diff --git a/packages/cli/bin/backstage-cli-alpha b/packages/cli/bin/backstage-cli-alpha
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..38a2df3319
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/bin/backstage-cli-alpha
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+require('@backstage/cli/config/nodeTransform.cjs');
+require('../src/alpha');
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/alpha.ts b/packages/cli/src/alpha.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4b2cfa4842
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/alpha.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { CliInitializer } from './wiring/CliInitializer';
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+
+(async () => {
+  console.warn(
+    chalk.yellow(
+      'THIS ENTRYPOINT IS IN ALPHA AND MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE - DO NOT USE THIS FOR NORMAL DEVELOPMENT',
+    ),
+  );
+  const initializer = new CliInitializer();
+  initializer.add(import('./modules/config/alpha').then(m => m.default));
+  await initializer.run();
+})();
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/build/buildFrontend.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/build/buildFrontend.ts
index 59f3225738..0ba0669c32 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/build/buildFrontend.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/build/buildFrontend.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import { resolve as resolvePath } from 'path';
 import { buildBundle, getModuleFederationOptions } from '../../lib/bundler';
 import { getEnvironmentParallelism } from '../../lib/parallel';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../../lib/config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../../modules/config/lib/config';
 
 interface BuildAppOptions {
   targetDir: string;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
index 2a77d527c1..f249563a34 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
@@ -15,15 +15,11 @@
  */
 
 import { Command, Option } from 'commander';
-import { assertError } from '@backstage/errors';
-import { exitWithError } from '../lib/errors';
-
-const configOption = [
-  '--config <path>',
-  'Config files to load instead of app-config.yaml',
-  (opt: string, opts: string[]) => (opts ? [...opts, opt] : [opt]),
-  Array<string>(),
-] as const;
+import { lazy } from '../lib/lazy';
+import {
+  configOption,
+  registerCommands as registerConfigCommands,
+} from '../modules/config';
 
 export function registerRepoCommand(program: Command) {
   const command = program
@@ -279,66 +275,7 @@ export function registerCommands(program: Command) {
     .option('--no-private', 'Do not mark new packages as private')
     .action(lazy(() => import('./new/new').then(m => m.default)));
 
-  program
-    .command('config:docs')
-    .option(
-      '--package <name>',
-      'Only include the schema that applies to the given package',
-    )
-    .description('Browse the configuration reference documentation')
-    .action(lazy(() => import('./config/docs').then(m => m.default)));
-
-  program
-    .command('config:print')
-    .option(
-      '--package <name>',
-      'Only load config schema that applies to the given package',
-    )
-    .option('--lax', 'Do not require environment variables to be set')
-    .option('--frontend', 'Print only the frontend configuration')
-    .option('--with-secrets', 'Include secrets in the printed configuration')
-    .option(
-      '--format <format>',
-      'Format to print the configuration in, either json or yaml [yaml]',
-    )
-    .option(...configOption)
-    .description('Print the app configuration for the current package')
-    .action(lazy(() => import('./config/print').then(m => m.default)));
-
-  program
-    .command('config:check')
-    .option(
-      '--package <name>',
-      'Only load config schema that applies to the given package',
-    )
-    .option('--lax', 'Do not require environment variables to be set')
-    .option('--frontend', 'Only validate the frontend configuration')
-    .option('--deprecated', 'Output deprecated configuration settings')
-    .option(
-      '--strict',
-      'Enable strict config validation, forbidding errors and unknown keys',
-    )
-    .option(...configOption)
-    .description(
-      'Validate that the given configuration loads and matches schema',
-    )
-    .action(lazy(() => import('./config/validate').then(m => m.default)));
-
-  program
-    .command('config:schema')
-    .option(
-      '--package <name>',
-      'Only output config schema that applies to the given package',
-    )
-    .option(
-      '--format <format>',
-      'Format to print the schema in, either json or yaml [yaml]',
-    )
-    .option('--merge', 'Print the config schemas merged', true)
-    .option('--no-merge', 'Print the config schemas not merged')
-    .description('Print configuration schema')
-    .action(lazy(() => import('./config/schema').then(m => m.default)));
-
+  registerConfigCommands(program);
   registerRepoCommand(program);
   registerScriptCommand(program);
   registerMigrateCommand(program);
@@ -444,20 +381,3 @@ function removed(message?: string) {
     process.exit(1);
   };
 }
-
-// Wraps an action function so that it always exits and handles errors
-function lazy(
-  getActionFunc: () => Promise<(...args: any[]) => Promise<void>>,
-): (...args: any[]) => Promise<never> {
-  return async (...args: any[]) => {
-    try {
-      const actionFunc = await getActionFunc();
-      await actionFunc(...args);
-
-      process.exit(0);
-    } catch (error) {
-      assertError(error);
-      exitWithError(error);
-    }
-  };
-}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/bundler/server.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/bundler/server.ts
index f8d259f467..dc16a4577d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/bundler/server.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/bundler/server.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import webpack from 'webpack';
 import WebpackDevServer from 'webpack-dev-server';
 
 import { paths as libPaths } from '../../lib/paths';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../../modules/config/lib/config';
 import { createConfig, resolveBaseUrl, resolveEndpoint } from './config';
 import { createDetectedModulesEntryPoint } from './packageDetection';
 import { resolveBundlingPaths, resolveOptionalBundlingPaths } from './paths';
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/lazy.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/lazy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d2cb1cd4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/lazy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { assertError } from '@backstage/errors';
+import { exitWithError } from '../lib/errors';
+
+// Wraps an action function so that it always exits and handles errors
+export function lazy(
+  getActionFunc: () => Promise<(...args: any[]) => Promise<void>>,
+): (...args: any[]) => Promise<never> {
+  return async (...args: any[]) => {
+    try {
+      const actionFunc = await getActionFunc();
+      await actionFunc(...args);
+
+      process.exit(0);
+    } catch (error) {
+      assertError(error);
+      exitWithError(error);
+    }
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/config/alpha.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/alpha.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c32982086a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/alpha.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { createCliPlugin } from '../../wiring/factory';
+import yargs from 'yargs';
+import { Command } from 'commander';
+import { lazy } from '../../lib/lazy';
+
+export default createCliPlugin({
+  pluginId: 'config',
+  init: async reg => {
+    reg.addCommand({
+      path: ['config:docs'],
+      description: 'Browse the configuration reference documentation',
+      execute: async ({ args }) => {
+        const command = new Command();
+        const defaultCommand = command
+          .option(
+            '--package <name>',
+            'Only include the schema that applies to the given package',
+          )
+          .description('Browse the configuration reference documentation')
+          .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/docs').then(m => m.default)));
+
+        await defaultCommand.parseAsync(args, { from: 'user' });
+      },
+    });
+    reg.addCommand({
+      path: ['config', 'docs'],
+      description: 'Browse the configuration reference documentation',
+      execute: async ({ args }) => {
+        const argv = await yargs
+          .options({
+            package: { type: 'string' },
+          })
+          .help()
+          .parse(args);
+        const m = await import('./commands/docs');
+        await m.default(argv);
+      },
+    });
+    reg.addCommand({
+      path: ['config:print'],
+      description: 'Print the app configuration for the current package',
+      execute: async ({ args }) => {
+        const argv = await yargs
+          .options({
+            package: { type: 'string' },
+            lax: { type: 'boolean' },
+            frontend: { type: 'boolean' },
+            'with-secrets': { type: 'boolean' },
+            format: { type: 'string' },
+            config: { type: 'string', array: true },
+          })
+          .help()
+          .parse(args);
+        const m = await import('./commands/print');
+        await m.default(argv);
+      },
+    });
+    reg.addCommand({
+      path: ['config:check'],
+      description:
+        'Validate that the given configuration loads and matches schema',
+      execute: async ({ args }) => {
+        const argv = await yargs
+          .options({
+            package: { type: 'string' },
+            lax: { type: 'boolean' },
+            frontend: { type: 'boolean' },
+            deprecated: { type: 'boolean' },
+            strict: { type: 'boolean', required: true },
+            config: {
+              type: 'string',
+              array: true,
+              default: [],
+            },
+          })
+          .help()
+          .parse(args);
+        const m = await import('./commands/validate');
+        await m.default(argv);
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/docs.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/docs.ts
similarity index 96%
rename from packages/cli/src/commands/config/docs.ts
rename to packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/docs.ts
index 98e683e87c..25e3a864f4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/docs.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/docs.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import { mergeConfigSchemas } from '@backstage/config-loader';
 import { OptionValues } from 'commander';
 import { JSONSchema7 as JSONSchema } from 'json-schema';
 import openBrowser from 'react-dev-utils/openBrowser';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../../lib/config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../lib/config';
 
 const DOCS_URL = 'https://config.backstage.io';
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/print.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/print.ts
similarity index 97%
rename from packages/cli/src/commands/config/print.ts
rename to packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/print.ts
index 9ef725ebf8..98833a7946 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/print.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/print.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import { OptionValues } from 'commander';
 import { stringify as stringifyYaml } from 'yaml';
 import { AppConfig, ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../../lib/config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../lib/config';
 import { ConfigSchema, ConfigVisibility } from '@backstage/config-loader';
 
 export default async (opts: OptionValues) => {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/schema.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/schema.ts
similarity index 97%
rename from packages/cli/src/commands/config/schema.ts
rename to packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/schema.ts
index 08bc46d1cc..73eb487d60 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/schema.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import { OptionValues } from 'commander';
 import { JSONSchema7 as JSONSchema } from 'json-schema';
 import { stringify as stringifyYaml } from 'yaml';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../../lib/config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../lib/config';
 import { JsonObject } from '@backstage/types';
 import { mergeConfigSchemas } from '@backstage/config-loader';
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/validate.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/validate.ts
similarity index 94%
rename from packages/cli/src/commands/config/validate.ts
rename to packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/validate.ts
index c81d82832e..ac0b9d15e0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/config/validate.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/commands/validate.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  */
 
 import { OptionValues } from 'commander';
-import { loadCliConfig } from '../../lib/config';
+import { loadCliConfig } from '../lib/config';
 
 export default async (opts: OptionValues) => {
   await loadCliConfig({
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/config/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c6a79577d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Command } from 'commander';
+import { lazy } from '../../lib/lazy';
+
+export const configOption = [
+  '--config <path>',
+  'Config files to load instead of app-config.yaml',
+  (opt: string, opts: string[]) => (opts ? [...opts, opt] : [opt]),
+  Array<string>(),
+] as const;
+
+export function registerCommands(program: Command) {
+  program
+    .command('config:docs')
+    .option(
+      '--package <name>',
+      'Only include the schema that applies to the given package',
+    )
+    .description('Browse the configuration reference documentation')
+    .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/docs').then(m => m.default)));
+
+  program
+    .command('config:print')
+    .option(
+      '--package <name>',
+      'Only load config schema that applies to the given package',
+    )
+    .option('--lax', 'Do not require environment variables to be set')
+    .option('--frontend', 'Print only the frontend configuration')
+    .option('--with-secrets', 'Include secrets in the printed configuration')
+    .option(
+      '--format <format>',
+      'Format to print the configuration in, either json or yaml [yaml]',
+    )
+    .option(...configOption)
+    .description('Print the app configuration for the current package')
+    .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/print').then(m => m.default)));
+
+  program
+    .command('config:check')
+    .option(
+      '--package <name>',
+      'Only load config schema that applies to the given package',
+    )
+    .option('--lax', 'Do not require environment variables to be set')
+    .option('--frontend', 'Only validate the frontend configuration')
+    .option('--deprecated', 'Output deprecated configuration settings')
+    .option(
+      '--strict',
+      'Enable strict config validation, forbidding errors and unknown keys',
+    )
+    .option(...configOption)
+    .description(
+      'Validate that the given configuration loads and matches schema',
+    )
+    .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/validate').then(m => m.default)));
+
+  program
+    .command('config:schema')
+    .option(
+      '--package <name>',
+      'Only output config schema that applies to the given package',
+    )
+    .option(
+      '--format <format>',
+      'Format to print the schema in, either json or yaml [yaml]',
+    )
+    .option('--merge', 'Print the config schemas merged', true)
+    .option('--no-merge', 'Print the config schemas not merged')
+    .description('Print configuration schema')
+    .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/schema').then(m => m.default)));
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/config.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/lib/config.ts
similarity index 99%
rename from packages/cli/src/lib/config.ts
rename to packages/cli/src/modules/config/lib/config.ts
index aab16a8670..afed53af6f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/config.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/config/lib/config.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { ConfigSources, loadConfigSchema } from '@backstage/config-loader';
 import { AppConfig, ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
-import { paths } from './paths';
+import { paths } from '../../../lib/paths';
 import { getPackages } from '@manypkg/get-packages';
 import { PackageGraph } from '@backstage/cli-node';
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/CliInitializer.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CliInitializer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9fe8bb8084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CliInitializer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { CommandGraph } from './CommandGraph';
+import { CliFeature, InternalCliFeature, InternalCliPlugin } from './types';
+import { CommandRegistry } from './CommandRegistry';
+import { program } from 'commander';
+import { version } from '../lib/version';
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+import { exitWithError } from '../lib/errors';
+import { assertError } from '@backstage/errors';
+
+type UninitializedFeature = CliFeature | Promise<CliFeature>;
+
+export class CliInitializer {
+  private graph = new CommandGraph();
+  private commandRegistry = new CommandRegistry(this.graph);
+  #uninitiazedFeatures: Promise<CliFeature>[] = [];
+
+  add(module: UninitializedFeature) {
+    this.#uninitiazedFeatures.push(Promise.resolve(module));
+  }
+
+  async #register(feature: CliFeature) {
+    if (isCliPlugin(feature)) {
+      await feature.init(this.commandRegistry);
+    } else {
+      throw new Error(`Unsupported feature type: ${feature.$$type}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async #doInit() {
+    const features = await Promise.all(this.#uninitiazedFeatures);
+    for (const feature of features) {
+      await this.#register(feature);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Actually parse argv and pass it to the command.
+   */
+  async run() {
+    await this.#doInit();
+    program
+      .name('backstage-cli')
+      .version(version)
+      .allowUnknownOption(true)
+      .allowExcessArguments(true);
+
+    const queue = this.graph.atDepth(0).map(node => ({
+      node,
+      argParser: program,
+    }));
+    while (queue.length) {
+      const { node, argParser } = queue.shift()!;
+      if (node.$$type === '@tree/root') {
+        const treeParser = argParser
+          .command(`${node.name} [command]`)
+          .description(node.name);
+
+        queue.push(
+          ...node.children.map(child => ({
+            node: child,
+            argParser: treeParser,
+          })),
+        );
+      } else {
+        argParser
+          .command(node.name)
+          .description(node.command.description)
+          .helpOption(false)
+          .allowUnknownOption(true)
+          .allowExcessArguments(true)
+          .action(async () => {
+            try {
+              await node.command.execute({
+                args: program.parseOptions(process.argv).unknown,
+              });
+              process.exit(0);
+            } catch (error) {
+              assertError(error);
+              exitWithError(error);
+            }
+          });
+      }
+    }
+    program.on('command:*', () => {
+      console.log();
+      console.log(chalk.red(`Invalid command: ${program.args.join(' ')}`));
+      console.log();
+      program.outputHelp();
+      process.exit(1);
+    });
+
+    process.on('unhandledRejection', rejection => {
+      if (rejection instanceof Error) {
+        exitWithError(rejection);
+      } else {
+        exitWithError(new Error(`Unknown rejection: '${rejection}'`));
+      }
+    });
+
+    program.parse(process.argv);
+  }
+}
+
+function toInternalCliFeature(feature: CliFeature): InternalCliFeature {
+  if (feature.$$type !== '@backstage/CliFeature') {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid CliFeature, bad type '${feature.$$type}'`);
+  }
+  const internal = feature as InternalCliFeature;
+  if (internal.version !== 'v1') {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid CliFeature, bad version '${internal.version}'`);
+  }
+  return internal;
+}
+
+function isCliPlugin(feature: CliFeature): feature is InternalCliPlugin {
+  const internal = toInternalCliFeature(feature);
+  if (internal.featureType === 'plugin') {
+    return true;
+  }
+  // Backwards compatibility for v1 registrations that use duck typing
+  return 'plugin' in internal;
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandGraph.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandGraph.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a0a2de3305
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandGraph.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { BackstageCommand } from './types';
+
+type Node = TreeNode | LeafNode;
+
+interface TreeNode {
+  $$type: '@tree/root';
+  name: string;
+  children: TreeNode[];
+}
+
+interface LeafNode {
+  $$type: '@tree/leaf';
+  name: string;
+  command: BackstageCommand;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A sparse graph of commands.
+ */
+export class CommandGraph {
+  private graph: Node[] = [];
+
+  /**
+   * Adds a command to the graph. The graph is sparse, so we use the path to determine the nodes
+   *    to traverse. Only leaf nodes should have a command/action.
+   */
+  add(command: BackstageCommand) {
+    const path = command.path;
+    let current = this.graph;
+    for (let i = 0; i < path.length - 1; i++) {
+      const name = path[i];
+      let next = current.find(n => n.name === name);
+      if (!next) {
+        next = { $$type: '@tree/root', name, children: [] };
+        current.push(next);
+      } else if (next.$$type === '@tree/leaf') {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Command already exists at path: "${path.slice(0, i).join(' ')}"`,
+        );
+      }
+      current = next.children;
+    }
+    const last = current.find(n => n.name === path[path.length - 1]);
+    if (last && last.$$type === '@tree/leaf') {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Command already exists at path: "${path.slice(0, -1).join(' ')}"`,
+      );
+    } else {
+      current.push({
+        $$type: '@tree/leaf',
+        name: path[path.length - 1],
+        command,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Given a path, try to find a command that matches it.
+   */
+  find(path: string[]): BackstageCommand | undefined {
+    let current = this.graph;
+    for (let i = 0; i < path.length - 1; i++) {
+      const name = path[i];
+      const next = current.find(n => n.name === name);
+      if (!next) {
+        return undefined;
+      } else if (next.$$type === '@tree/leaf') {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+      current = next.children;
+    }
+    const last = current.find(n => n.name === path[path.length - 1]);
+    if (!last || last.$$type === '@tree/root') {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    return last?.command;
+  }
+
+  atDepth(depth: number): Node[] {
+    let current = this.graph;
+    for (let i = 0; i < depth; i++) {
+      current = current.flatMap(n =>
+        n.$$type === '@tree/root' ? n.children : [],
+      );
+    }
+    return current;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandRegistry.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandRegistry.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e8ff9646c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/CommandRegistry.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { CommandGraph } from './CommandGraph';
+import { BackstageCommand } from './types';
+
+export class CommandRegistry {
+  private graph: CommandGraph;
+  constructor(graph: CommandGraph) {
+    this.graph = graph;
+  }
+
+  addCommand(command: BackstageCommand) {
+    this.graph.add(command);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/factory.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/factory.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eec058e180
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/factory.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { CommandRegistry } from './CommandRegistry';
+import { InternalCliPlugin } from './types';
+
+export function createCliPlugin(options: {
+  pluginId: string;
+  init: (registry: CommandRegistry) => Promise<void>;
+}): InternalCliPlugin {
+  return {
+    id: options.pluginId,
+    init: options.init,
+    $$type: '@backstage/CliFeature',
+    version: 'v1',
+    featureType: 'plugin',
+    description: 'A Backstage CLI plugin',
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/types.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9237a4c3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+import { CommandRegistry } from './CommandRegistry';
+
+export interface BackstageCommand {
+  path: string[];
+  description: string;
+  execute: (options: { args: string[] }) => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export interface CliFeature {
+  $$type: '@backstage/CliFeature';
+}
+
+export interface CliPlugin {
+  id: string;
+  init: (registry: CommandRegistry) => Promise<void>;
+  $$type: '@backstage/CliFeature';
+}
+
+/**
+ * @public
+ */
+export interface InternalCliPlugin extends CliFeature {
+  version: 'v1';
+  featureType: 'plugin';
+  description: string;
+  id: string;
+  init: (registry: CommandRegistry) => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+/** @internal */
+export type InternalCliFeature = InternalCliPlugin;