diff --git a/aos/aos_cli_utils.h b/aos/aos_cli_utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e158737
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aos/aos_cli_utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#ifndef AOS_AOS_CLI_UTILS_H_
+#define AOS_AOS_CLI_UTILS_H_
+
+#include "aos/configuration.h"
+#include "aos/events/shm_event_loop.h"
+#include "gflags/gflags.h"
+
+namespace aos {
+
+// The information needed by the main function of a CLI tool.
+struct CliUtilInfo {
+  // If this returns true, main should return immediately with 0.
+  // If this returns false, the other fields will be filled out appropriately.
+  // event_loop will be filled out before channel_filter is called.
+  bool Initialize(int *argc, char ***argv,
+                  std::function<bool(const aos::Channel *)> channel_filter);
+
+  std::optional<aos::FlatbufferDetachedBuffer<aos::Configuration>> config;
+  std::optional<aos::ShmEventLoop> event_loop;
+  std::vector<const aos::Channel *> found_channels;
+
+ private:
+  // Generate eval command to populate autocomplete responses. Eval escapes
+  // spaces so channels are paired with their types. If a complete channel name
+  // is found, only autocompletes the type to avoid repeating arguments. Returns
+  // no autocomplete suggestions if a channel and type is found with the current
+  // arguments.
+  void Autocomplete(std::string_view channel_name,
+                    std::string_view message_type,
+                    std::function<bool(const aos::Channel *)> channel_filter);
+
+  void ShiftArgs(int *argc, char ***argv) {
+    for (int i = 1; i + 1 < *argc; ++i) {
+      (*argv)[i] = (*argv)[i + 1];
+    }
+    --*argc;
+  }
+};
+
+}  // namespace aos
+
+#endif  // AOS_AOS_CLI_UTILS_H_