diff --git a/command-line-arguments.c b/command-line-arguments.c
index dc517b06..f1a5b232 100644
--- a/command-line-arguments.c
+++ b/command-line-arguments.c
@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@ _process_keyword_arg (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *arg_desc, char next, const char
 
     while (keywords->name) {
 	if (strcmp (arg_str, keywords->name) == 0) {
-	    if (arg_desc->output_var) {
-		if (arg_desc->opt_type == NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS)
-		    *((int *)arg_desc->output_var) |= keywords->value;
-		else
-		    *((int *)arg_desc->output_var) = keywords->value;
-	    }
+	    if (arg_desc->opt_flags)
+		*arg_desc->opt_flags |= keywords->value;
+	    else
+		*arg_desc->opt_keyword = keywords->value;
 	    return TRUE;
 	}
 	keywords++;
@@ -43,15 +41,15 @@ static notmuch_bool_t
 _process_boolean_arg (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *arg_desc, char next, const char *arg_str) {
 
     if (next == '\0') {
-	*((notmuch_bool_t *)arg_desc->output_var) = TRUE;
+	*arg_desc->opt_bool = TRUE;
 	return TRUE;
     }
     if (strcmp (arg_str, "false") == 0) {
-	*((notmuch_bool_t *)arg_desc->output_var) = FALSE;
+	*arg_desc->opt_bool = FALSE;
 	return TRUE;
     }
     if (strcmp (arg_str, "true") == 0) {
-	*((notmuch_bool_t *)arg_desc->output_var) = TRUE;
+	*arg_desc->opt_bool = TRUE;
 	return TRUE;
     }
     fprintf (stderr, "Unknown argument \"%s\" for (boolean) option \"%s\".\n", arg_str, arg_desc->name);
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ _process_int_arg (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *arg_desc, char next, const char *arg
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-    *((int *)arg_desc->output_var) = strtol (arg_str, &endptr, 10);
+    *arg_desc->opt_int = strtol (arg_str, &endptr, 10);
     if (*endptr == '\0')
 	return TRUE;
 
@@ -87,10 +85,35 @@ _process_string_arg (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *arg_desc, char next, const char *
 	fprintf (stderr, "String argument for option \"%s\" must be non-empty.\n", arg_desc->name);
 	return FALSE;
     }
-    *((const char **)arg_desc->output_var) = arg_str;
+    *arg_desc->opt_string = arg_str;
     return TRUE;
 }
 
+/* Return number of non-NULL opt_* fields in opt_desc. */
+static int _opt_set_count (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *opt_desc)
+{
+    return
+	!!opt_desc->opt_inherit +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_bool +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_int +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_keyword +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_flags +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_string +
+	!!opt_desc->opt_position;
+}
+
+/* Return TRUE if opt_desc is valid. */
+static notmuch_bool_t _opt_valid (const notmuch_opt_desc_t *opt_desc)
+{
+    int n = _opt_set_count (opt_desc);
+
+    if (n > 1)
+	INTERNAL_ERROR ("more than one non-NULL opt_* field for argument \"%s\"",
+			opt_desc->name);
+
+    return n > 0;
+}
+
 /*
    Search for the {pos_arg_index}th position argument, return FALSE if
    that does not exist.
@@ -101,12 +124,10 @@ parse_position_arg (const char *arg_str, int pos_arg_index,
 		    const notmuch_opt_desc_t *arg_desc) {
 
     int pos_arg_counter = 0;
-    while (arg_desc->opt_type != NOTMUCH_OPT_END){
-	if (arg_desc->opt_type == NOTMUCH_OPT_POSITION) {
+    while (_opt_valid (arg_desc)) {
+	if (arg_desc->opt_position) {
 	    if (pos_arg_counter == pos_arg_index) {
-		if (arg_desc->output_var) {
-		    *((const char **)arg_desc->output_var) = arg_str;
-		}
+		*arg_desc->opt_position = arg_str;
 		return TRUE;
 	    }
 	    pos_arg_counter++;
@@ -138,9 +159,9 @@ parse_option (int argc, char **argv, const notmuch_opt_desc_t *options, int opt_
     if (opt_index < argc - 1  && strncmp (argv[opt_index + 1], "--", 2) != 0)
 	next_arg = argv[opt_index + 1];
 
-    for (try = options; try->opt_type != NOTMUCH_OPT_END; try++) {
-	if (try->opt_type == NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT) {
-	    int new_index = parse_option (argc, argv, try->output_var, opt_index);
+    for (try = options; _opt_valid (try); try++) {
+	if (try->opt_inherit) {
+	    int new_index = parse_option (argc, argv, try->opt_inherit, opt_index);
 	    if (new_index >= 0)
 		return new_index;
 	}
@@ -163,36 +184,24 @@ parse_option (int argc, char **argv, const notmuch_opt_desc_t *options, int opt_
 	if (next != '=' && next != ':' && next != '\0')
 	    continue;
 
-	if (next == '\0' && next_arg != NULL && try->opt_type != NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN) {
+	if (next == '\0' && next_arg != NULL && ! try->opt_bool) {
 	    next = ' ';
 	    value = next_arg;
 	    opt_index ++;
 	}
 
-	if (try->output_var == NULL)
-	    INTERNAL_ERROR ("output pointer NULL for option %s", try->name);
-
 	notmuch_bool_t opt_status = FALSE;
-	switch (try->opt_type) {
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD:
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS:
+	if (try->opt_keyword || try->opt_flags)
 	    opt_status = _process_keyword_arg (try, next, value);
-	    break;
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN:
+	else if (try->opt_bool)
 	    opt_status = _process_boolean_arg (try, next, value);
-	    break;
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_INT:
+	else if (try->opt_int)
 	    opt_status = _process_int_arg (try, next, value);
-	    break;
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING:
+	else if (try->opt_string)
 	    opt_status = _process_string_arg (try, next, value);
-	    break;
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_POSITION:
-	case NOTMUCH_OPT_END:
-	default:
-	    INTERNAL_ERROR ("unknown or unhandled option type %d", try->opt_type);
-	    /*UNREACHED*/
-	}
+	else
+	    INTERNAL_ERROR ("unknown or unhandled option \"%s\"", try->name);
+
 	if (opt_status)
 	    return opt_index+1;
 	else
diff --git a/command-line-arguments.h b/command-line-arguments.h
index 4c4d240e..ff51abce 100644
--- a/command-line-arguments.h
+++ b/command-line-arguments.h
@@ -3,17 +3,6 @@
 
 #include "notmuch.h"
 
-enum notmuch_opt_type {
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_END = 0,
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT,	/* another options table */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,	/* --verbose              */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_INT,		/* --frob=8               */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD,	/* --format=raw|json|text */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS,	/* the above with values OR'd together */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING,		/* --file=/tmp/gnarf.txt  */
-    NOTMUCH_OPT_POSITION	/* notmuch dump pos_arg   */
-};
-
 /*
  * Describe one of the possibilities for a keyword option
  * 'value' will be copied to the output variable
@@ -24,22 +13,21 @@ typedef struct notmuch_keyword {
     int value;
 } notmuch_keyword_t;
 
-/*
- * Describe one option.
- *
- * First two parameters are mandatory.
- *
- * name is mandatory _except_ for positional arguments.
- *
- * arg_id is currently unused, but could define short arguments.
- *
- * keywords is a (possibly NULL) pointer to an array of keywords
- */
+/* Describe one option. */
 typedef struct notmuch_opt_desc {
-    enum notmuch_opt_type opt_type;
-    void *output_var;
+    /* One and only one of opt_* must be set. */
+    const struct notmuch_opt_desc *opt_inherit;
+    notmuch_bool_t *opt_bool;
+    int *opt_int;
+    int *opt_keyword;
+    int *opt_flags;
+    const char **opt_string;
+    const char **opt_position;
+
+    /* Must be set except for opt_inherit and opt_position. */
     const char *name;
-    int  arg_id;
+
+    /* Must be set for opt_keyword and opt_flags. */
     const struct notmuch_keyword *keywords;
 } notmuch_opt_desc_t;
 
diff --git a/notmuch-client.h b/notmuch-client.h
index 9d0f367d..c68538fc 100644
--- a/notmuch-client.h
+++ b/notmuch-client.h
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ status_to_exit (notmuch_status_t status);
 
 #include "command-line-arguments.h"
 
-extern char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid;
+extern const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid;
 extern const notmuch_opt_desc_t  notmuch_shared_options [];
 void notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch_database_t *notmuch);
 
diff --git a/notmuch-compact.c b/notmuch-compact.c
index 855545d7..ae464e48 100644
--- a/notmuch-compact.c
+++ b/notmuch-compact.c
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ notmuch_compact_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     int opt_index;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &backup_path, "backup", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &quiet, "quiet", 'q', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}
+	{ .opt_string = &backup_path, .name = "backup" },
+	{ .opt_bool =  &quiet, .name = "quiet" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-count.c b/notmuch-count.c
index 97281374..b8b03cdb 100644
--- a/notmuch-count.c
+++ b/notmuch-count.c
@@ -166,24 +166,24 @@ notmuch_count_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_bool_t batch = FALSE;
     notmuch_bool_t print_lastmod = FALSE;
     FILE *input = stdin;
-    char *input_file_name = NULL;
+    const char *input_file_name = NULL;
     int ret;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &output, "output", 'o',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &output, .name = "output", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "threads", OUTPUT_THREADS },
 				  { "messages", OUTPUT_MESSAGES },
 				  { "files", OUTPUT_FILES },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &exclude, "exclude", 'x',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &exclude, .name = "exclude", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "true", EXCLUDE_TRUE },
 				  { "false", EXCLUDE_FALSE },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &print_lastmod, "lastmod", 'l', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &batch, "batch", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &input_file_name, "input", 'i', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_bool = &print_lastmod, .name = "lastmod" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &batch, .name = "batch" },
+	{ .opt_string = &input_file_name, .name = "input" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-dump.c b/notmuch-dump.c
index 5cc3b2f6..03e64d60 100644
--- a/notmuch-dump.c
+++ b/notmuch-dump.c
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
 
-    char *output_file_name = NULL;
+    const char *output_file_name = NULL;
     int opt_index;
 
     int output_format = DUMP_FORMAT_BATCH_TAG;
@@ -377,18 +377,18 @@ notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_bool_t gzip_output = 0;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &output_format, "format", 'f',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &output_format, .name = "format", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "sup", DUMP_FORMAT_SUP },
 				  { "batch-tag", DUMP_FORMAT_BATCH_TAG },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS, &include, "include", 'I',
+	{ .opt_flags = &include, .name = "include", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "config", DUMP_INCLUDE_CONFIG },
 				  { "properties", DUMP_INCLUDE_PROPERTIES },
 				  { "tags", DUMP_INCLUDE_TAGS} } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &output_file_name, "output", 'o', 0  },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &gzip_output, "gzip", 'z', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_string = &output_file_name, .name = "output" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &gzip_output, .name = "gzip" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-insert.c b/notmuch-insert.c
index 040b6aa0..bbbc29ea 100644
--- a/notmuch-insert.c
+++ b/notmuch-insert.c
@@ -463,12 +463,12 @@ notmuch_insert_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     unsigned int i;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &folder, "folder", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &create_folder, "create-folder", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &keep, "keep", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &no_hooks, "no-hooks", 'n', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_END, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_string = &folder, .name = "folder" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &create_folder, .name = "create-folder" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &keep, .name = "keep" },
+	{ .opt_bool =  &no_hooks, .name = "no-hooks" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-new.c b/notmuch-new.c
index 2ce3af87..50597b75 100644
--- a/notmuch-new.c
+++ b/notmuch-new.c
@@ -959,12 +959,12 @@ notmuch_new_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_status_t status;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &quiet, "quiet", 'q', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &verbose, "verbose", 'v', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &add_files_state.debug, "debug", 'd', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &no_hooks, "no-hooks", 'n', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_bool = &quiet, .name = "quiet" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &verbose, .name = "verbose" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &add_files_state.debug, .name = "debug" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &no_hooks, .name = "no-hooks" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-reindex.c b/notmuch-reindex.c
index bceac722..57ff5904 100644
--- a/notmuch-reindex.c
+++ b/notmuch-reindex.c
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ notmuch_reindex_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     sigaction (SIGINT, &action, NULL);
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-reply.c b/notmuch-reply.c
index 929f3077..e7ead79d 100644
--- a/notmuch-reply.c
+++ b/notmuch-reply.c
@@ -705,20 +705,20 @@ notmuch_reply_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     int reply_all = TRUE;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &format, "format", 'f',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &format, .name = "format", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "default", FORMAT_DEFAULT },
 				  { "json", FORMAT_JSON },
 				  { "sexp", FORMAT_SEXP },
 				  { "headers-only", FORMAT_HEADERS_ONLY },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &notmuch_format_version, "format-version", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &reply_all, "reply-to", 'r',
+	{ .opt_int = &notmuch_format_version, .name = "format-version" },
+	{ .opt_keyword = &reply_all, .name = "reply-to", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "all", TRUE },
 				  { "sender", FALSE },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &params.crypto.decrypt, "decrypt", 'd', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_bool = &params.crypto.decrypt, .name = "decrypt" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-restore.c b/notmuch-restore.c
index d6429efb..0025e2c3 100644
--- a/notmuch-restore.c
+++ b/notmuch-restore.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ notmuch_restore_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     tag_op_flag_t flags = 0;
     tag_op_list_t *tag_ops;
 
-    char *input_file_name = NULL;
+    const char *input_file_name = NULL;
     const char *name_for_error = NULL;
     gzFile input = NULL;
     char *line = NULL;
@@ -247,20 +247,20 @@ notmuch_restore_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 	flags |= TAG_FLAG_MAILDIR_SYNC;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &input_format, "format", 'f',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &input_format, .name = "format", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "auto", DUMP_FORMAT_AUTO },
 				  { "batch-tag", DUMP_FORMAT_BATCH_TAG },
 				  { "sup", DUMP_FORMAT_SUP },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS, &include, "include", 'I',
+	{ .opt_flags = &include, .name = "include", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "config", DUMP_INCLUDE_CONFIG },
 				  { "properties", DUMP_INCLUDE_PROPERTIES },
 				  { "tags", DUMP_INCLUDE_TAGS} } },
 
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &input_file_name, "input", 'i', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN,  &accumulate, "accumulate", 'a', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_string = &input_file_name, .name = "input" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &accumulate, .name = "accumulate" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-search.c b/notmuch-search.c
index 380e9d8f..2ea658d3 100644
--- a/notmuch-search.c
+++ b/notmuch-search.c
@@ -51,17 +51,17 @@ typedef enum {
 
 typedef struct {
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
-    format_sel_t format_sel;
+    int format_sel;
     sprinter_t *format;
-    notmuch_exclude_t exclude;
+    int exclude;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
-    notmuch_sort_t sort;
-    output_t output;
+    int sort;
+    int output;
     int offset;
     int limit;
     int dupe;
     GHashTable *addresses;
-    dedup_t dedup;
+    int dedup;
 } search_context_t;
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -786,18 +786,18 @@ static search_context_t search_context = {
 };
 
 static const notmuch_opt_desc_t common_options[] = {
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &search_context.sort, "sort", 's',
+    { .opt_keyword = &search_context.sort, .name = "sort", .keywords =
       (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "oldest-first", NOTMUCH_SORT_OLDEST_FIRST },
 			      { "newest-first", NOTMUCH_SORT_NEWEST_FIRST },
 			      { 0, 0 } } },
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &search_context.format_sel, "format", 'f',
+    { .opt_keyword = &search_context.format_sel, .name = "format", .keywords =
       (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "json", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_JSON },
 			      { "sexp", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_SEXP },
 			      { "text", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_TEXT },
 			      { "text0", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_TEXT0 },
 			      { 0, 0 } } },
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &notmuch_format_version, "format-version", 0, 0 },
-    { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+    { .opt_int = &notmuch_format_version, .name = "format-version" },
+    { }
 };
 
 int
@@ -807,25 +807,25 @@ notmuch_search_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     int opt_index, ret;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &ctx->output, "output", 'o',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &ctx->output, .name = "output", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "summary", OUTPUT_SUMMARY },
 				  { "threads", OUTPUT_THREADS },
 				  { "messages", OUTPUT_MESSAGES },
 				  { "files", OUTPUT_FILES },
 				  { "tags", OUTPUT_TAGS },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-        { NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &ctx->exclude, "exclude", 'x',
+        { .opt_keyword = &ctx->exclude, .name = "exclude", .keywords =
           (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "true", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_TRUE },
                                   { "false", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_FALSE },
                                   { "flag", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_FLAG },
                                   { "all", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_ALL },
                                   { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &ctx->offset, "offset", 'O', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &ctx->limit, "limit", 'L', 0  },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &ctx->dupe, "duplicate", 'D', 0  },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &common_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_int = &ctx->offset, .name = "offset" },
+	{ .opt_int = &ctx->limit, .name = "limit" },
+	{ .opt_int = &ctx->dupe, .name = "duplicate" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = common_options },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     ctx->output = OUTPUT_SUMMARY;
@@ -873,23 +873,23 @@ notmuch_address_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     int opt_index, ret;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS, &ctx->output, "output", 'o',
+	{ .opt_flags = &ctx->output, .name = "output", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "sender", OUTPUT_SENDER },
 				  { "recipients", OUTPUT_RECIPIENTS },
 				  { "count", OUTPUT_COUNT },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &ctx->exclude, "exclude", 'x',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &ctx->exclude, .name = "exclude", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "true", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_TRUE },
 				  { "false", NOTMUCH_EXCLUDE_FALSE },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &ctx->dedup, "deduplicate", 'D',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &ctx->dedup, .name = "deduplicate", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "no", DEDUP_NONE },
 				  { "mailbox", DEDUP_MAILBOX },
 				  { "address", DEDUP_ADDRESS },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &common_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_inherit = common_options },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-show.c b/notmuch-show.c
index cdcc2a98..367536ff 100644
--- a/notmuch-show.c
+++ b/notmuch-show.c
@@ -1093,23 +1093,23 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_bool_t single_message;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &format, "format", 'f',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &format, .name = "format", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "json", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_JSON },
 				  { "text", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_TEXT },
 				  { "sexp", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_SEXP },
 				  { "mbox", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_MBOX },
 				  { "raw", NOTMUCH_FORMAT_RAW },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &notmuch_format_version, "format-version", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &exclude, "exclude", 'x', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &entire_thread, "entire-thread", 't', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &params.part, "part", 'p', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &params.crypto.decrypt, "decrypt", 'd', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &params.crypto.verify, "verify", 'v', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &params.output_body, "body", 'b', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &params.include_html, "include-html", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_int = &notmuch_format_version, .name = "format-version" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &exclude, .name = "exclude" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &entire_thread, .name = "entire-thread" },
+	{ .opt_int = &params.part, .name = "part" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &params.crypto.decrypt, .name = "decrypt" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &params.crypto.verify, .name = "verify" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &params.output_body, .name = "body" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &params.include_html, .name = "include-html" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch-tag.c b/notmuch-tag.c
index 130de634..630efa65 100644
--- a/notmuch-tag.c
+++ b/notmuch-tag.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_bool_t batch = FALSE;
     notmuch_bool_t remove_all = FALSE;
     FILE *input = stdin;
-    char *input_file_name = NULL;
+    const char *input_file_name = NULL;
     int opt_index;
     int ret;
 
@@ -209,11 +209,11 @@ notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
     sigaction (SIGINT, &action, NULL);
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &batch, "batch", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &input_file_name, "input", 'i', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &remove_all, "remove-all", 0, 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_bool = &batch, .name = "batch" },
+	{ .opt_string = &input_file_name, .name = "input" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &remove_all, .name = "remove-all" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/notmuch.c b/notmuch.c
index 201c7454..cc9c34ae 100644
--- a/notmuch.c
+++ b/notmuch.c
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ static int
 _help_for (const char *topic);
 
 static notmuch_bool_t print_version = FALSE, print_help = FALSE;
-char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
+const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
 
 const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options [] = {
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &print_version, "version", 'v', 0 },
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &print_help, "help", 'h', 0 },
-    { NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &notmuch_requested_db_uuid, "uuid", 'u', 0 },
-    {0, 0, 0, 0, 0}
+    { .opt_bool = &print_version, .name = "version" },
+    { .opt_bool = &print_help, .name = "help" },
+    { .opt_string = &notmuch_requested_db_uuid, .name = "uuid" },
+    { }
 };
 
 /* any subcommand wanting to support these options should call
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ int notmuch_minimal_options (const char *subcommand_name,
     int opt_index;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
@@ -405,15 +405,15 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     char *talloc_report;
     const char *command_name = NULL;
     command_t *command;
-    char *config_file_name = NULL;
+    const char *config_file_name = NULL;
     notmuch_config_t *config = NULL;
     int opt_index;
     int ret;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &config_file_name, "config", 'c', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INHERIT, (void *) &notmuch_shared_options, NULL, 0, 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_string = &config_file_name, .name = "config" },
+	{ .opt_inherit = notmuch_shared_options },
+	{ }
     };
 
     talloc_enable_null_tracking ();
diff --git a/test/arg-test.c b/test/arg-test.c
index 736686de..10dc0683 100644
--- a/test/arg-test.c
+++ b/test/arg-test.c
@@ -9,25 +9,26 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv){
     int kw_val=0;
     int fl_val=0;
     int int_val=0;
-    char *pos_arg1=NULL;
-    char *pos_arg2=NULL;
-    char *string_val=NULL;
+    const char *pos_arg1=NULL;
+    const char *pos_arg2=NULL;
+    const char *string_val=NULL;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &kw_val, "keyword", 'k',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &kw_val, .name = "keyword", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "one", 1 },
 				  { "two", 2 },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD_FLAGS, &fl_val, "flag", 'f',
+	{ .opt_flags = &fl_val, .name = "flag", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "one",   1 << 0},
 				  { "two",   1 << 1 },
 				  { "three", 1 << 2 },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &int_val, "int", 'i', 0},
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &string_val, "string", 's', 0},
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_POSITION, &pos_arg1, 0,0, 0},
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_POSITION, &pos_arg2, 0,0, 0},
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 } };
+	{ .opt_int = &int_val, .name = "int" },
+	{ .opt_string = &string_val, .name = "string" },
+	{ .opt_position = &pos_arg1 },
+	{ .opt_position = &pos_arg2 },
+	{ }
+    };
 
     opt_index = parse_arguments(argc, argv, options, 1);
 
diff --git a/test/hex-xcode.c b/test/hex-xcode.c
index 65d49564..bc2df713 100644
--- a/test/hex-xcode.c
+++ b/test/hex-xcode.c
@@ -44,17 +44,17 @@ int
 main (int argc, char **argv)
 {
 
-    enum direction dir = DECODE;
+    int dir = DECODE;
     int omit_newline = FALSE;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_KEYWORD, &dir, "direction", 'd',
+	{ .opt_keyword = &dir, .name = "direction", .keywords =
 	  (notmuch_keyword_t []){ { "encode", ENCODE },
 				  { "decode", DECODE },
 				  { 0, 0 } } },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &omit_newline, "omit-newline", 'n', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_BOOLEAN, &inplace, "in-place", 'i', 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_bool = &omit_newline, .name = "omit-newline" },
+	{ .opt_bool = &inplace, .name = "in-place" },
+	{ }
     };
 
     int opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);
diff --git a/test/random-corpus.c b/test/random-corpus.c
index aca694a3..e3b855e1 100644
--- a/test/random-corpus.c
+++ b/test/random-corpus.c
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ random_utf8_string (void *ctx, size_t char_count)
 
 /* stubs since we cannot link with notmuch.o */
 const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options[] = {
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ }
 };
 
-char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
+const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
 
 void
 notmuch_process_shared_options (unused (const char *dummy))
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
     void *ctx = talloc_new (NULL);
 
-    char *config_path  = NULL;
+    const char *config_path = NULL;
     notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
 
@@ -155,13 +155,13 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
     int seed = 734569;
 
     notmuch_opt_desc_t options[] = {
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_STRING, &config_path, "config-path", 'c', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &num_messages, "num-messages", 'n', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &max_tags, "max-tags", 'm', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &message_id_len, "message-id-len", 'M', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &tag_len, "tag-len", 't', 0 },
-	{ NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &seed, "seed", 's', 0 },
-	{ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }
+	{ .opt_string = &config_path, .name = "config-path" },
+	{ .opt_int = &num_messages, .name = "num-messages" },
+	{ .opt_int = &max_tags, .name = "max-tags" },
+	{ .opt_int = &message_id_len, .name = "message-id-len" },
+	{ .opt_int = &tag_len, .name = "tag-len" },
+	{ .opt_int = &seed, .name = "seed" },
+	{ }
     };
 
     int opt_index = parse_arguments (argc, argv, options, 1);