diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
index 15a37ea2..a565797c 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-use std::ffi::OsString;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
-use std::str::FromStr;
-use std::{fs, io};
+mod args;
+
+use std::io;
+use std::path::Path;
 
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail};
 
@@ -18,392 +18,51 @@ use radicle::storage;
 
 use crate::git::Rev;
 use crate::terminal as term;
-use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
 
-pub const HELP: Help = Help {
-    name: "cob",
-    description: "Manage collaborative objects",
-    version: env!("RADICLE_VERSION"),
-    usage: r#"
-Usage
+pub use args::Args;
 
-    rad cob <command> [<option>...]
+use args::{parse_many_embeds, FilteredTypeName, Format};
 
-    rad cob create  --repo <rid> --type <typename> <filename> [<option>...]
-    rad cob list    --repo <rid> --type <typename>
-    rad cob log     --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> [<option>...]
-    rad cob migrate [<option>...]
-    rad cob show    --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> [<option>...]
-    rad cob update  --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> <filename>
-                    [<option>...]
-
-Commands
-
-    create                      Create a new COB of a given type given initial actions
-    list                        List all COBs of a given type (--object is not needed)
-    log                         Print a log of all raw operations on a COB
-    migrate                     Migrate the COB database to the latest version
-    update                      Add actions to a COB
-    show                        Print the state of COBs
-
-Create, Update options
-
-    --embed-file <name> <path>  Supply embed of given name via file at given path
-    --embed-hash <name> <oid>   Supply embed of given name via object ID of blob
-
-Log options
-
-    --format (pretty | json)    Desired output format (default: pretty)
-    --from <oid>                Git object ID of the commit of the operation to
-                                start iterating at.
-    --until <oid>               Git object ID of the commit of the operation to
-                                stop iterating at.
-
-Show options
-
-    --format json               Desired output format (default: json)
-
-Other options
-
-    --help                      Print help
-"#,
-};
-
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
-enum OperationName {
-    Update,
-    Create,
-    List,
-    Log,
-    Migrate,
-    Show,
+fn embeds(
+    repo: &storage::git::Repository,
+    files: Vec<String>,
+    hashes: Vec<String>,
+) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<cob::Embed<cob::Uri>>> {
+    parse_many_embeds::<std::path::PathBuf>(&files)
+        .chain(parse_many_embeds::<Rev>(&hashes))
+        .map(|embed| embed.try_into_bytes(repo))
+        .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()
 }
 
-enum Operation {
-    Create {
-        rid: RepoId,
-        type_name: FilteredTypeName,
-        message: String,
-        actions: PathBuf,
-        embeds: Vec<Embed>,
-    },
-    List {
-        rid: RepoId,
-        type_name: FilteredTypeName,
-    },
-    Log {
-        rid: RepoId,
-        type_name: FilteredTypeName,
-        oid: Rev,
-        format: Format,
-        from: Option<Rev>,
-        until: Option<Rev>,
-    },
-    Migrate,
-    Show {
-        rid: RepoId,
-        type_name: FilteredTypeName,
-        oids: Vec<Rev>,
-    },
-    Update {
-        rid: RepoId,
-        type_name: FilteredTypeName,
-        oid: Rev,
-        message: String,
-        actions: PathBuf,
-        embeds: Vec<Embed>,
-    },
-}
-
-enum Format {
-    Json,
-    Pretty,
-}
-
-pub struct Options {
-    op: Operation,
-}
-
-/// A precursor to [`cob::Embed`] used for parsing
-/// that can be initialized without relying on a [`git::Repository`].
-struct Embed {
-    name: String,
-    content: EmbedContent,
-}
-
-enum EmbedContent {
-    Path(PathBuf),
-    Hash(Rev),
-}
-
-/// A thin wrapper around [`cob::TypeName`] used for parsing.
-/// Well known COB type names are captured as variants,
-/// with [`FilteredTypeName::Other`] as an escape hatch for type names
-/// that are not well known.
-enum FilteredTypeName {
-    Issue,
-    Patch,
-    Identity,
-    Other(cob::TypeName),
-}
-
-impl From<cob::TypeName> for FilteredTypeName {
-    fn from(value: cob::TypeName) -> Self {
-        if value == *cob::issue::TYPENAME {
-            FilteredTypeName::Issue
-        } else if value == *cob::patch::TYPENAME {
-            FilteredTypeName::Patch
-        } else if value == *cob::identity::TYPENAME {
-            FilteredTypeName::Identity
-        } else {
-            FilteredTypeName::Other(value)
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl AsRef<cob::TypeName> for FilteredTypeName {
-    fn as_ref(&self) -> &cob::TypeName {
-        match self {
-            FilteredTypeName::Issue => &cob::issue::TYPENAME,
-            FilteredTypeName::Patch => &cob::patch::TYPENAME,
-            FilteredTypeName::Identity => &cob::identity::TYPENAME,
-            FilteredTypeName::Other(value) => value,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl std::fmt::Display for FilteredTypeName {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        self.as_ref().fmt(f)
-    }
-}
-
-impl Embed {
-    fn try_into_bytes(
-        self,
-        repo: &storage::git::Repository,
-    ) -> anyhow::Result<cob::Embed<cob::Uri>> {
-        Ok(match self.content {
-            EmbedContent::Hash(hash) => cob::Embed {
-                name: self.name,
-                content: hash.resolve::<git::Oid>(&repo.backend)?.into(),
-            },
-            EmbedContent::Path(path) => {
-                cob::Embed::store(self.name, &std::fs::read(path)?, &repo.backend)?
-            }
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-impl Args for Options {
-    fn from_args(args: Vec<OsString>) -> anyhow::Result<(Self, Vec<OsString>)> {
-        use lexopt::prelude::*;
-        use term::args::string;
-        use OperationName::*;
-
-        let mut parser = lexopt::Parser::from_args(args);
-
-        let op = match parser.next()? {
-            None | Some(Long("help") | Short('h')) => {
-                return Err(Error::Help.into());
-            }
-            Some(Value(val)) => match val.to_string_lossy().as_ref() {
-                "update" => Update,
-                "create" => Create,
-                "list" => List,
-                "log" => Log,
-                "migrate" => Migrate,
-                "show" => Show,
-                unknown => bail!("unknown operation '{unknown}'"),
-            },
-            Some(arg) => return Err(anyhow!(arg.unexpected())),
-        };
-
-        let mut type_name: Option<FilteredTypeName> = None;
-        let mut oids: Vec<Rev> = vec![];
-        let mut rid: Option<RepoId> = None;
-        let mut format: Format = Format::Pretty;
-        let mut message: Option<String> = None;
-        let mut embeds: Vec<Embed> = vec![];
-        let mut actions: Option<PathBuf> = None;
-        let mut from: Option<Rev> = None;
-        let mut until: Option<Rev> = None;
-
-        while let Some(arg) = parser.next()? {
-            match (&op, &arg) {
-                (_, Long("help") | Short('h')) => {
-                    return Err(Error::Help.into());
-                }
-                (_, Long("repo") | Short('r')) => {
-                    rid = Some(term::args::rid(&parser.value()?)?);
-                }
-                (_, Long("type") | Short('t')) => {
-                    let v = string(&parser.value()?);
-                    type_name = Some(FilteredTypeName::from(cob::TypeName::from_str(&v)?));
-                }
-                (Update | Log | Show, Long("object") | Short('o')) => {
-                    let v = string(&parser.value()?);
-                    oids.push(Rev::from(v));
-                }
-                (Update | Create, Long("message") | Short('m')) => {
-                    message = Some(string(&parser.value()?));
-                }
-                (Log | Show | Update, Long("format")) => {
-                    format = match (op, string(&parser.value()?).as_ref()) {
-                        (Log, "pretty") => Format::Pretty,
-                        (Log | Show | Update, "json") => Format::Json,
-                        (_, unknown) => bail!("unknown format '{unknown}'"),
-                    };
-                }
-                (Update | Create, Long("embed-file")) => {
-                    let mut values = parser.values()?;
-
-                    let name = values
-                        .next()
-                        .map(|s| term::args::string(&s))
-                        .ok_or(anyhow!("expected name of embed"))?;
-
-                    let content = EmbedContent::Path(PathBuf::from(
-                        values
-                            .next()
-                            .ok_or(anyhow!("expected path to file to embed"))?,
-                    ));
-
-                    embeds.push(Embed { name, content });
-                }
-                (Update | Create, Long("embed-hash")) => {
-                    let mut values = parser.values()?;
-
-                    let name = values
-                        .next()
-                        .map(|s| term::args::string(&s))
-                        .ok_or(anyhow!("expected name of embed"))?;
-
-                    let content = EmbedContent::Hash(Rev::from(term::args::string(
-                        &values
-                            .next()
-                            .ok_or(anyhow!("expected hash of file to embed"))?,
-                    )));
-
-                    embeds.push(Embed { name, content });
-                }
-                (Update | Create, Value(val)) => {
-                    actions = Some(PathBuf::from(term::args::string(val)));
-                }
-                (Log, Long("from")) => {
-                    let v = parser.value()?;
-                    from = Some(term::args::rev(&v)?);
-                }
-                (Log, Long("until")) => {
-                    let v = parser.value()?;
-                    until = Some(term::args::rev(&v)?);
-                }
-                _ => return Err(anyhow!(arg.unexpected())),
-            }
-        }
-
-        if op == OperationName::Migrate {
-            return Ok((
-                Options {
-                    op: Operation::Migrate,
-                },
-                vec![],
-            ));
-        }
-
-        let rid = rid.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("a repository id must be specified with `--repo`"))?;
-        let type_name =
-            type_name.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("an object type must be specified with `--type`"))?;
-
-        let missing_oid = || anyhow!("an object id must be specified with `--object`");
-        let missing_message = || anyhow!("a message must be specified with `--message`");
-
-        Ok((
-            Options {
-                op: match op {
-                    Create => Operation::Create {
-                        rid,
-                        type_name,
-                        message: message.ok_or_else(missing_message)?,
-                        actions: actions.ok_or_else(|| {
-                            anyhow!("a file containing initial actions must be specified")
-                        })?,
-                        embeds,
-                    },
-                    List => Operation::List { rid, type_name },
-                    Log => Operation::Log {
-                        rid,
-                        type_name,
-                        oid: oids.pop().ok_or_else(missing_oid)?,
-                        format,
-                        from,
-                        until,
-                    },
-                    Migrate => Operation::Migrate,
-                    Show => {
-                        if oids.is_empty() {
-                            return Err(missing_oid());
-                        }
-                        Operation::Show {
-                            rid,
-                            oids,
-                            type_name,
-                        }
-                    }
-                    Update => Operation::Update {
-                        rid,
-                        type_name,
-                        oid: oids.pop().ok_or_else(missing_oid)?,
-                        message: message.ok_or_else(missing_message)?,
-                        actions: actions.ok_or_else(|| {
-                            anyhow!("a file containing actions must be specified")
-                        })?,
-                        embeds,
-                    },
-                },
-            },
-            vec![],
-        ))
-    }
-}
-
-pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+pub fn run(args: Args, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    use args::Command::*;
+    use args::FilteredTypeName::*;
     use cob::store::Store;
-    use FilteredTypeName::*;
-    use Operation::*;
 
     let profile = ctx.profile()?;
     let storage = &profile.storage;
 
-    match op {
-        Create {
-            rid,
+    match args.command {
+        Create(args::Create {
+            repo,
             type_name,
-            message,
-            embeds,
-            actions,
-        } => {
+            operation,
+        }) => {
             let signer = &profile.signer()?;
-            let repo = storage.repository_mut(rid)?;
-
-            let reader = io::BufReader::new(fs::File::open(actions)?);
-
-            let embeds = embeds
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|embed| embed.try_into_bytes(&repo))
-                .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+            let repo = storage.repository_mut(repo)?;
+            let embeds = embeds(&repo, operation.embed_files, operation.embed_hashes)?;
 
             let oid = match type_name {
                 Patch => {
                     let store: Store<cob::patch::Patch, _> = Store::open(&repo)?;
-                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(reader)?;
-                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
+                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?;
+                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&operation.message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
                     oid
                 }
                 Issue => {
                     let store: Store<cob::issue::Issue, _> = Store::open(&repo)?;
-                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(reader)?;
-                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
+                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?;
+                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&operation.message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
                     oid
                 }
                 Identity => anyhow::bail!(
@@ -413,8 +72,8 @@ pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<(
                 Other(type_name) => {
                     let store: Store<cob::external::External, _> =
                         Store::open_for(&type_name, &repo)?;
-                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(reader)?;
-                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
+                    let actions = read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?;
+                    let (oid, _) = store.create(&operation.message, actions, embeds, signer)?;
                     oid
                 }
             };
@@ -431,30 +90,33 @@ pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<(
                 );
             }
         }
-        List { rid, type_name } => {
-            let repo = storage.repository(rid)?;
-            let cobs = radicle_cob::list::<NonEmpty<cob::Entry>, _>(&repo, type_name.as_ref())?;
+        List { repo, type_name } => {
+            let repo = storage.repository(repo)?;
+            let cobs = radicle_cob::list::<NonEmpty<cob::Entry>, _>(
+                &repo,
+                FilteredTypeName::from(type_name).as_ref(),
+            )?;
             for cob in cobs {
                 println!("{}", cob.id);
             }
         }
         Log {
-            rid,
+            repo,
             type_name,
-            oid,
+            object,
             format,
             from,
             until,
         } => {
-            let repo = storage.repository(rid)?;
-            let oid = oid.resolve(&repo.backend)?;
+            let repo = storage.repository(repo)?;
+            let oid = object.resolve(&repo.backend)?;
 
             let from = from.map(|from| from.resolve(&repo.backend)).transpose()?;
             let until = until
                 .map(|until| until.resolve(&repo.backend))
                 .transpose()?;
 
-            match type_name {
+            match type_name.into() {
                 Issue => operations::<cob::issue::Action>(
                     &cob::issue::TYPENAME,
                     oid,
@@ -485,12 +147,13 @@ pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<(
             }
         }
         Show {
-            rid,
-            oids,
+            repo,
+            objects,
             type_name,
+            format: _,
         } => {
-            let repo = storage.repository(rid)?;
-            if let Err(e) = show(oids, &repo, type_name, &profile) {
+            let repo = storage.repository(repo)?;
+            if let Err(e) = show(objects, &repo, type_name.into(), &profile) {
                 if let Some(err) = e.downcast_ref::<std::io::Error>() {
                     if err.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe {
                         return Ok(());
@@ -499,39 +162,36 @@ pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<(
                 return Err(e);
             }
         }
-        Update {
-            rid,
+        Update(args::Update {
+            repo,
             type_name,
-            oid,
-            message,
-            actions,
-            embeds,
-        } => {
+            object,
+            operation,
+            format: _,
+        }) => {
             let signer = &profile.signer()?;
-            let repo = storage.repository_mut(rid)?;
-            let reader = io::BufReader::new(fs::File::open(actions)?);
-            let oid = &oid.resolve(&repo.backend)?;
-            let embeds = embeds
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|embed| embed.try_into_bytes(&repo))
-                .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+            let repo = storage.repository_mut(repo)?;
+            let oid = object.resolve::<radicle::git::Oid>(&repo.backend)?.into();
+            let embeds = embeds(&repo, operation.embed_files, operation.embed_hashes)?;
 
             let oid = match type_name {
                 Patch => {
-                    let actions: Vec<cob::patch::Action> = read_jsonl(reader)?;
+                    let actions: Vec<cob::patch::Action> =
+                        read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?.into();
                     let mut patches = profile.patches_mut(&repo)?;
-                    let mut patch = patches.get_mut(oid)?;
-                    patch.transaction(&message, &*profile.signer()?, |tx| {
+                    let mut patch = patches.get_mut(&oid)?;
+                    patch.transaction(&operation.message, &*profile.signer()?, |tx| {
                         tx.extend(actions)?;
                         tx.embed(embeds)?;
                         Ok(())
                     })?
                 }
                 Issue => {
-                    let actions: Vec<cob::issue::Action> = read_jsonl(reader)?;
+                    let actions: Vec<cob::issue::Action> =
+                        read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?.into();
                     let mut issues = profile.issues_mut(&repo)?;
-                    let mut issue = issues.get_mut(oid)?;
-                    issue.transaction(&message, &*profile.signer()?, |tx| {
+                    let mut issue = issues.get_mut(&oid)?;
+                    issue.transaction(&operation.message, &*profile.signer()?, |tx| {
                         tx.extend(actions)?;
                         tx.embed(embeds)?;
                         Ok(())
@@ -543,10 +203,10 @@ pub fn run(Options { op }: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<(
                 ),
                 Other(type_name) => {
                     use cob::external::{Action, External};
-                    let actions: Vec<Action> = read_jsonl(reader)?;
+                    let actions: Vec<Action> = read_jsonl_actions(&operation.actions)?.into();
                     let mut store: Store<External, _> = Store::open_for(&type_name, &repo)?;
                     let tx = cob::store::Transaction::new(type_name.clone(), actions, embeds);
-                    let (_, oid) = tx.commit(&message, *oid, &mut store, signer)?;
+                    let (_, oid) = tx.commit(&operation.message, oid, &mut store, signer)?;
                     oid
                 }
             };
@@ -684,11 +344,12 @@ where
 
 /// Tiny utility to read a [`NonEmpty`] of COB actions.
 /// This is used for `rad cob create` and `rad cob update`.
-fn read_jsonl_actions<R, A>(reader: io::BufReader<R>) -> anyhow::Result<NonEmpty<A>>
+fn read_jsonl_actions<A>(path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> anyhow::Result<NonEmpty<A>>
 where
-    R: io::Read,
     A: CobAction + serde::de::DeserializeOwned,
 {
+    let reader = io::BufReader::new(std::fs::File::open(&path)?);
+
     NonEmpty::from_vec(read_jsonl(reader)?)
         .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("at least one action is required"))
 }
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob/args.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7c315b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob/args.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,417 @@
+use std::fmt;
+use std::fs;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+use thiserror::Error;
+
+use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};
+
+use radicle::cob;
+use radicle::git;
+use radicle::prelude::*;
+use radicle::storage;
+
+use crate::git::Rev;
+
+#[derive(Parser, Debug)]
+#[command(disable_version_flag = true)]
+pub struct Args {
+    #[command(subcommand)]
+    pub(super) command: Command,
+}
+
+#[derive(Subcommand, Debug)]
+pub(super) enum Command {
+    /// Create a new COB of a given type given initial actions
+    Create(#[clap(flatten)] Create),
+
+    /// List all COBs of a given type
+    List {
+        /// Repository ID of the repository to operate on
+        #[arg(long, short, value_name = "RID")]
+        repo: RepoId,
+
+        /// Typename of the object(s) to list
+        #[arg(long = "type", short, value_name = "TYPENAME")]
+        type_name: cob::TypeName,
+    },
+
+    /// Print a log of all raw operations on a COB
+    Log {
+        /// Tepository ID of the repository to operate on
+        #[arg(long, short, value_name = "RID")]
+        repo: RepoId,
+
+        /// Typename of the object(s) to show
+        #[arg(long = "type", short, value_name = "TYPENAME")]
+        type_name: cob::TypeName,
+
+        /// Object ID of the object to log
+        #[arg(long, short, value_name = "OID")]
+        object: Rev,
+
+        /// Desired output format
+        #[arg(long, default_value_t = Format::Pretty, value_parser = FormatParser)]
+        format: Format,
+
+        /// Object ID of the commit of the operation to start iterating at
+        #[arg(long, value_name = "OID")]
+        from: Option<Rev>,
+
+        /// Object ID of the commit of the operation to stop iterating at
+        #[arg(long, value_name = "OID")]
+        until: Option<Rev>,
+    },
+
+    /// Migrate the COB database to the latest version
+    Migrate,
+
+    /// Print the state of COBs
+    Show {
+        /// Repository ID of the repository to operate on
+        #[arg(long, short, value_name = "RID")]
+        repo: RepoId,
+
+        /// Typename of the object(s) to show
+        #[arg(long = "type", short, value_name = "TYPENAME")]
+        type_name: cob::TypeName,
+
+        /// Object ID(s) of the objects to show
+        #[arg(long = "object", short, value_name = "OID", action = clap::ArgAction::Append, required = true)]
+        objects: Vec<Rev>,
+
+        /// Desired output format
+        #[arg(long, default_value_t = Format::Json, value_parser = FormatParser)]
+        format: Format,
+    },
+
+    /// Add actions to a COB
+    Update(#[clap(flatten)] Update),
+}
+
+#[derive(Parser, Debug)]
+pub(super) struct Operation {
+    /// Message describing the operation
+    #[arg(long, short)]
+    pub(super) message: String,
+
+    /// Supply embed of given name via file at given path
+    #[arg(long = "embed-file", value_names = ["NAME", "PATH"], num_args = 2)]
+    pub(super) embed_files: Vec<String>,
+
+    /// Supply embed of given name via object ID of blob
+    #[arg(long = "embed-hash", value_names = ["NAME", "OID"], num_args = 2)]
+    pub(super) embed_hashes: Vec<String>,
+
+    /// A file that contains a sequence actions (in JSONL format) to apply.
+    #[arg(value_name = "FILENAME")]
+    pub(super) actions: PathBuf,
+}
+
+#[derive(Parser, Debug)]
+pub(super) struct Create {
+    /// Repository ID of the repository to operate on
+    #[arg(long, short, value_name = "RID")]
+    pub(super) repo: RepoId,
+
+    /// Typename of the object to create
+    #[arg(long = "type", short, value_name = "TYPENAME")]
+    pub(super) type_name: FilteredTypeName,
+
+    #[clap(flatten)]
+    pub(super) operation: Operation,
+}
+
+#[derive(Parser, Debug)]
+pub(super) struct Update {
+    /// Repository ID of the repository to operate on
+    #[arg(long, short)]
+    pub(super) repo: RepoId,
+
+    /// Typename of the object to update
+    #[arg(long = "type", short, value_name = "TYPENAME")]
+    pub(super) type_name: FilteredTypeName,
+
+    /// Object ID of the object to update
+    #[arg(long, short, value_name = "OID")]
+    pub(super) object: Rev,
+
+    // TODO(finto): `Format` is unused and is obsolete for this command
+    /// Desired output format
+    #[arg(long, default_value_t = Format::Json, value_parser = FormatParser)]
+    pub(super) format: Format,
+
+    #[clap(flatten)]
+    pub(super) operation: Operation,
+}
+
+/// A precursor to [`cob::Embed`] used for parsing
+/// that can be initialized without relying on a [`git::Repository`].
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub(super) struct Embed {
+    name: String,
+    content: EmbedContent,
+}
+
+impl Embed {
+    pub(super) fn try_into_bytes(
+        self,
+        repo: &storage::git::Repository,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<cob::Embed<cob::Uri>> {
+        Ok(match self.content {
+            EmbedContent::Hash(hash) => cob::Embed {
+                name: self.name,
+                content: hash.resolve::<git::Oid>(&repo.backend)?.into(),
+            },
+            EmbedContent::Path(path) => {
+                cob::Embed::store(self.name, &fs::read(path)?, &repo.backend)?
+            }
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub(super) enum EmbedContent {
+    Path(PathBuf),
+    Hash(Rev),
+}
+
+impl From<PathBuf> for EmbedContent {
+    fn from(path: PathBuf) -> Self {
+        EmbedContent::Path(path)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Rev> for EmbedContent {
+    fn from(rev: Rev) -> Self {
+        EmbedContent::Hash(rev)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Parses a slice of all embeds as name-path or name-oid pairs as aggregated by
+/// `clap`.
+/// E.g. `["image", "./image.png", "code", "d87dcfe8c2b3200e78b128d9b959cfdf7063fefe"]`
+/// will result a `Vec` of two [`Embed`]s.
+///
+/// # Panics
+///
+/// If the length of `values` is not divisible by 2.
+pub(super) fn parse_many_embeds<T>(values: &[String]) -> impl Iterator<Item = Embed> + use<'_, T>
+where
+    T: From<String>,
+    EmbedContent: From<T>,
+{
+    // `clap` ensures we have 2 values per option occurrence,
+    // so we can chunk the aggregated slice exactly.
+    let chunks = values.chunks_exact(2);
+
+    assert!(chunks.remainder().is_empty());
+
+    chunks.map(|chunk| {
+        // Slice accesses will not panic, guaranteed by `chunks_exact(2)`.
+        Embed {
+            name: chunk[0].to_string(),
+            content: EmbedContent::from(T::from(chunk[1].clone())),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub(super) enum Format {
+    Json,
+    Pretty,
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Format {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Format::Json => f.write_str("json"),
+            Format::Pretty => f.write_str("pretty"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[non_exhaustive]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+#[error("invalid format value: {0:?}")]
+pub struct FormatParseError(String);
+
+impl FromStr for Format {
+    type Err = FormatParseError;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        match s {
+            "json" => Ok(Self::Json),
+            "pretty" => Ok(Self::Pretty),
+            _ => Err(FormatParseError(s.to_string())),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+struct FormatParser;
+
+impl clap::builder::TypedValueParser for FormatParser {
+    type Value = Format;
+
+    fn parse_ref(
+        &self,
+        cmd: &clap::Command,
+        arg: Option<&clap::Arg>,
+        value: &std::ffi::OsStr,
+    ) -> Result<Self::Value, clap::Error> {
+        use clap::error::ErrorKind;
+
+        let format = <Format as std::str::FromStr>::from_str.parse_ref(cmd, arg, value)?;
+        match cmd.get_name() {
+            "show" | "update" if format == Format::Pretty => Err(clap::Error::raw(
+                ErrorKind::ValueValidation,
+                format!("output format `{format}` is not allowed in this command"),
+            )
+            .with_cmd(cmd)),
+            _ => Ok(format),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn possible_values(
+        &self,
+    ) -> Option<Box<dyn Iterator<Item = clap::builder::PossibleValue> + '_>> {
+        use clap::builder::PossibleValue;
+        Some(Box::new(
+            [PossibleValue::new("json"), PossibleValue::new("pretty")].into_iter(),
+        ))
+    }
+}
+
+/// A thin wrapper around [`cob::TypeName`] used for parsing.
+/// Well known COB type names are captured as variants,
+/// with [`FilteredTypeName::Other`] as an escape hatch for type names
+/// that are not well known.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub(super) enum FilteredTypeName {
+    Issue,
+    Patch,
+    Identity,
+    Other(cob::TypeName),
+}
+
+impl AsRef<cob::TypeName> for FilteredTypeName {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &cob::TypeName {
+        match self {
+            FilteredTypeName::Issue => &cob::issue::TYPENAME,
+            FilteredTypeName::Patch => &cob::patch::TYPENAME,
+            FilteredTypeName::Identity => &cob::identity::TYPENAME,
+            FilteredTypeName::Other(value) => value,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<cob::TypeName> for FilteredTypeName {
+    fn from(value: cob::TypeName) -> Self {
+        if value == *cob::issue::TYPENAME {
+            FilteredTypeName::Issue
+        } else if value == *cob::patch::TYPENAME {
+            FilteredTypeName::Patch
+        } else if value == *cob::identity::TYPENAME {
+            FilteredTypeName::Identity
+        } else {
+            FilteredTypeName::Other(value)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for FilteredTypeName {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        self.as_ref().fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::str::FromStr for FilteredTypeName {
+    type Err = cob::TypeNameParse;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        Ok(Self::from(s.parse::<cob::TypeName>()?))
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::Args;
+    use clap::error::ErrorKind;
+    use clap::Parser;
+
+    const ARGS: &[&str] = &[
+        "--repo",
+        "rad:z3Tr6bC7ctEg2EHmLvknUr29mEDLH",
+        "--type",
+        "xyz.radicle.issue",
+        "--object",
+        "f2de534b5e81d7c6e2dcaf58c3dd91573c0a0354",
+    ];
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_allow_log_json_format() {
+        let args = Args::try_parse_from(
+            ["cob", "log", "--format", "json"]
+                .iter()
+                .chain(ARGS.iter())
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        );
+        assert!(args.is_ok())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_allow_log_pretty_format() {
+        let args = Args::try_parse_from(
+            ["cob", "log", "--format", "pretty"]
+                .iter()
+                .chain(ARGS.iter())
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        );
+        assert!(args.is_ok())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_allow_show_json_format() {
+        let args = Args::try_parse_from(
+            ["cob", "show", "--format", "json"]
+                .iter()
+                .chain(ARGS.iter())
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        );
+        assert!(args.is_ok())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_allow_update_json_format() {
+        let args = Args::try_parse_from(
+            [
+                "cob",
+                "update",
+                "--format",
+                "json",
+                "--message",
+                "",
+                "/dev/null",
+            ]
+            .iter()
+            .chain(ARGS.iter())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+        );
+        println!("{args:?}");
+        assert!(args.is_ok())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_not_allow_show_pretty_format() {
+        let err = Args::try_parse_from(["cob", "show", "--format", "pretty"]).unwrap_err();
+        assert_eq!(err.kind(), ErrorKind::ValueValidation);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_not_allow_update_pretty_format() {
+        let err = Args::try_parse_from(["cob", "update", "--format", "pretty"]).unwrap_err();
+        assert_eq!(err.kind(), ErrorKind::ValueValidation);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/main.rs
index 8d6be2cf..405cf5ee 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ enum Commands {
     Checkout(checkout::Args),
     Clean(clean::Args),
     Clone(clone::Args),
+    #[command(hide = true)]
+    Cob(cob::Args),
     Debug(debug::Args),
 
     /// This command is deprecated and delegates to `git diff`.
@@ -223,7 +225,9 @@ pub(crate) fn run_other(exe: &str, args: &[OsString]) -> Result<(), Option<anyho
             }
         }
         "cob" => {
-            term::run_command_args::<cob::Options, _>(cob::HELP, cob::run, args.to_vec());
+            if let Some(Commands::Cob(args)) = CliArgs::parse().command {
+                term::run_command_fn(cob::run, args);
+            }
         }
         "config" => {
             term::run_command_args::<config::Options, _>(config::HELP, config::run, args.to_vec());