha"})
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError,
+                          self._test_options,
+                          env={"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "hell no"})
+
+    def test_set_boolean_in_config(self):
+        """set boolean options in config files."""
+        set_to_defaults = {"true_boolean": "1",
+                           "false_boolean": "0",
+                           "true_config_boolean": "yes",
+                           "false_config_boolean": "no"}
+        options = self._test_options(config=set_to_defaults)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_false_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.true_config_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.false_config_boolean)
+
+        set_to_other = {"true_boolean": "false",
+                        "false_boolean": "true",
+                        "true_config_boolean": "off",
+                        "false_config_boolean": "on"}
+        options = self._test_options(config=set_to_other)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.true_config_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.false_config_boolean)
+
+    def test_set_in_config(self):
+        """set options in config files."""
+        options = self._test_options(config={"option": "foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "foo")
+
+        options = self._test_options(config={"option": "bar"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "bar")
+
+    def test_set_path_in_config(self):
+        """set path options in config files."""
+        options = self._test_options(config={"path": "/test"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/test")
+
+        options = self._test_options(config={"path": "/foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/foo")
+
+    def test_set_boolean_in_env(self):
+        """set boolean options in environment."""
+        set_to_defaults = {"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "1",
+                           "TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN": "0"}
+        options = self._test_options(env=set_to_defaults)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+        set_to_other = {"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "false",
+                        "TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN": "true"}
+        options = self._test_options(env=set_to_other)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_set_in_env(self):
+        """set options in environment."""
+        options = self._test_options(env={"TEST_OPTION": "foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "foo")
+
+        options = self._test_options(env={"TEST_OPTION": "bar"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "bar")
+
+    def test_set_path_in_env(self):
+        """set path options in environment."""
+        options = self._test_options(env={"TEST_PATH_OPTION": "/test"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/test")
+
+        options = self._test_options(env={"TEST_PATH_OPTION": "/foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/foo")
+
+    def test_set_boolean_in_cli(self):
+        """set boolean options in CLI options."""
+        # passing the option yields the reverse of the default, no
+        # matter the default
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-true-boolean",
+                                              "--test-false-boolean"])
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_set_in_cli(self):
+        """set options in CLI options."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-option", "foo"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "foo")
+
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-option", "bar"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "bar")
+
+    def test_set_path_in_cli(self):
+        """set path options in CLI options."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option", "/test"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/test")
+
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option", "/foo"])
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/foo")
+
+    def test_env_overrides_config_bool(self):
+        """setting boolean option in the environment overrides config file."""
+        config = {"true_boolean": "false",
+                  "false_boolean": "true"}
+        env = {"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "yes",
+               "TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN": "no"}
+        options = self._test_options(config=config, env=env)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_env_overrides_config(self):
+        """setting option in the environment overrides config file."""
+        options = self._test_options(config={"option": "bar"},
+                                     env={"TEST_OPTION": "baz"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "baz")
+
+    def test_env_overrides_config_path(self):
+        """setting path option in the environment overrides config file."""
+        options = self._test_options(config={"path": "/foo"},
+                                     env={"TEST_PATH_OPTION": "/bar"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/bar")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_config_bool(self):
+        """setting boolean option in the CLI overrides config file."""
+        config = {"true_boolean": "on",
+                  "false_boolean": "off"}
+        options = ["--test-true-boolean", "--test-false-boolean"]
+        options = self._test_options(options=options, config=config)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_config(self):
+        """setting option in the CLI overrides config file."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-option", "baz"],
+                                     config={"option": "bar"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "baz")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_config_path(self):
+        """setting path option in the CLI overrides config file."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option", "/bar"],
+                                     config={"path": "/foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/bar")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_env_bool(self):
+        """setting boolean option in the CLI overrides environment."""
+        env = {"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "0",
+               "TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN": "1"}
+        options = ["--test-true-boolean", "--test-false-boolean"]
+        options = self._test_options(options=options, env=env)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_env(self):
+        """setting option in the CLI overrides environment."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-option", "baz"],
+                                     env={"TEST_OPTION": "bar"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "baz")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_env_path(self):
+        """setting path option in the CLI overrides environment."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option", "/bar"],
+                                     env={"TEST_PATH_OPTION": "/foo"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/bar")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_all_bool(self):
+        """setting boolean option in the CLI overrides everything else."""
+        config = {"true_boolean": "no",
+                  "false_boolean": "yes"}
+        env = {"TEST_TRUE_BOOLEAN": "0",
+               "TEST_FALSE_BOOLEAN": "1"}
+        options = ["--test-true-boolean", "--test-false-boolean"]
+        options = self._test_options(options=options, env=env)
+        self.assertFalse(options.test_true_boolean)
+        self.assertTrue(options.test_false_boolean)
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_all(self):
+        """setting option in the CLI overrides everything else."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-option", "baz"],
+                                     env={"TEST_OPTION": "bar"},
+                                     config={"test": "quux"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_option, "baz")
+
+    def test_cli_overrides_all_path(self):
+        """setting path option in the CLI overrides everything else."""
+        options = self._test_options(options=["--test-path-option", "/bar"],
+                                     env={"TEST_PATH_OPTION": "/foo"},
+                                     config={"path": "/baz"})
+        self.assertEqual(options.test_path_option, "/bar")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def _test_dest(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """helper to test that ``dest`` is set properly."""
+        args = list(args)
+        expected = args.pop(0)
+        config_file = args.pop()
+
+        sentinel = object()
+        kwargs["default"] = sentinel
+
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(namespace=result)
+        parser.add_options([Option(*args, **kwargs)])
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(result, expected))
+        self.assertEqual(getattr(result, expected), sentinel)
+
+    def test_explicit_dest(self):
+        """set the ``dest`` of an option explicitly."""
+        self._test_dest("bar", dest="bar")
+
+    def test_dest_from_env_var(self):
+        """set the ``dest`` of an option from the env var name."""
+        self._test_dest("foo", env="FOO")
+
+    def test_dest_from_cf(self):
+        """set the ``dest`` of an option from the config option."""
+        self._test_dest("foo_bar", cf=("test", "foo-bar"))
+
+    def test_dest_from_cli(self):
+        """set the ``dest`` of an option from the CLI option."""
+        self._test_dest("test_foo", "--test-foo")
+
+    def test_dest_from_all(self):
+        """set the ``dest`` of an option from the best of multiple sources."""
+        self._test_dest("foo_baz", cf=("test", "foo-bar"), env="FOO_BAZ")
+        self._test_dest("xyzzy",
+                        "--xyzzy", cf=("test", "foo-bar"), env="FOO_BAZ")
+        self._test_dest("quux",
+                        "--xyzzy", cf=("test", "foo-bar"), env="FOO_BAZ",
+                        dest="quux")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_positional_args(self, config_file):
+        """get values from positional arguments."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(namespace=result)
+        parser.add_options([PositionalArgument("single")])
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "single"])
+        self.assertEqual(result.single, "single")
+
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(namespace=result)
+        parser.add_options([PositionalArgument("one"),
+                            PositionalArgument("two")])
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "one", "two"])
+        self.assertEqual(result.one, "one")
+        self.assertEqual(result.two, "two")
+
+    def test_duplicate_cli_option(self):
+        """add duplicate CLI option."""
+        parser = Parser(components=[self])
+        self.assertRaises(
+            argparse.ArgumentError,
+            parser.add_options,
+            [Option("--test-option")])
+
+    def test_duplicate_env_option(self):
+        """add duplicate environment option."""
+        parser = Parser(components=[self])
+        self.assertRaises(
+            OptionParserException,
+            parser.add_options,
+            [Option(env="TEST_OPTION")])
+
+    def test_duplicate_cf_option(self):
+        """add duplicate config file option."""
+        parser = Parser(components=[self])
+        self.assertRaises(
+            OptionParserException,
+            parser.add_options,
+            [Option(cf=("test", "option"))])
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_repository_macro(self, config_file):
+        """fix up <repository> macros."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(namespace=result)
+        parser.add_options([PathOption("--test1"),
+                            PathOption("--test2"),
+                            Common.repository])
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "-Q", "/foo/bar",
+                      "--test1", "<repository>/test1",
+                      "--test2", "<repository><repository>"])
+        self.assertEqual(result.repository, "/foo/bar")
+        self.assertEqual(result.test1, "/foo/bar/test1")
+        self.assertEqual(result.test2, "/foo/bar/foo/bar")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_file_like_path_option(self, config_file):
+        """get file-like object from PathOption."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(namespace=result)
+        parser.add_options([PathOption("--test", type=argparse.FileType('r'))])
+
+        fd, name = tempfile.mkstemp()
+        fh = os.fdopen(fd, "w")
+        fh.write("test")
+        fh.close()
+
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--test", name])
+        self.assertEqual(result.test.name, name)
+        self.assertEqual(result.test.read(), "test")
+
+    @clean_environment
+    @make_config()
+    def test_unknown_options(self, config_file):
+        """error on unknown options."""
+        parser = Parser(components=[self])
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          parser.parse,
+                          ["-C", config_file, "--not-a-real-option"])
+
+    @clean_environment
+    @make_config()
+    def test_reparse(self, config_file):
+        """reparse options."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(components=[self], namespace=result)
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+        self.assertFalse(result.test_false_boolean)
+
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+        self.assertFalse(result.test_false_boolean)
+
+        parser.reparse()
+        self.assertFalse(result.test_false_boolean)
+
+        parser.reparse(["-C", config_file, "--test-false-boolean"])
+        self.assertTrue(result.test_false_boolean)
+
+        cfp = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+        cfp.add_section("test")
+        cfp.set("test", "false_boolean", "on")
+        parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+        cfp.write(open(config_file, "w"))
+        self.assertTrue(result.test_false_boolean)
+
+
+class TestParsingHooks(OptionTestCase):
+    """test option parsing hooks."""
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options_parsed_hook = mock.Mock()
+        self.options = [BooleanOption("--test", default=False)]
+        self.results = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.results)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_parsing_hooks(self, config_file):
+        """option parsing hooks are called."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file])
+        self.options_parsed_hook.assert_called_with()
+
+
+class TestEarlyParsingHooks(OptionTestCase):
+    """test early option parsing hooks."""
+    parse_first = True
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.component_parsed_hook = mock.Mock()
+        self.options = [BooleanOption("--early-test", default=False)]
+        self.results = argparse.Namespace()
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(components=[self], namespace=self.results)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_parsing_hooks(self, config_file):
+        """early option parsing hooks are called."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "--early-test"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.component_parsed_hook.call_count, 1)
+        early_opts = self.component_parsed_hook.call_args[0][0]
+        self.assertTrue(early_opts.early_test)
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestSubcommands.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestSubcommands.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35da909cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestSubcommands.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+"""test subcommand option parsing."""
+
+import argparse
+import sys
+
+from Bcfg2.Compat import StringIO
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, get_parser, new_parser, Subcommand, \
+    Subparser, CommandRegistry
+import Bcfg2.Options.Subcommands
+
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import make_config, OptionTestCase
+
+
+class MockSubcommand(Subcommand):
+    """fake subcommand that just records the options it was called with."""
+    run_options = None
+
+    def run(self, setup):
+        self.__class__.run_options = setup
+
+
+class One(MockSubcommand):
+    """fake subcommand for testing."""
+    options = [Option("--test-one")]
+
+
+class Two(MockSubcommand):
+    """fake subcommand for testing."""
+    options = [Option("--test-two")]
+
+
+def local_subclass(cls):
+    """get a subclass of ``cls`` that adds no functionality.
+
+    This can be used to subclass the various test classes above so
+    that their options don't get modified by option parsing.
+    """
+    return type("Local%s" % cls.__name__, (cls,), {})
+
+
+class TestSubcommands(OptionTestCase):
+    """tests for subcommands and subparsers."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.registry = CommandRegistry()
+
+        self.one = local_subclass(One)
+        self.two = local_subclass(Two)
+
+        self.registry.register_command(self.one)
+        self.registry.register_command(self.two)
+
+        self.result = argparse.Namespace()
+        Bcfg2.Options.Subcommands.master_setup = self.result
+
+        new_parser()
+        self.parser = get_parser(namespace=self.result,
+                                 components=[self])
+        self.parser.add_options(self.registry.subcommand_options)
+
+    def test_register_commands(self):
+        """register subcommands."""
+        registry = CommandRegistry()
+        registry.register_commands(globals().values(),
+                                   parent=MockSubcommand)
+        self.assertItemsEqual(registry.commands.keys(),
+                              ["one", "two", "help"])
+        self.assertIsInstance(registry.commands['one'], One)
+        self.assertIsInstance(registry.commands['two'], Two)
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_get_subcommand(self, config_file):
+        """parse simple subcommands."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "localone"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.result.subcommand, "localone")
+
+    def test_subcommand_usage(self):
+        """sane usage message from subcommands."""
+        self.assertEqual(
+            One().usage(),
+            "one [--test-one TEST_ONE] - fake subcommand for testing.")
+
+        # subclasses do not inherit the docstring from the parent, so
+        # this tests a command subclass without a docstring, even
+        # though that should never happen due to the pylint tests.
+        self.assertEqual(self.one().usage().strip(),
+                         "localone [--test-one TEST_ONE]")
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_help(self, config_file):
+        """sane help message from subcommand registry."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "help"])
+        old_stdout = sys.stdout
+        sys.stdout = StringIO()
+        self.assertIn(self.registry.runcommand(), [0, None])
+        help_message = sys.stdout.getvalue().splitlines()
+        sys.stdout = old_stdout
+
+        # the help message will look like:
+        #
+        # localhelp [<command>]
+        # localone [--test-one TEST_ONE]
+        # localtwo [--test-two TEST_TWO]
+        commands = []
+        command_help = {
+            "help": self.registry.help.usage(),
+            "localone": self.one().usage(),
+            "localtwo": self.two().usage()}
+        for line in help_message:
+            command = line.split()[0]
+            commands.append(command)
+            if command not in command_help:
+                self.fail("Got help for unknown command %s: %s" %
+                          (command, line))
+            self.assertEqual(line, command_help[command])
+        self.assertItemsEqual(commands, command_help.keys())
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_subcommand_help(self, config_file):
+        """get help message on a single command."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "help", "localone"])
+        old_stdout = sys.stdout
+        sys.stdout = StringIO()
+        self.assertIn(self.registry.runcommand(), [0, None])
+        help_message = sys.stdout.getvalue().splitlines()
+        sys.stdout = old_stdout
+
+        self.assertEqual(help_message[0].strip(),
+                         "usage: %s" % self.one().usage().strip())
+
+    @make_config()
+    def test_nonexistent_subcommand_help(self, config_file):
+        """get help message on a nonexistent command."""
+        self.parser.parse(["-C", config_file, "help", "blargle"])
+        old_stdout = sys.stdout
+        sys.stdout = StringIO()
+        self.assertNotEqual(self.registry.runcommand(), 0)
+        help_message = sys.stdout.getvalue().splitlines()
+        sys.stdout = old_stdout
+
+        self.assertIn("No such command", help_message[0])
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestTypes.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestTypes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..404d67fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestTypes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+"""test builtin option types."""
+
+import argparse
+
+from mock import patch
+
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, Types, Parser
+from testsuite.common import Bcfg2TestCase
+
+
+class TestOptionTypes(Bcfg2TestCase):
+    """test builtin option types."""
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.options = None
+
+    def _test_options(self, options):
+        """helper to test option types.
+
+        this expects that self.options is set to a single option named
+        test. The value of that option is returned.
+        """
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(components=[self], namespace=result)
+        parser.parse(options)
+        return result.test
+
+    def test_comma_list(self):
+        """parse comma-list values."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.comma_list)]
+
+        expected = ["one", "two", "three"]
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "one,two,three"]),
+                              expected)
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self._test_options(["--test",
+                                                  "one, two, three"]),
+                              expected)
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self._test_options(["--test",
+                                                  "one   , two  ,three"]),
+                              expected)
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "one two, three"]),
+                              ["one two", "three"])
+
+    def test_colon_list(self):
+        """parse colon-list values."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.colon_list)]
+        self.assertItemsEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "one:two three"]),
+                              ["one", "two three"])
+
+    def test_comma_dict(self):
+        """parse comma-dict values."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.comma_dict)]
+        expected = {
+            "one": True,
+            "two": 2,
+            "three": "three",
+            "four": False}
+        self.assertDictEqual(
+            self._test_options(["--test",
+                                "one=yes, two=2  , three=three,four=no"]),
+            expected)
+
+        self.assertDictEqual(
+            self._test_options(["--test", "one,two=2,three=three,four=off"]),
+            expected)
+
+    def test_anchored_regex_list(self):
+        """parse regex lists."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.anchored_regex_list)]
+        self.assertItemsEqual(
+            [r.pattern for r in self._test_options(["--test", r'\d+  \s*'])],
+            [r'^\d+$', r'^\s*$'])
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self._test_options, ["--test", '(]'])
+
+    def test_octal(self):
+        """parse octal options."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.octal)]
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "0777"]), 511)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "133114255"]), 23894189)
+
+    @patch("pwd.getpwnam")
+    def test_username(self, mock_getpwnam):
+        """parse username options."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.username)]
+        mock_getpwnam.return_value = ("test", '********', 1001, 1001,
+                                      "Test user", "/home/test", "/bin/bash")
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "1001"]), 1001)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "test"]), 1001)
+
+    @patch("grp.getgrnam")
+    def test_groupname(self, mock_getpwnam):
+        """parse group name options."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.groupname)]
+        mock_getpwnam.return_value = ("test", '*', 1001, ["test"])
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "1001"]), 1001)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "test"]), 1001)
+
+    def test_timeout(self):
+        """parse timeout options."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.timeout)]
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "1.0"]), 1.0)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "1"]), 1.0)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "0"]), None)
+
+    def test_size(self):
+        """parse human-readable size options."""
+        self.options = [Option("--test", type=Types.size)]
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "5k"]), 5120)
+        self.assertEqual(self._test_options(["--test", "5"]), 5)
+        self.assertRaises(SystemExit,
+                          self._test_options, ["--test", "g5m"])
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestWildcards.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestWildcards.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da196a912
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/TestWildcards.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""test wildcard options."""
+
+import argparse
+
+from Bcfg2.Options import Option, Parser
+from testsuite.Testsrc.Testlib.TestOptions import OptionTestCase, make_config
+
+
+class TestWildcardOptions(OptionTestCase):
+    """test parsing wildcard options."""
+    config = {
+        "foo": {
+            "test1": "test1",
+            "test2": "test2",
+            "thing1": "thing1",
+            "thing2": "thing2",
+            "foo": "foo"
+        }
+    }
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        # parsing options can modify the Option objects themselves.
+        # that's probably bad -- and it's definitely bad if we ever
+        # want to do real on-the-fly config changes -- but it's easier
+        # to leave it as is and set the options on each test.
+        self.options = [
+            Option(cf=("foo", "*"), dest="all"),
+            Option(cf=("foo", "test*"), dest="test"),
+            Option(cf=("foo", "bogus*"), dest="unmatched"),
+            Option(cf=("bar", "*"), dest="no_section"),
+            Option(cf=("foo", "foo"))]
+
+    @make_config(config)
+    def test_wildcard_options(self, config_file):
+        """parse wildcard options."""
+        result = argparse.Namespace()
+        parser = Parser(components=[self], namespace=result)
+        parser.parse(argv=["-C", config_file])
+
+        self.assertDictEqual(result.all, {"test1": "test1",
+                                          "test2": "test2",
+                                          "thing1": "thing1",
+                                          "thing2": "thing2"})
+        self.assertDictEqual(result.test, {"test1": "test1",
+                                           "test2": "test2"})
+        self.assertDictEqual(result.unmatched, {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(result.no_section, {})
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/Two.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/Two.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..189e0817f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/Two.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""Test module for component loading."""
+
+
+class Two(object):
+    """Test class for component loading."""
+    pass
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/__init__.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b051f65e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestOptions/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+"""helper functions for option testing."""
+
+import os
+import tempfile
+
+from Bcfg2.Compat import wraps, ConfigParser
+from Bcfg2.Options import Parser
+from testsuite.common import Bcfg2TestCase
+
+
+class make_config(object):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    """decorator to create a temporary config file from a dict.
+
+    The filename of the temporary config file is added as the last
+    positional argument to the function call.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, config_data=None):
+        self.config_data = config_data or {}
+
+    def __call__(self, func):
+        @wraps(func)
+        def inner(*args, **kwargs):
+            """decorated function."""
+            cfp = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+            for section, options in self.config_data.items():
+                cfp.add_section(section)
+                for key, val in options.items():
+                    cfp.set(section, key, val)
+            fd, name = tempfile.mkstemp()
+            config_file = os.fdopen(fd, 'w')
+            cfp.write(config_file)
+            config_file.close()
+
+            args = list(args) + [name]
+            rv = func(*args, **kwargs)
+            os.unlink(name)
+            return rv
+
+        return inner
+
+
+def clean_environment(func):
+    """decorator that unsets any environment variables used by options.
+
+    The list of options is taken from the first argument, which is
+    presumed to be ``self``.  The variables are restored at the end of
+    the function.
+    """
+    @wraps(func)
+    def inner(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """decorated function."""
+        envvars = {}
+        for opt in self.options:
+            if opt.env is not None:
+                envvars[opt.env] = os.environ.get(opt.env)
+                if opt.env in os.environ:
+                    del os.environ[opt.env]
+        rv = func(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        for name, val in envvars.items():
+            if val is None and name in os.environ:
+                del os.environ[name]
+            elif val is not None:
+                os.environ[name] = val
+        return rv
+
+    return inner
+
+
+class OptionTestCase(Bcfg2TestCase):
+    """test case that doesn't mock out config file reading."""
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        # ensure that the option parser actually reads config files
+        Parser.unit_test = False
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        Parser.unit_test = True
+
+
+
+# TODO:
+# * subcommands
+# * common options
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testbase.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testbase.py
index f135a0197..290a7c092 100644
--- a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testbase.py
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testbase.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class TestPlugin(TestDebuggable):
     def setUp(self):
         TestDebuggable.setUp(self)
         set_setup_default("filemonitor", MagicMock())
+        set_setup_default("repository", datastore)
 
     def get_obj(self, core=None):
         if core is None:
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testhelpers.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testhelpers.py
index 37beaa26c..5a82100d0 100644
--- a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testhelpers.py
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestServer/TestPlugin/Testhelpers.py
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class TestDatabaseBacked(TestPlugin):
     def setUp(self):
         TestPlugin.setUp(self)
         set_setup_default("%s_db" % self.test_obj.__name__.lower(), False)
+        set_setup_default("db_engine", None)
 
     @skipUnless(HAS_DJANGO, "Django not found")
     def test__use_db(self):
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestUtils.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestUtils.py
index 349d6cd40..4bed67248 100644
--- a/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestUtils.py
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/Testlib/TestUtils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 import os
 import sys
-import copy
-import lxml.etree
-import subprocess
-from mock import Mock, MagicMock, patch
 from Bcfg2.Utils import *
 
 # add all parent testsuite directories to sys.path to allow (most)
diff --git a/testsuite/Testsrc/__init__.py b/testsuite/Testsrc/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/Testsrc/__init__.py