diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 39815e2a0..27be6b045 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Fix an out of bounds read causing a crash when selecting text with the mouse
   in the alternate screen mode (:iss:`1578`)
 
+- Document the kitty remote control protocol (:iss:`1646`)
+
 
 0.14.2 [2019-06-09]
 ---------------------
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 68e814038..bf5bf4d87 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -276,6 +276,48 @@ def write_cli_docs(all_kitten_names):
 # }}}
 
 
+def write_remote_control_protocol_docs():  # {{{
+    from kitty.cmds import cmap
+    field_pat = re.compile(r'\s*([a-zA-Z0-9_+]+)\s*:\s*(.+)')
+
+    def format_cmd(p, name, cmd):
+        p(name)
+        p('-' * 80)
+        lines = cmd.__doc__.strip().splitlines()
+        fields = []
+        for line in lines:
+            m = field_pat.match(line)
+            if m is None:
+                p(line)
+            else:
+                fields.append((m.group(1), m.group(2)))
+        if fields:
+            p('\nFields are:\n')
+            for (name, desc) in fields:
+                if '+' in name:
+                    title = name.replace('+', ' (required)')
+                else:
+                    title = name
+                    defval = cmd.get_default(name.replace('-', '_'), cmd)
+                    if defval is not cmd:
+                        title = f'{title} (default: {defval})'
+                    else:
+                        title = f'{title} (optional)'
+                p(f':code:`{title}`')
+                p(' ', desc), p()
+        p(), p()
+
+    with open(f'generated/rc.rst', 'w') as f:
+        p = partial(print, file=f)
+        for name in sorted(cmap):
+            cmd = cmap[name]
+            if not cmd.__doc__:
+                continue
+            name = name.replace('_', '-')
+            format_cmd(p, name, cmd)
+# }}}
+
+
 # config file docs {{{
 
 class ConfLexer(RegexLexer):
@@ -537,6 +579,7 @@ def setup(app):
     from kittens.runner import all_kitten_names
     all_kitten_names = all_kitten_names()
     write_cli_docs(all_kitten_names)
+    write_remote_control_protocol_docs()
     write_conf_docs(app, all_kitten_names)
     app.add_lexer('session', SessionLexer())
     app.add_role('link', link_role)
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index c2b0364e8..f9675be81 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -486,3 +486,4 @@ See :doc:`changelog`.
 
     *
     kittens/*
+    generated/rc
diff --git a/docs/rc_protocol.rst b/docs/rc_protocol.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0af13120c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/rc_protocol.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+Documentation for the kitty remote control protocol
+======================================================
+
+The kitty remote control protocol is a simple protocol that involves sending
+data to kitty in the form of JSON. Any individual command ot kitty has the
+form::
+
+    <ESC>P@kitty-cmd<JSON object><ESC>\
+
+Where ``<ESC>`` is the byte ``0x1b``. The JSON object has the form::
+
+    {
+        'cmd': "command name",
+        'version': "kitty version",
+        'no_response': Optional Boolean,
+        'payload': <Optional JSON object>,
+    }
+
+The ``version`` above is a string of the form :code:`0.14.2`. If you are developing a
+standalone client, use the kitty version that you are developing against. Using
+a version greater than the version of the kitty instance you are talking to,
+will cause a failure.
+
+Set ``no_response`` to True if you dont want a response from kitty.
+
+The optional payload is a JSON object that is specific to the actual command being sent.
+The fields in the object for every command are documented below.
+
+.. include:: generated/rc.rst
diff --git a/docs/remote-control.rst b/docs/remote-control.rst
index 47dce3fda..83df27dd2 100644
--- a/docs/remote-control.rst
+++ b/docs/remote-control.rst
@@ -134,5 +134,10 @@ still write to the pipes of any other program on the same computer and
 therefore can control |kitty|. It can, however, be useful to block programs
 running on other computers (for example, over ssh) or as other users.
 
+Documentation for the remote control protocol
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+If you wish to develop your own client to talk to |kitty|, you
+can use the :doc:`rc_protocol`.
 
 .. include:: generated/cli-kitty-at.rst
diff --git a/kitty/cli.py b/kitty/cli.py
index 227c4b9d9..14ca30dce 100644
--- a/kitty/cli.py
+++ b/kitty/cli.py
@@ -212,6 +212,14 @@ def wrap(text, limit=80):
     return reversed(lines)
 
 
+def get_defaults_from_seq(seq):
+    ans = {}
+    for opt in seq:
+        if not isinstance(opt, str):
+            ans[opt['dest']] = defval_for_opt(opt)
+    return ans
+
+
 default_msg = ('''\
 Run the :italic:`{appname}` terminal emulator. You can also specify the :italic:`program`
 to run inside :italic:`{appname}` as normal arguments following the :italic:`options`.
diff --git a/kitty/cmds.py b/kitty/cmds.py
index 3ab68c18d..c7ac536fb 100644
--- a/kitty/cmds.py
+++ b/kitty/cmds.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 from contextlib import suppress
 
-from .cli import parse_args
+from .cli import parse_args, parse_option_spec, get_defaults_from_seq
 from .config import parse_config, parse_send_text_bytes
 from .constants import appname
 from .fast_data_types import focus_os_window
@@ -36,7 +36,33 @@ class UnknownLayout(ValueError):
 cmap = {}
 
 
-def cmd(short_desc, desc=None, options_spec=None, no_response=False, argspec='...', string_return_is_error=False, args_count=None):
+def cmd(
+    short_desc,
+    desc=None,
+    options_spec=None,
+    no_response=False,
+    argspec='...',
+    string_return_is_error=False,
+    args_count=None,
+):
+
+    if options_spec:
+        defaults = None
+
+        def get_defaut_value(name, missing=None):
+            nonlocal defaults
+            if defaults is None:
+                defaults = get_defaults_from_seq(parse_option_spec(options_spec)[0])
+            return defaults.get(name, missing)
+    else:
+        def get_defaut_value(name, missing=None):
+            return missing
+
+    def payload_get(payload, key, opt_name=None):
+        ans = payload.get(key, payload_get)
+        if ans is not payload_get:
+            return ans
+        return get_defaut_value(opt_name or key)
 
     def w(func):
         func.short_desc = short_desc
@@ -49,6 +75,8 @@ def cmd(short_desc, desc=None, options_spec=None, no_response=False, argspec='..
         func.no_response = no_response
         func.string_return_is_error = string_return_is_error
         func.args_count = 0 if not argspec else args_count
+        func.get_default = get_defaut_value
+        func.payload_get = payload_get
         cmap[func.name] = func
         return func
     return w
@@ -109,6 +137,9 @@ def windows_for_payload(boss, window, payload):
     argspec=''
 )
 def cmd_ls(global_opts, opts, args):
+    '''
+    No payload
+    '''
     pass
 
 
@@ -135,6 +166,11 @@ By default, the font size is only changed in the active OS window,
 this option will cause it to be changed in all OS windows.
 ''')
 def cmd_set_font_size(global_opts, opts, args):
+    '''
+    size+: The new font size in pts (a positive number)
+    all: Boolean whether to change font size in the current window or all windows
+    increment_op: The string ``+`` or ``-`` to interpret size as an increment
+    '''
     if not args:
         raise SystemExit('No font size specified')
     fs = args[0]
@@ -143,7 +179,9 @@ def cmd_set_font_size(global_opts, opts, args):
 
 
 def set_font_size(boss, window, payload):
-    boss.change_font_size(payload['all'], payload['increment_op'], payload['size'])
+    boss.change_font_size(
+        cmd_set_font_size.payload_get(payload, 'all'),
+        payload.get('increment_op', None), payload['size'])
 # }}}
 
 
@@ -170,6 +208,12 @@ are sent as is, not interpreted for escapes.
     argspec='[TEXT TO SEND]'
 )
 def cmd_send_text(global_opts, opts, args):
+    '''
+    text+: The text being sent
+    is_binary+: If False text is interpreted as a python string literal instead of plain text
+    match: A string indicating the window to send text to
+    match_tab: A string indicating the tab to send text to
+    '''
     limit = 1024
     ret = {'match': opts.match, 'is_binary': False, 'match_tab': opts.match_tab}
 
@@ -235,12 +279,14 @@ def cmd_send_text(global_opts, opts, args):
 
 def send_text(boss, window, payload):
     windows = [boss.active_window]
-    match = payload['match']
+    pg = cmd_send_text.payload_get
+    match = pg(payload, 'match')
     if match:
         windows = tuple(boss.match_windows(match))
-    if payload['match_tab']:
+    mt = pg(payload, 'match_tab')
+    if mt:
         windows = []
-        tabs = tuple(boss.match_tabs(payload['match_tab']))
+        tabs = tuple(boss.match_tabs(mt))
         if not tabs:
             raise MatchError(payload['match_tab'], 'tabs')
         for tab in tabs:
@@ -269,19 +315,25 @@ want to allow other programs to change it afterwards, use this option.
     argspec='TITLE ...'
 )
 def cmd_set_window_title(global_opts, opts, args):
+    '''
+    title+: The new title
+    match: Which windows to change the title in
+    temporary: Boolean indicating if the change is temporary or permanent
+    '''
     return {'title': ' '.join(args), 'match': opts.match, 'temporary': opts.temporary}
 
 
 def set_window_title(boss, window, payload):
     windows = [window or boss.active_window]
-    match = payload['match']
+    pg = cmd_set_window_title.payload_get
+    match = pg(payload, 'match')
     if match:
         windows = tuple(boss.match_windows(match))
         if not windows:
             raise MatchError(match)
     for window in windows:
         if window:
-            if payload['temporary']:
+            if pg(payload, 'temporary'):
                 window.override_title = None
                 window.title_changed(payload['title'])
             else:
diff --git a/kitty/remote_control.py b/kitty/remote_control.py
index b5bfcd6d9..b38706742 100644
--- a/kitty/remote_control.py
+++ b/kitty/remote_control.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from .utils import TTYIO, parse_address_spec
 def handle_cmd(boss, window, cmd):
     cmd = json.loads(cmd)
     v = cmd['version']
-    no_response = cmd['no_response']
+    no_response = cmd.get('no_response', False)
     if tuple(v)[:2] > version[:2]:
         if no_response:
             return