diff --git a/cmd/bulb/main.ha b/cmd/bulb/main.ha
index 5dc6c9d..0880dc5 100644
--- a/cmd/bulb/main.ha
+++ b/cmd/bulb/main.ha
@@ -19,71 +19,63 @@ export fn main() void = {
 	const cmd = getopt::parse(
 		os::args,
 		"bulletin board",
-		("post", [
-			('a', "post anonymously"),
-			('b', "board", "post on a board other than general"),
-		]): getopt::subcmd_help,
-		("read", [
-			('b', "board", "read a board other than general"),
-			('n', "number", "display N most recent messages"),
-		]): getopt::subcmd_help);
+		('b', "board", "specify a board other than general"),
+		('l', "list available boards and exit"),
+		('n', "number", "display N most recent messages"),
+		('p', "post a message (from stdin)"),
+		('u', "operate undercover (anonymously)"));
 	defer getopt::finish(&cmd);
 
-	match (cmd.subcmd) {
-	case let subcmd: (str, *getopt::command) =>
-		if (subcmd.0 == "post") {
-			subcmd_post(subcmd.1);
-		} else if (subcmd.0 == "read") {
-			match (subcmd_read(subcmd.1)) {
-			case errors::invalid =>
-				getopt::printhelp(os::stdout, name, cmd.help)!;
-				os::exit(os::status::FAILURE);
-			case void => void;
-			};
-		};
-	case void =>
-		subcmd_ls(&cmd);
-	};
-};
-
-fn subcmd_post(cmd: *getopt::command) void = {
-	let anonymous = false;
 	let board     = default_board;
-	for (let opt .. cmd.opts) {
-		switch (opt.0) {
-		case 'a' => anonymous = true;
-		case 'b' => board = opt.1;
-		case     => abort();
-		};
-	};
-
-	let user_name = if (anonymous) void else get_user_name();
-	let message   = strings::join(" ", cmd.args...);
-	defer free(message);
+	let list      = false;
+	let number    = 8;
+	let post      = false;
+	let anonymous = false;
 	
-	match (bulb::post(os::stdin, board, user_name)) {
-	case let err: bulb::error =>
-		fmt::errorf("{}: Could not read {}: {}\n", name, board, bulb::strerror(err))!;
-	case void => void;
-	};
-};
-
-fn subcmd_read(cmd: *getopt::command) (void | errors::invalid) = {
-	let board  = default_board;
-	let number = 8;
 	for (let opt .. cmd.opts) {
 		switch (opt.0) {
 		case 'b' =>
 			board = opt.1;
+		case 'l' =>
+			list = true;
 		case 'n' =>
 			match (strconv::stoi(opt.1)) {
-			case let num: int => number = num;
-			case => return errors::invalid;
+			case let num: int =>
+				number = num;
+			case =>
+				getopt::printhelp(os::stdout, name, cmd.help)!;
+				os::exit(os::status::FAILURE);
 			};
+		case 'p' =>
+			post = true;
+		case 'u' =>
+			anonymous = true;
 		case => abort();
 		};
 	};
 
+	if (list) {
+		// list boards and exit
+		match (bulb::list(os::stdout)) {
+		case let err: bulb::error =>
+			fmt::errorf("{}: Could not list boards: {}\n", name, bulb::strerror(err))!;
+			os::exit(os::status::FAILURE);
+		case void =>
+			os::exit(os::status::SUCCESS);
+		};
+	};
+
+	if (post) {
+		// post a message (from stdin)
+		let user_name = if (anonymous) void else get_user_name();
+		match (bulb::post(os::stdin, board, user_name)) {
+		case let err: bulb::error =>
+			fmt::errorf("{}: Could not post to {}: {}\n", name, board, bulb::strerror(err))!;
+		case void => void;
+		};
+	};
+
+	// read latest posts on the board
 	match (bulb::read(os::stdout, board, number)) {
 	case let err: bulb::error =>
 		fmt::errorf("{}: Could not read {}: {}\n", name, board, bulb::strerror(err))!;
@@ -91,14 +83,6 @@ fn subcmd_read(cmd: *getopt::command) (void | errors::invalid) = {
 	};
 };
 
-fn subcmd_ls(cmd: *getopt::command) void = {
-	match (bulb::list(os::stdout)) {
-	case let err: bulb::error =>
-		fmt::errorf("{}: Could not list boards: {}\n", name, bulb::strerror(err))!;
-	case void => void;
-	};
-};
-
 fn get_user_name() str = {
 	// FIXME: could not find support for getting a username from a uid in
 	// hare. when it is added, use that here.