diff --git a/cmd/node/add.go b/cmd/node/add.go
index 6f041d2..bb7b586 100644
--- a/cmd/node/add.go
+++ b/cmd/node/add.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -48,11 +47,6 @@ func cmdNodeAdd(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 }
 
 func generateAddNodeOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.AddNodeOptions, error) {
-	podname := cmd.Args().First()
-	if podname == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("podname must not be empty")
-	}
-
 	nodename := cmd.String("nodename")
 
 	endpoint := cmd.String("endpoint")
@@ -80,7 +74,7 @@ func generateAddNodeOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.AddNodeOptions, error) {
 	return &corepb.AddNodeOptions{
 		Nodename:  nodename,
 		Endpoint:  endpoint,
-		Podname:   podname,
+		Podname:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		Labels:    labels,
 		Resources: resources,
 		Test:      cmd.Bool("test"),
diff --git a/cmd/node/add_test.go b/cmd/node/add_test.go
index 77d26e8..8b52ac1 100644
--- a/cmd/node/add_test.go
+++ b/cmd/node/add_test.go
@@ -82,14 +82,12 @@ func TestGenerateAddNodeOptionsRequiresEndpoint(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestGenerateAddNodeOptionsWithoutPod(t *testing.T) {
 	c := Command()
-	lookupSubcommand(t, c, "add").Action = func(_ context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
-		if _, err := generateAddNodeOptions(cmd); err == nil {
-			t.Error("got nil, want an error for node add without a pod")
-		}
+	lookupSubcommand(t, c, "add").Action = func(context.Context, *cli.Command) error {
+		t.Error("the action ran without a pod argument")
 		return nil
 	}
-	if err := c.Run(t.Context(), []string{"node", "add"}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("run: %v", err)
+	if err := c.Run(t.Context(), []string{"node", "add"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("got nil, want an error for node add without a pod")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/node/cmd.go b/cmd/node/cmd.go
index eda0b51..03215d3 100644
--- a/cmd/node/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/node/cmd.go
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	argNode       = "node"
+	argPod        = "pod"
 	nodeArgsUsage = "node name"
+	podArgsUsage  = "pod name"
 
 	flagLabel   = "label"
 	flagStorage = "storage"
@@ -22,13 +25,13 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "get",
 				Usage:     "get a node",
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeGet),
 			},
 			{
 				Name:      "remove",
 				Usage:     "remove a node",
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeRemove),
 			},
 			{
@@ -41,13 +44,13 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 					},
 				},
 				Aliases:   []string{"containers"},
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeListWorkloads),
 			},
 			{
 				Name:      "up",
 				Usage:     "set node up",
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeSetUp),
 			},
 			{
@@ -64,7 +67,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 						Value: 20,
 					},
 				},
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeSetDown),
 			},
 			{
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 						Value: 0,
 					},
 				},
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeSetStatus),
 			},
 			{
@@ -93,7 +96,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "resource",
 				Usage:     "check node resource",
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.BoolFlag{
 						Name:  "fix",
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 				Name:      "set",
 				Aliases:   []string{"update"},
 				Usage:     "set node resource",
-				ArgsUsage: nodeArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argNode, nodeArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeSet),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.BoolFlag{
@@ -177,7 +180,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "add",
 				Usage:     "add node",
-				ArgsUsage: "pod name",
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdNodeAdd),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
diff --git a/cmd/node/down.go b/cmd/node/down.go
index 2f76f05..49c8925 100644
--- a/cmd/node/down.go
+++ b/cmd/node/down.go
@@ -50,14 +50,9 @@ func cmdNodeSetDown(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &setNodeDownOptions{
 		client:       client,
-		name:         name,
+		name:         cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 		check:        cmd.Bool("check"),
 		checkTimeout: cmd.Int("check-timeout"),
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/node/get.go b/cmd/node/get.go
index 7e59b4a..943af6f 100644
--- a/cmd/node/get.go
+++ b/cmd/node/get.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
@@ -34,14 +33,9 @@ func cmdNodeGet(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &getNodeOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/node/remove.go b/cmd/node/remove.go
index 838f20d..d493e67 100644
--- a/cmd/node/remove.go
+++ b/cmd/node/remove.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/projecteru2/core/log"
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
@@ -33,14 +32,9 @@ func cmdNodeRemove(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &removeNodeOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/node/resource.go b/cmd/node/resource.go
index c88a98c..36315bb 100644
--- a/cmd/node/resource.go
+++ b/cmd/node/resource.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
@@ -37,14 +36,9 @@ func cmdNodeResource(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &nodeResourceOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 		fix:    cmd.Bool("fix"),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/node/set.go b/cmd/node/set.go
index 9053ba7..f6b86fd 100644
--- a/cmd/node/set.go
+++ b/cmd/node/set.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/projecteru2/core/log"
 	resourcetypes "github.com/projecteru2/core/resource/types"
@@ -45,11 +44,6 @@ func cmdNodeSet(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 }
 
 func generateSetNodeOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.SetNodeOptions, error) {
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	cpumem, storage := collectResourceParams(cmd)
 	if cmd.IsSet("cpu") {
 		cpumem["cpu"] = cmd.String("cpu")
@@ -67,7 +61,7 @@ func generateSetNodeOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.SetNodeOptions, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &corepb.SetNodeOptions{
-		Nodename:      name,
+		Nodename:      cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 		Resources:     resources,
 		Labels:        utils.SplitEquality(cmd.StringSlice(flagLabel)),
 		WorkloadsDown: cmd.Bool("mark-workloads-down"),
diff --git a/cmd/node/status.go b/cmd/node/status.go
index d3fd601..ab98d1d 100644
--- a/cmd/node/status.go
+++ b/cmd/node/status.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -55,17 +54,13 @@ func cmdNodeSetStatus(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
 	if cmd.Int("interval") < 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--interval must not be negative, got %d", cmd.Int("interval"))
 	}
 
 	o := &setNodeStatusOptions{
 		client:   client,
-		name:     name,
+		name:     cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 		ttl:      cmd.Int("ttl"),
 		interval: cmd.Int("interval"),
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/node/up.go b/cmd/node/up.go
index db5dde0..4d828a3 100644
--- a/cmd/node/up.go
+++ b/cmd/node/up.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/projecteru2/core/log"
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
@@ -34,14 +33,9 @@ func cmdNodeSetUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &setNodeUpOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/node/workloads.go b/cmd/node/workloads.go
index 60a972c..bb42766 100644
--- a/cmd/node/workloads.go
+++ b/cmd/node/workloads.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
@@ -36,14 +35,9 @@ func cmdNodeListWorkloads(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("node name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &listNodeWorkloadsOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argNode)[0],
 		labels: utils.SplitEquality(cmd.StringSlice(flagLabel)),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/pod/add.go b/cmd/pod/add.go
index 63eb232..cfbcd28 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/add.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/add.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package pod
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
@@ -36,14 +35,9 @@ func cmdPodAdd(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &addPodOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		desc:   cmd.String("desc"),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/pod/capacity.go b/cmd/pod/capacity.go
index 121942e..b966630 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/capacity.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/capacity.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package pod
 import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -50,11 +49,6 @@ func cmdPodCapacity(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	resources, err := capacityResources(cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -62,7 +56,7 @@ func cmdPodCapacity(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 
 	o := &capacityPodOptions{
 		client:    client,
-		podname:   name,
+		podname:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		nodenames: cmd.StringSlice("node"),
 		resources: resources,
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/pod/cmd.go b/cmd/pod/cmd.go
index 4f3828f..517bf90 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/cmd.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	argPod       = "pod"
 	podArgsUsage = "pod name"
 
 	up   = "up"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "add",
 				Usage:     "add new pod",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodAdd),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
@@ -44,13 +45,13 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "remove",
 				Usage:     "remove pod",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodRemove),
 			},
 			{
 				Name:      "resource",
 				Usage:     "pod resource usage",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodResource),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "capacity",
 				Usage:     "pod remained capacity",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodCapacity),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.Float64Flag{
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "nodes",
 				Usage:     "list all nodes in one pod",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodListNodes),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "networks",
 				Usage:     "list all networks in one pod",
-				ArgsUsage: podArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argPod, podArgsUsage, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdPodListNetworks),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
diff --git a/cmd/pod/networks.go b/cmd/pod/networks.go
index 19045c4..b4f6e58 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/networks.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/networks.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package pod
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
@@ -36,14 +35,9 @@ func cmdPodListNetworks(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &listPodNetworksOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		driver: cmd.String("driver"),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/pod/nodes.go b/cmd/pod/nodes.go
index 6b33b0f..66e136f 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/nodes.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/nodes.go
@@ -48,11 +48,6 @@ func cmdPodListNodes(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	filter := strings.ToLower(cmd.String("filter"))
 	if filter != up && filter != down && filter != all {
 		return errors.New("filter should be one of up/down/all")
@@ -60,7 +55,7 @@ func cmdPodListNodes(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 
 	o := &listPodNodesOptions{
 		client:          client,
-		name:            name,
+		name:            cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		filter:          filter,
 		labels:          utils.SplitEquality(cmd.StringSlice("label")),
 		timeoutInSecond: int32(cmd.Int("timeout")), //nolint:gosec
diff --git a/cmd/pod/remove.go b/cmd/pod/remove.go
index c67cb50..0342366 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/remove.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/remove.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package pod
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/projecteru2/core/log"
 	corepb "github.com/projecteru2/core/rpc/gen"
@@ -34,14 +33,9 @@ func cmdPodRemove(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	o := &removePodOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/pod/resource.go b/cmd/pod/resource.go
index 8db5406..78d34fd 100644
--- a/cmd/pod/resource.go
+++ b/cmd/pod/resource.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package pod
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
@@ -43,11 +42,6 @@ func cmdPodResource(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	name := cmd.Args().First()
-	if name == "" {
-		return errors.New("pod name must be given")
-	}
-
 	keep, err := parseFilter(cmd.String("filter"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -55,7 +49,7 @@ func cmdPodResource(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 
 	o := &resourcePodOptions{
 		client: client,
-		name:   name,
+		name:   cmd.StringArgs(argPod)[0],
 		keep:   keep,
 		stream: cmd.Bool("stream"),
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 8762535..d24db21 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -25,3 +25,8 @@ func ForceFlag(usage string) *cli.BoolFlag {
 		Aliases: []string{"f"},
 	}
 }
+
+// Positional declares one required positional argument, max -1 for an unlimited list.
+func Positional(name, usage string, max int) []cli.Argument {
+	return []cli.Argument{&cli.StringArgs{Name: name, UsageText: usage, Min: 1, Max: max}}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/workload/cmd.go b/cmd/workload/cmd.go
index caa3d8a..86864bb 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/cmd.go
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
+	argSpec     = "spec"
+	argWorkload = "workload"
+
 	workloadArgsUsage = "workloadID(s)"
 	specFileURI       = "<spec file uri>"
 	copyArgsUsage     = "workloadID:path1,path2,...,pathn"
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "get",
 				Usage:     "get workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadGet),
 			},
 			{
@@ -73,13 +76,13 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "get-status",
 				Usage:     "get workload status",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadGetStatus),
 			},
 			{
 				Name:      "set-status",
 				Usage:     "set workload status",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.BoolFlag{
 						Name:  "running",
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "stop",
 				Usage:     "stop workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadControl(corecluster.WorkloadStop)),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.ForceFlag("force to stop"),
@@ -157,7 +160,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "start",
 				Usage:     "start workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadControl(corecluster.WorkloadStart)),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.ForceFlag("force to start"),
@@ -166,7 +169,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "restart",
 				Usage:     "restart workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadControl(corecluster.WorkloadRestart)),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.ForceFlag("force to restart"),
@@ -175,7 +178,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "remove",
 				Usage:     "remove workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadRemove),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.ForceFlag("force to remove"),
@@ -198,7 +201,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "send",
 				Usage:     "send file(s) to workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadSend),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.FileFlag("copy local files into the workloads, repeatable"),
@@ -207,7 +210,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "sendlarge",
 				Usage:     "send single large file to workload(s)",
-				ArgsUsage: workloadArgsUsage,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, workloadArgsUsage, -1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadSendLarge),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					utils.FileFlag("stream one local file into the workloads"),
@@ -228,7 +231,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "realloc",
 				Usage:     "realloc workload resource",
-				ArgsUsage: "workloadID",
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argWorkload, "workloadID", 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadRealloc),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.Float64Flag{
@@ -318,7 +321,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "replace",
 				Usage:     "replace workloads by params",
-				ArgsUsage: specFileURI,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argSpec, specFileURI, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadReplace),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.StringFlag{
@@ -387,7 +390,7 @@ func Command() *cli.Command {
 			{
 				Name:      "deploy",
 				Usage:     "deploy workloads by params",
-				ArgsUsage: specFileURI,
+				Arguments: utils.Positional(argSpec, specFileURI, 1),
 				Action:    utils.ExitCoder(cmdWorkloadDeploy),
 				Flags: []cli.Flag{
 					&cli.BoolFlag{
diff --git a/cmd/workload/control.go b/cmd/workload/control.go
index b7c3d97..8bf718b 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/control.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/control.go
@@ -49,14 +49,9 @@ func cmdWorkloadControl(action string) cli.ActionFunc {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		o := &controlWorkloadsOptions{
 			client: client,
-			ids:    ids,
+			ids:    cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 			action: action,
 			force:  cmd.Bool(utils.FlagForce),
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/workload/deploy_test.go b/cmd/workload/deploy_test.go
index 3fea067..c052d9b 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/deploy_test.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/deploy_test.go
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ func TestGenerateDeployOptionsErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		name string
 		args []string
 	}{
-		{name: "no spec", args: []string{"workload", "deploy", "--entry", "release"}},
 		{name: "unknown entry", args: []string{"workload", "deploy", "--entry", "nope", spec}},
 		{name: "bad memory", args: []string{"workload", "deploy", "--entry", "release", "--memory", "abc", spec}},
 		{name: "bad storage", args: []string{"workload", "deploy", "--entry", "release", "--storage", "abc", spec}},
@@ -143,6 +142,17 @@ func TestGenerateDeployOptionsErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDeployRequiresASpec(t *testing.T) {
+	c := Command()
+	lookupSubcommand(t, c, "deploy").Action = func(context.Context, *cli.Command) error {
+		t.Error("the action ran without a spec argument")
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := c.Run(t.Context(), []string{"workload", "deploy", "--entry", "release"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("got nil, want an error for a missing spec argument")
+	}
+}
+
 func writeSpec(t *testing.T) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "specs.yaml")
diff --git a/cmd/workload/get.go b/cmd/workload/get.go
index cfef78d..205e689 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/get.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/get.go
@@ -31,14 +31,9 @@ func cmdWorkloadGet(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	o := &getWorkloadsOptions{
 		client: client,
-		ids:    ids,
+		ids:    cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/workload/realloc.go b/cmd/workload/realloc.go
index d2a09a8..a59438b 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/realloc.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/realloc.go
@@ -50,11 +50,6 @@ func cmdWorkloadRealloc(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 }
 
 func generateReallocOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.ReallocOptions, error) {
-	id := cmd.Args().First()
-	if id == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("workload id must be given")
-	}
-
 	memoryRequest, memoryLimit, err := ramOption(cmd, flagMemoryRequest, flagMemoryLimit, "memory")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -95,7 +90,7 @@ func generateReallocOptions(cmd *cli.Command) (*corepb.ReallocOptions, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &corepb.ReallocOptions{
-		Id:        id,
+		Id:        cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload)[0],
 		Resources: resources,
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/workload/remove.go b/cmd/workload/remove.go
index 465dfe5..ff8f341 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/remove.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/remove.go
@@ -46,18 +46,13 @@ func cmdWorkloadRemove(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	force := cmd.Bool(utils.FlagForce)
 	if force {
 		log.WithFunc("workload.cmdWorkloadRemove").Warn(ctx, "if workload not stopped, force to remove will not trigger hook process if set")
 	}
 	o := &removeWorkloadsOptions{
 		client: client,
-		ids:    ids,
+		ids:    cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 		force:  force,
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/workload/send.go b/cmd/workload/send.go
index e9b40ca..20692bb 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/send.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/send.go
@@ -56,14 +56,9 @@ func cmdWorkloadSend(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return errors.New("files should not be empty")
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	o := &sendWorkloadsOptions{
 		client:  client,
-		ids:     ids,
+		ids:     cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 		content: files.Data,
 		modes:   files.Modes,
 		owners:  files.Owners,
diff --git a/cmd/workload/sendlarge.go b/cmd/workload/sendlarge.go
index d0ecbd2..ac564b7 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/sendlarge.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/sendlarge.go
@@ -104,11 +104,6 @@ func cmdWorkloadSendLarge(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	src, err := os.Open(spec.Src)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -123,7 +118,7 @@ func cmdWorkloadSendLarge(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 	}
 	o := &sendLargeWorkloadsOptions{
 		client: client,
-		ids:    ids,
+		ids:    cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 		dst:    spec.Dst,
 		src:    src,
 		size:   stat.Size(),
diff --git a/cmd/workload/status.go b/cmd/workload/status.go
index d05b888..c99b842 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/status.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/status.go
@@ -31,14 +31,9 @@ func cmdWorkloadGetStatus(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	o := &getWorkloadsStatusOptions{
 		client: client,
-		ids:    ids,
+		ids:    cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 	}
 	return o.run(ctx)
 }
@@ -83,14 +78,9 @@ func cmdWorkloadSetStatus(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ids, err := argIDs(cmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	o := &setWorkloadsStatusOptions{
 		client:    client,
-		ids:       ids,
+		ids:       cmd.StringArgs(argWorkload),
 		running:   cmd.Bool("running"),
 		healthy:   cmd.Bool("healthy"),
 		ttl:       cmd.Int64("ttl"),
diff --git a/cmd/workload/utils.go b/cmd/workload/utils.go
index e6d64f6..31c10be 100644
--- a/cmd/workload/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/workload/utils.go
@@ -15,14 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/projecteru2/cli/types"
 )
 
-func argIDs(cmd *cli.Command) ([]string, error) {
-	ids := cmd.Args().Slice()
-	if len(ids) == 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("workload id(s) should not be empty")
-	}
-	return ids, nil
-}
-
 func validateDeployFlags(cmd *cli.Command, keys ...string) error {
 	for _, key := range keys {
 		if cmd.String(key) == "" {
@@ -36,12 +28,7 @@ func validateDeployFlags(cmd *cli.Command, keys ...string) error {
 }
 
 func loadSpecs(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) (*types.Specs, error) {
-	specURI := cmd.Args().First()
-	if specURI == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("a spec must be given")
-	}
-
-	data, err := utils.ReadSpecURI(ctx, specURI)
+	data, err := utils.ReadSpecURI(ctx, cmd.StringArgs(argSpec)[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}