Merge pull request #567 from mpeterv/cli-refactor

Refactor cli to avoid double args parsing

26 files changed, 64 insertions, 123 deletions

diff --git a/src/luarocks/add.lua b/src/luarocks/add.lua
index bea2d861..f37d334d 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/add.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/add.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local index = require("luarocks.index")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local cache = require("luarocks.cache")
 
+util.add_run_function(add)
 add.help_summary = "Add a rock or rockspec to a rocks server."
 add.help_arguments = "[--server=<server>] [--no-refresh] {<rockspec>|<rock>...}"
 add.help = [[
@@ -107,9 +108,8 @@ local function add_files_to_server(refresh, rockfiles, server, upload_server)
    return true
 end
 
-function add.run(...)
-   local files = { util.parse_flags(...) }
-   local flags = table.remove(files, 1)
+function add.command(flags, ...)
+   local files = {...}
    if #files < 1 then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("add", "luarocks-admin")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/admin_remove.lua b/src/luarocks/admin_remove.lua
index 59ca4975..621f1317 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/admin_remove.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/admin_remove.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local index = require("luarocks.index")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local cache = require("luarocks.cache")
 
+util.add_run_function(admin_remove)
 admin_remove.help_summary = "Remove a rock or rockspec from a rocks server."
 admin_remove.help_arguments = "[--server=<server>] [--no-refresh] {<rockspec>|<rock>...}"
 admin_remove.help = [[
@@ -77,9 +78,8 @@ local function remove_files_from_server(refresh, rockfiles, server, upload_serve
    return true
 end
 
-function admin_remove.run(...)
-   local files = { util.parse_flags(...) }
-   local flags = table.remove(files, 1)
+function admin_remove.command(flags, ...)
+   local files = {...}
    if #files < 1 then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("remove", "luarocks-admin")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/build.lua b/src/luarocks/build.lua
index 65f44a64..5722deca 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/build.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/build.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
 local remove = require("luarocks.remove")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 
+util.add_run_function(build)
 build.help_summary = "Build/compile a rock."
 build.help_arguments = "[--pack-binary-rock] [--keep] {<rockspec>|<rock>|<name> [<version>]}"
 build.help = [[
@@ -392,8 +393,7 @@ end
 -- also be given.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string, exitcode): True if build was successful; nil and an
 -- error message otherwise. exitcode is optionally returned.
-function build.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function build.command(flags, name, version)
    if type(name) ~= "string" then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("build")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/command_line.lua b/src/luarocks/command_line.lua
index b3284534..1a8c0fe7 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/command_line.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/command_line.lua
@@ -27,20 +27,9 @@ local function die(message, exitcode)
    os.exit(exitcode or cfg.errorcodes.UNSPECIFIED)
 end
 
-local function replace_tree(flags, args, tree)
+local function replace_tree(flags, tree)
    tree = dir.normalize(tree)
    flags["tree"] = tree
-   local added = false
-   for i = 1, #args do
-      if args[i]:match("%-%-tree=") then
-         args[i] = "--tree="..tree
-         added = true
-         break
-      end
-   end
-   if not added then
-      args[#args + 1] = "--tree="..tree
-   end
    path.use_tree(tree)
 end
 
@@ -78,7 +67,6 @@ function command_line.run_command(...)
    if flags["to"] then flags["tree"] = flags["to"] end
    if flags["nodeps"] then
       flags["deps-mode"] = "none"
-      table.insert(args, "--deps-mode=none")
    end
    
    cfg.flags = flags
@@ -106,15 +94,8 @@ function command_line.run_command(...)
       os.exit(cfg.errorcodes.OK)
    elseif flags["help"] or #nonflags == 0 then
       command = "help"
-      args = nonflags
    else
-      command = nonflags[1]
-      for i, arg in ipairs(args) do
-         if arg == command then
-            table.remove(args, i)
-            break
-         end
-      end
+      command = table.remove(nonflags, 1)
    end
    command = command:gsub("-", "_")
    
@@ -137,14 +118,14 @@ function command_line.run_command(...)
             if not tree.root then
                die("Configuration error: tree '"..tree.name.."' has no 'root' field.")
             end
-            replace_tree(flags, args, tree.root)
+            replace_tree(flags, tree.root)
             named = true
             break
          end
       end
       if not named then
          local root_dir = fs.absolute_name(flags["tree"])
-         replace_tree(flags, args, root_dir)
+         replace_tree(flags, root_dir)
       end
    elseif flags["local"] then
       if not cfg.home_tree then
@@ -152,7 +133,7 @@ function command_line.run_command(...)
              "You are running as a superuser, which is intended for system-wide operation.\n"..
              "To force using the superuser's home, use --tree explicitly.")
       end
-      replace_tree(flags, args, cfg.home_tree)
+      replace_tree(flags, cfg.home_tree)
    else
       local trees = cfg.rocks_trees
       path.use_tree(trees[#trees])
@@ -195,14 +176,8 @@ function command_line.run_command(...)
    end
    
    if commands[command] then
-      -- TODO the interface of run should be modified, to receive the
-      -- flags table and the (possibly unpacked) nonflags arguments.
-      -- This would remove redundant parsing of arguments.
-      -- I'm not changing this now to avoid messing with the run()
-      -- interface, which I know some people use (even though
-      -- I never published it as a public API...)
       local cmd = require(commands[command])
-      local xp, ok, err, exitcode = xpcall(function() return cmd.run(unpack(args)) end, function(err)
+      local xp, ok, err, exitcode = xpcall(function() return cmd.command(flags, unpack(nonflags)) end, function(err)
          die(debug.traceback("LuaRocks "..cfg.program_version
             .." bug (please report at https://github.com/keplerproject/luarocks/issues).\n"
             ..err, 2), cfg.errorcodes.CRASH)
diff --git a/src/luarocks/config_cmd.lua b/src/luarocks/config_cmd.lua
index bf282a7a..fe3cc637 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/config_cmd.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/config_cmd.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local util = require("luarocks.util")
 local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 
+util.add_run_function(config_cmd)
 config_cmd.help_summary = "Query information about the LuaRocks configuration."
 config_cmd.help_arguments = "<flag>"
 config_cmd.help = [[
@@ -33,9 +34,7 @@ end
 
 --- Driver function for "config" command.
 -- @return boolean: True if succeeded, nil on errors.
-function config_cmd.run(...)
-   local flags = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function config_cmd.command(flags)
    if flags["lua-incdir"] then
       print(cfg.variables.LUA_INCDIR)
       return true
diff --git a/src/luarocks/doc.lua b/src/luarocks/doc.lua
index 62e80232..ec2b1110 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/doc.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/doc.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local fetch = require("luarocks.fetch")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local download = require("luarocks.download")
 
+util.add_run_function(doc)
 doc.help_summary = "Show documentation for an installed rock."
 
 doc.help = [[
@@ -57,8 +58,7 @@ end
 -- @param name or nil: an existing package name.
 -- @param version string or nil: a version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean: True if succeeded, nil on errors.
-function doc.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function doc.command(flags, name, version)
    if not name then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("doc")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/download.lua b/src/luarocks/download.lua
index 47aa6d8d..18573ae4 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/download.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/download.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 
+util.add_run_function(download)
 download.help_summary = "Download a specific rock file from a rocks server."
 download.help_arguments = "[--all] [--arch=<arch> | --source | --rockspec] [<name> [<version>]]"
 
@@ -84,9 +85,7 @@ end
 -- version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): true if successful or nil followed
 -- by an error message.
-function download.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function download.command(flags, name, version)
    assert(type(version) == "string" or not version)
    if type(name) ~= "string" and not flags["all"] then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("download")
diff --git a/src/luarocks/help.lua b/src/luarocks/help.lua
index 0f66f64b..28f97702 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/help.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/help.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 
 local program = util.this_program("luarocks")
 
+util.add_run_function(help)
 help.help_summary = "Help on commands. Type '"..program.." help <command>' for more."
 
 help.help_arguments = "[<command>]"
@@ -40,9 +41,7 @@ end
 -- given, help summaries for all commands are shown.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): true if there were no errors
 -- or nil and an error message if an invalid command was requested.
-function help.run(...)
-   local flags, command = util.parse_flags(...)
-
+function help.command(flags, command)
    if not command then
       local conf = cfg.which_config()
       print_banner()
diff --git a/src/luarocks/install.lua b/src/luarocks/install.lua
index f78c6a0d..acbf584a 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/install.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/install.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
 local remove = require("luarocks.remove")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 
+util.add_run_function(install)
 install.help_summary = "Install a rock."
 
 install.help_arguments = "{<rock>|<name> [<version>]}"
@@ -149,8 +150,7 @@ end
 -- may also be given.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string, exitcode): True if installation was
 -- successful, nil and an error message otherwise. exitcode is optionally returned.
-function install.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function install.command(flags, name, version)
    if type(name) ~= "string" then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("install")
    end
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ function install.run(...)
 
    if name:match("%.rockspec$") or name:match("%.src%.rock$") then
       local build = require("luarocks.build")
-      return build.run(name, util.forward_flags(flags, "local", "keep", "deps-mode", "only-deps", "force", "force-fast"))
+      return build.command(flags, name)
    elseif name:match("%.rock$") then
       if flags["only-deps"] then
          ok, err = install.install_binary_rock_deps(name, deps.get_deps_mode(flags))
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ function install.run(...)
          return nil, err
       end
       util.printout("Installing "..url)
-      return install.run(url, util.forward_flags(flags))
+      return install.command(flags, url)
    end
 end
 
diff --git a/src/luarocks/lint.lua b/src/luarocks/lint.lua
index 81d8bab2..d5cc48d0 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/lint.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/lint.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ local util = require("luarocks.util")
 local download = require("luarocks.download")
 local fetch = require("luarocks.fetch")
 
+util.add_run_function(lint)
 lint.help_summary = "Check syntax of a rockspec."
 lint.help_arguments = "<rockspec>"
 lint.help = [[
@@ -17,9 +18,7 @@ It returns success or failure if the text of a rockspec is
 syntactically correct.
 ]]
 
-function lint.run(...)
-   local flags, input = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function lint.command(flags, input)
    if not input then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("lint")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/list.lua b/src/luarocks/list.lua
index 09fa9ad7..c65e058f 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/list.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/list.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local util = require("luarocks.util")
 local path = require("luarocks.path")
 
+util.add_run_function(list)
 list.help_summary = "List currently installed rocks."
 list.help_arguments = "[--porcelain] <filter>"
 list.help = [[
@@ -69,8 +70,7 @@ end
 -- @param filter string or nil: A substring of a rock name to filter by.
 -- @param version string or nil: a version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean: True if succeeded, nil on errors.
-function list.run(...)
-   local flags, filter, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function list.command(flags, filter, version)
    local query = search.make_query(filter and filter:lower() or "", version)
    query.exact_name = false
    local trees = cfg.rocks_trees
diff --git a/src/luarocks/make.lua b/src/luarocks/make.lua
index 9d675884..1464def7 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/make.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/make.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ local pack = require("luarocks.pack")
 local remove = require("luarocks.remove")
 local deps = require("luarocks.deps")
 
+util.add_run_function(make)
 make.help_summary = "Compile package in current directory using a rockspec."
 make.help_arguments = "[--pack-binary-rock] [<rockspec>]"
 make.help = [[
@@ -50,8 +51,7 @@ To install rocks, you'll normally want to use the "install" and
 -- @param name string: A local rockspec.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string, exitcode): True if build was successful; nil and an
 -- error message otherwise. exitcode is optionally returned.
-function make.run(...)
-   local flags, rockspec = util.parse_flags(...)
+function make.command(flags, rockspec)
    assert(type(rockspec) == "string" or not rockspec)
    
    if not rockspec then
diff --git a/src/luarocks/make_manifest.lua b/src/luarocks/make_manifest.lua
index 3d9a6bac..c39c2939 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/make_manifest.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/make_manifest.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ local deps = require("luarocks.deps")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 
+util.add_run_function(make_manifest)
 make_manifest.help_summary = "Compile a manifest file for a repository."
 
 make_manifest.help = [[
@@ -26,9 +27,7 @@ make_manifest.help = [[
 -- the default local repository configured as cfg.rocks_dir is used.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): True if manifest was generated,
 -- or nil and an error message.
-function make_manifest.run(...)
-   local flags, repo = util.parse_flags(...)
-
+function make_manifest.command(flags, repo)
    assert(type(repo) == "string" or not repo)
    repo = repo or cfg.rocks_dir
   
diff --git a/src/luarocks/new_version.lua b/src/luarocks/new_version.lua
index 3382b85c..bd73e308 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/new_version.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/new_version.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local persist = require("luarocks.persist")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 local type_check = require("luarocks.type_check")
 
+util.add_run_function(new_version)
 new_version.help_summary = "Auto-write a rockspec for a new version of a rock."
 new_version.help_arguments = "[--tag=<tag>] [<package>|<rockspec>] [<new_version>] [<new_url>]"
 new_version.help = [[
@@ -123,8 +124,7 @@ local function update_source_section(out_rs, url, tag, old_ver, new_ver)
    return true
 end
  
-function new_version.run(...)
-   local flags, input, version, url = util.parse_flags(...)
+function new_version.command(flags, input, version, url)
    if not input then
       local err
       input, err = util.get_default_rockspec()
diff --git a/src/luarocks/pack.lua b/src/luarocks/pack.lua
index 685b84bd..277cf246 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/pack.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/pack.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
 local search = require("luarocks.search")
 
+util.add_run_function(pack)
 pack.help_summary = "Create a rock, packing sources or binaries."
 pack.help_arguments = "{<rockspec>|<name> [<version>]}"
 pack.help = [[
@@ -191,8 +192,7 @@ end
 -- version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): true if successful or nil followed
 -- by an error message.
-function pack.run(...)
-   local flags, arg, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function pack.command(flags, arg, version)
    assert(type(version) == "string" or not version)
    if type(arg) ~= "string" then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("pack")
diff --git a/src/luarocks/path_cmd.lua b/src/luarocks/path_cmd.lua
index ecd6d4b1..15fb9ca2 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/path_cmd.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/path_cmd.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local util = require("luarocks.util")
 local deps = require("luarocks.deps")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 
+util.add_run_function(path_cmd)
 path_cmd.help_summary = "Return the currently configured package path."
 path_cmd.help_arguments = ""
 path_cmd.help = [[
@@ -33,8 +34,7 @@ And on Windows:
 
 --- Driver function for "path" command.
 -- @return boolean This function always succeeds.
-function path_cmd.run(...)
-   local flags = util.parse_flags(...)
+function path_cmd.command(flags)
    local deps_mode = deps.get_deps_mode(flags)
    
    local lr_path, lr_cpath, lr_bin = cfg.package_paths(flags["tree"])
diff --git a/src/luarocks/purge.lua b/src/luarocks/purge.lua
index 0be6ef21..1ce46c0f 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/purge.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/purge.lua
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local remove = require("luarocks.remove")
 
+util.add_run_function(purge)
 purge.help_summary = "Remove all installed rocks from a tree."
 purge.help_arguments = "--tree=<tree> [--old-versions]"
 purge.help = [[
@@ -30,9 +31,7 @@ assume a default tree.
                 overridden with the flag --force.
 ]]
 
-function purge.run(...)
-   local flags = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function purge.command(flags)
    local tree = flags["tree"]
 
    if type(tree) ~= "string" then
diff --git a/src/luarocks/refresh_cache.lua b/src/luarocks/refresh_cache.lua
index cc5b9c33..bbfd1f4d 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/refresh_cache.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/refresh_cache.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local util = require("luarocks.util")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local cache = require("luarocks.cache")
 
+util.add_run_function(refresh_cache)
 refresh_cache.help_summary = "Refresh local cache of a remote rocks server."
 refresh_cache.help_arguments = "[--from=<server>]"
 refresh_cache.help = [[
@@ -15,8 +16,7 @@ If not given, the default server set in the upload_server variable
 from the configuration file is used instead.
 ]]
 
-function refresh_cache.run(...)
-   local flags = util.parse_flags(...)
+function refresh_cache.command(flags)
    local server, upload_server = cache.get_upload_server(flags["server"])
    if not server then return nil, upload_server end
    local download_url = cache.get_server_urls(server, upload_server)
diff --git a/src/luarocks/remove.lua b/src/luarocks/remove.lua
index df3a49eb..d72fabaf 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/remove.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/remove.lua
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
 local fs = require("luarocks.fs")
 
+util.add_run_function(remove)
 remove.help_summary = "Uninstall a rock."
 remove.help_arguments = "[--force|--force-fast] <name> [<version>]"
 remove.help = [[
@@ -136,9 +137,7 @@ end
 -- may also be given.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string, exitcode): True if removal was
 -- successful, nil and an error message otherwise. exitcode is optionally returned.
-function remove.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function remove.command(flags, name, version)
    if type(name) ~= "string" then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("remove")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/search.lua b/src/luarocks/search.lua
index 4ec0c65e..eaa321d5 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/search.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/search.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ local deps = require("luarocks.deps")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local util = require("luarocks.util")
 
+util.add_run_function(search)
 search.help_summary = "Query the LuaRocks servers."
 search.help_arguments = "[--source] [--binary] { <name> [<version>] | --all }"
 search.help = [[
@@ -420,9 +421,7 @@ end
 -- @param version string or nil: a version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): True if build was successful; nil and an
 -- error message otherwise.
-function search.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
-   
+function search.command(flags, name, version)
    if flags["all"] then
       name, version = "", nil
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/show.lua b/src/luarocks/show.lua
index 1dc01cc0..01860e78 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/show.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/show.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ local path = require("luarocks.path")
 local deps = require("luarocks.deps")
 local fetch = require("luarocks.fetch")
 local manif = require("luarocks.manif")
+
+util.add_run_function(show)
 show.help_summary = "Show information about an installed rock."
 
 show.help = [[
@@ -103,8 +105,7 @@ end
 -- @param name or nil: an existing package name.
 -- @param version string or nil: a version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean: True if succeeded, nil on errors.
-function show.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
+function show.command(flags, name, version)
    if not name then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("show")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/unpack.lua b/src/luarocks/unpack.lua
index 4afe4547..2face005 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/unpack.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/unpack.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ local build = require("luarocks.build")
 local dir = require("luarocks.dir")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 
+util.add_run_function(unpack)
 unpack.help_summary = "Unpack the contents of a rock."
 unpack.help_arguments = "[--force] {<rock>|<name> [<version>]}"
 unpack.help = [[
@@ -149,9 +150,7 @@ end
 -- version may also be passed.
 -- @return boolean or (nil, string): true if successful or nil followed
 -- by an error message.
-function unpack.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version = util.parse_flags(...)
-
+function unpack.command(flags, name, version)
    assert(type(version) == "string" or not version)
    if type(name) ~= "string" then
       return nil, "Argument missing. "..util.see_help("unpack")
diff --git a/src/luarocks/upload.lua b/src/luarocks/upload.lua
index 19ddee8d..3adc1704 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/upload.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/upload.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local pack = require("luarocks.pack")
 local cfg = require("luarocks.cfg")
 local Api = require("luarocks.upload.api")
 
+util.add_run_function(upload)
 upload.help_summary = "Upload a rockspec to the public rocks repository."
 upload.help_arguments = "[--skip-pack] [--api-key=<key>] [--force] <rockspec>"
 upload.help = [[
@@ -20,8 +21,7 @@ upload.help = [[
                  increment the revision number instead.
 ]]
 
-function upload.run(...)
-   local flags, fname = util.parse_flags(...)
+function upload.command(flags, fname)
    if not fname then
       return nil, "Missing rockspec. "..util.see_help("upload")
    end
diff --git a/src/luarocks/util.lua b/src/luarocks/util.lua
index f7e9b1ae..532bea8b 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/util.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/util.lua
@@ -196,36 +196,11 @@ function util.parse_flags(...)
    return flags, unpack(out)
 end
 
---- Build a sequence of flags for forwarding from one command to
--- another (for example, from "install" to "build").
--- @param flags table: A table of parsed flags
--- @param ... string...: A variable number of flags to be checked
--- in the flags table. If no flags are passed as varargs, the
--- entire flags table is forwarded.
--- @return string... A variable number of strings
-function util.forward_flags(flags, ...)
-   assert(type(flags) == "table")
-   local out = {}
-   local filter = select('#', ...)
-   local function add_flag(flagname)
-      if flags[flagname] then
-         if flags[flagname] == true then
-            table.insert(out, "--"..flagname)
-         else
-            table.insert(out, "--"..flagname.."="..flags[flagname])
-         end
-      end
-   end
-   if filter > 0 then
-      for i = 1, filter do
-         add_flag(select(i, ...))
-      end
-   else
-      for flagname, _ in pairs(flags) do
-         add_flag(flagname)
-      end
-   end
-   return unpack(out)
+-- Adds legacy 'run' function to a command module.
+-- @param command table: command module with 'command' function,
+-- the added 'run' function calls it after parseing command-line arguments.
+function util.add_run_function(command)
+   command.run = function(...) return command.command(util.parse_flags(...)) end
 end
 
 --- Merges contents of src on top of dst's contents.
diff --git a/src/luarocks/validate.lua b/src/luarocks/validate.lua
index 24c6f835..c4570aa4 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/validate.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/validate.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ local build = require("luarocks.build")
 local install = require("luarocks.install")
 local util = require("luarocks.util")
 
+util.add_run_function(validate)
 validate.help_summary = "Sandboxed test of build/install of all packages in a repository."
 
 validate.help = [[
@@ -74,8 +75,7 @@ local function validate_rock(file)
    return ok, err, errcode
 end
 
-function validate.run(...)
-   local flags, repo = util.parse_flags(...)
+function validate.command(flags, repo)
    repo = repo or cfg.rocks_dir
 
    util.printout("Verifying contents of "..repo)
diff --git a/src/luarocks/write_rockspec.lua b/src/luarocks/write_rockspec.lua
index 79902bb4..33edeb1b 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/write_rockspec.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/write_rockspec.lua
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ local persist = require("luarocks.persist")
 local type_check = require("luarocks.type_check")
 local util = require("luarocks.util")
 
+util.add_run_function(write_rockspec)
 write_rockspec.help_summary = "Write a template for a rockspec file."
 write_rockspec.help_arguments = "[--output=<file> ...] [<name>] [<version>] [<url>|<path>]"
 write_rockspec.help = [[
@@ -224,9 +225,7 @@ local function rockspec_cleanup(rockspec)
    rockspec.name = nil
 end
 
-function write_rockspec.run(...)
-   local flags, name, version, url_or_dir = util.parse_flags(...)
-
+function write_rockspec.command(flags, name, version, url_or_dir)
    if not name then
       url_or_dir = "."
    elseif not version then