diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 97b871f..6cd7cc3 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ name = "mini-redis"
 version = "0.1.0"
 
 [dependencies]
+anyhow = "1.0.27"
 atoi = "0.3.2"
 bytes = "0.5.4"
 clap = { git = "https://github.com/clap-rs/clap/" }
@@ -12,4 +13,3 @@ tokio = { git = "https://github.com/tokio-rs/tokio", features = ["full"] }
 tracing = "0.1.13"
 tracing-futures = { version = "0.2.3", features = ["tokio"] }
 tracing-subscriber = "0.2.2"
-anyhow = "1.0.26"
diff --git a/dump.rdb b/dump.rdb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d6c078
Binary files /dev/null and b/dump.rdb differ
diff --git a/src/bin/client.rs b/src/bin/client.rs
index 855b4d0..38b7b00 100644
--- a/src/bin/client.rs
+++ b/src/bin/client.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-use bytes::Bytes;
 use clap::Clap;
-use mini_redis::{client, DEFAULT_PORT};
-use std::{io, str};
+use mini_redis::{client, cmd::Set, DEFAULT_PORT};
+use std::str;
 
 #[tokio::main]
-async fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
+async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let cli = Cli::parse();
     let port = cli.port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_PORT.to_string());
     let mut client = client::connect(&format!("127.0.0.1:{}", port)).await?;
@@ -18,7 +17,16 @@ async fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
             }
             Ok(())
         }
-        Client::Set { key, value } => client.set(&key, Bytes::from(value)).await,
+        Client::Set(opts) => match client.set_with_opts(opts).await {
+            Ok(_) => {
+                println!("OK");
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!("{}", e);
+                Err(e)
+            }
+        },
     }
 }
 
@@ -33,8 +41,9 @@ struct Cli {
 
 #[derive(Clap, Debug)]
 enum Client {
-    #[clap(about = "Gets a value associated with a key")]
+    /// Gets a value associated with a key
     Get { key: String },
-    #[clap(about = "Associates a value with a key")]
-    Set { key: String, value: String },
+
+    /// Associates a value with a key
+    Set(Set),
 }
diff --git a/src/bin/server.rs b/src/bin/server.rs
index 58865f3..df18fdf 100644
--- a/src/bin/server.rs
+++ b/src/bin/server.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use clap::Clap;
 use mini_redis::{server, DEFAULT_PORT};
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 
 #[tokio::main]
 pub async fn main() -> Result<()> {
diff --git a/src/client.rs b/src/client.rs
index 57860ea..e87fd6a 100644
--- a/src/client.rs
+++ b/src/client.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
-use crate::Connection;
+use crate::{
+    cmd::{
+        utils::{bytes_from_str, duration_from_ms_str},
+        Set,
+    },
+    frame::Frame,
+    Command, Connection,
+};
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
-use std::io;
+use std::io::{Error, ErrorKind};
 use tokio::net::{TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
 
 /// Mini asynchronous Redis client
@@ -9,7 +16,7 @@ pub struct Client {
     conn: Connection,
 }
 
-pub async fn connect<T: ToSocketAddrs>(addr: T) -> io::Result<Client> {
+pub async fn connect<T: ToSocketAddrs>(addr: T) -> Result<Client, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let socket = TcpStream::connect(addr).await?;
     let conn = Connection::new(socket);
 
@@ -17,11 +24,53 @@ pub async fn connect<T: ToSocketAddrs>(addr: T) -> io::Result<Client> {
 }
 
 impl Client {
-    pub async fn get(&mut self, key: &str) -> io::Result<Option<Bytes>> {
+    pub async fn get(&mut self, key: &str) -> Result<Option<Bytes>, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         unimplemented!();
     }
 
-    pub async fn set(&mut self, key: &str, val: Bytes) -> io::Result<()> {
-        unimplemented!();
+    pub async fn set(&mut self, key: &str, value: &str) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+        let opts = Set {
+            key: key.to_string(),
+            value: bytes_from_str(value),
+            expire: None,
+        };
+        self.set_with_opts(opts).await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn set_with_expiration(
+        &mut self,
+        key: &str,
+        value: &str,
+        expiration: &str,
+    ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+        let opts = Set {
+            key: key.to_string(),
+            value: bytes_from_str(value),
+            expire: Some(duration_from_ms_str(expiration)?),
+        };
+        self.set_with_opts(opts).await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn set_with_opts(&mut self, opts: Set) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+        let frame = Command::Set(opts).into_frame()?;
+        self.conn.write_frame(&frame).await?;
+        let response = self.conn.read_frame().await?;
+        if let Some(response) = response {
+            match response {
+                Frame::Simple(response) => {
+                    if response == "OK" {
+                        Ok(())
+                    } else {
+                        Err("unexpected response from server".into())
+                    }
+                }
+                _ => Err("unexpected response from server".into()),
+            }
+        } else {
+            Err(Box::new(Error::new(
+                ErrorKind::ConnectionReset,
+                "connection reset by server",
+            )))
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cmd/get.rs b/src/cmd/get.rs
index 3a36d10..f16c0f6 100644
--- a/src/cmd/get.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/get.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{Connection, Frame, Db, Parse, ParseError};
+use crate::{Connection, Db, Frame, Parse, ParseError};
 
 use std::io;
 use tracing::{debug, instrument};
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ impl Get {
     // with their debug implementations
     // see https://docs.rs/tracing/0.1.13/tracing/attr.instrument.html
     #[instrument]
-    pub(crate) fn parse(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Get, ParseError> {
+    pub(crate) fn parse_frames(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Get, ParseError> {
         let key = parse.next_string()?;
 
         // adding this debug event allows us to see what key is parsed
         // the ? sigil tells `tracing` to use the `Debug` implementation
         // get parse events can be filtered by running
-        // RUST_LOG=mini_redis::cmd::get[parse]=debug cargo run --bin server
+        // RUST_LOG=mini_redis::cmd::get[parse_frames]=debug cargo run --bin server
         // see https://docs.rs/tracing/0.1.13/tracing/#recording-fields
         debug!(?key);
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/mod.rs b/src/cmd/mod.rs
index 8bfaf32..647e55e 100644
--- a/src/cmd/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -10,9 +10,12 @@ pub use set::Set;
 mod subscribe;
 pub use subscribe::{Subscribe, Unsubscribe};
 
-use crate::{Connection, Frame, Db, Parse, ParseError, Shutdown};
+pub(crate) mod utils;
+
+use crate::{Connection, Db, Frame, Parse, ParseError, Shutdown};
 
 use std::io;
+use tracing::instrument;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum Command {
@@ -24,17 +27,18 @@ pub(crate) enum Command {
 }
 
 impl Command {
+    #[instrument]
     pub(crate) fn from_frame(frame: Frame) -> Result<Command, ParseError> {
         let mut parse = Parse::new(frame)?;
 
         let command_name = parse.next_string()?.to_lowercase();
 
         let command = match &command_name[..] {
-            "get" => Command::Get(Get::parse(&mut parse)?),
-            "publish" => Command::Publish(Publish::parse(&mut parse)?),
-            "set" => Command::Set(Set::parse(&mut parse)?),
-            "subscribe" => Command::Subscribe(Subscribe::parse(&mut parse)?),
-            "unsubscribe" => Command::Unsubscribe(Unsubscribe::parse(&mut parse)?),
+            "get" => Command::Get(Get::parse_frames(&mut parse)?),
+            "publish" => Command::Publish(Publish::parse_frames(&mut parse)?),
+            "set" => Command::Set(Set::parse_frames(&mut parse)?),
+            "subscribe" => Command::Subscribe(Subscribe::parse_frames(&mut parse)?),
+            "unsubscribe" => Command::Unsubscribe(Unsubscribe::parse_frames(&mut parse)?),
             _ => return Err(ParseError::UnknownCommand(command_name)),
         };
 
@@ -42,6 +46,14 @@ impl Command {
         Ok(command)
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn into_frame(self) -> Result<Frame, ParseError> {
+        let frame = match self {
+            Command::Set(set) => set.into_frame(),
+            _ => unimplemented!(),
+        };
+        Ok(frame)
+    }
+
     pub(crate) async fn apply(
         self,
         db: &Db,
diff --git a/src/cmd/publish.rs b/src/cmd/publish.rs
index 4c72377..a7a760b 100644
--- a/src/cmd/publish.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/publish.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{Connection, Frame, Db, Parse, ParseError};
+use crate::{Connection, Db, Frame, Parse, ParseError};
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use std::io;
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub struct Publish {
 }
 
 impl Publish {
-    pub(crate) fn parse(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Publish, ParseError> {
+    pub(crate) fn parse_frames(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Publish, ParseError> {
         let channel = parse.next_string()?;
         let message = parse.next_bytes()?;
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/set.rs b/src/cmd/set.rs
index 38e1806..ec7c13d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/set.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/set.rs
@@ -1,21 +1,32 @@
-use crate::cmd::{Parse, ParseError};
-use crate::{Connection, Frame, Db};
+use crate::cmd::{
+    utils::{bytes_from_str, duration_from_ms_str},
+    Parse, ParseError,
+};
+use crate::{Connection, Db, Frame};
+use clap::Clap;
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use std::io;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use tracing::{debug, instrument};
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clap, Debug)]
 pub struct Set {
-    key: String,
-    value: Bytes,
-    expire: Option<Duration>,
+    /// the lookup key
+    pub(crate) key: String,
+
+    /// the value to be stored
+    #[clap(parse(from_str = bytes_from_str))]
+    pub(crate) value: Bytes,
+
+    /// duration in milliseconds
+    #[clap(parse(try_from_str = duration_from_ms_str))]
+    pub(crate) expire: Option<Duration>,
 }
 
 impl Set {
     #[instrument]
-    pub(crate) fn parse(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Set, ParseError> {
+    pub(crate) fn parse_frames(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Set, ParseError> {
         use ParseError::EndOfStream;
 
         let key = parse.next_string()?;
@@ -50,4 +61,12 @@ impl Set {
         debug!(?response);
         dst.write_frame(&response).await
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn into_frame(self) -> Frame {
+        let mut frame = Frame::array();
+        frame.push_bulk(Bytes::from("set".as_bytes()));
+        frame.push_bulk(Bytes::from(self.key.into_bytes()));
+        frame.push_bulk(self.value);
+        frame
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/cmd/subscribe.rs b/src/cmd/subscribe.rs
index 2ef8fad..9eed976 100644
--- a/src/cmd/subscribe.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/subscribe.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::cmd::{Parse, ParseError};
-use crate::{Command, Connection, Frame, Db, Shutdown};
+use crate::{Command, Connection, Db, Frame, Shutdown};
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use std::io;
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ pub struct Unsubscribe {
 }
 
 impl Subscribe {
-    pub(crate) fn parse(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Subscribe, ParseError> {
+    pub(crate) fn parse_frames(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Subscribe, ParseError> {
         use ParseError::EndOfStream;
 
         // There must be at least one channel
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ impl Subscribe {
 }
 
 impl Unsubscribe {
-    pub(crate) fn parse(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Unsubscribe, ParseError> {
+    pub(crate) fn parse_frames(parse: &mut Parse) -> Result<Unsubscribe, ParseError> {
         use ParseError::EndOfStream;
 
         // There may be no channels listed.
diff --git a/src/cmd/utils.rs b/src/cmd/utils.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c1ccd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/utils.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+use bytes::Bytes;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+pub(crate) fn duration_from_ms_str(src: &str) -> Result<Duration, std::num::ParseIntError> {
+    let millis = src.parse::<u64>()?;
+    Ok(Duration::from_millis(millis))
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn bytes_from_str(src: &str) -> Bytes {
+    Bytes::from(src.to_string())
+}
diff --git a/src/conn.rs b/src/conn.rs
index 00a730a..a8893ec 100644
--- a/src/conn.rs
+++ b/src/conn.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use bytes::{Buf, BytesMut};
 use std::io::{self, Cursor};
 use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufStream};
 use tokio::net::TcpStream;
-
+use tracing::debug;
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct Connection {
     stream: BufStream<TcpStream>,
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ impl Connection {
         use frame::Error::Incomplete;
 
         loop {
+            debug!(?self.buffer);
             let mut buf = Cursor::new(&self.buffer[..]);
 
             match Frame::check(&mut buf) {
diff --git a/src/db.rs b/src/db.rs
index 5404289..5a4858a 100644
--- a/src/db.rs
+++ b/src/db.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ impl Db {
             // Only notify the worker task if the newly inserted expiration is the
             // **next** key to evict. In this case, the worker needs to be woken up
             // to update its state.
-            notify = state.next_expiration()
+            notify = state
+                .next_expiration()
                 .map(|expiration| expiration > when)
                 .unwrap_or(true);
 
@@ -95,11 +96,14 @@ impl Db {
         });
 
         // Insert the entry.
-        let prev = state.entries.insert(key, Entry {
-            id,
-            data: value,
-            expires_at,
-        });
+        let prev = state.entries.insert(
+            key,
+            Entry {
+                id,
+                data: value,
+                expires_at,
+            },
+        );
 
         if let Some(prev) = prev {
             if let Some(when) = prev.expires_at {
@@ -180,7 +184,10 @@ impl Shared {
 
 impl State {
     fn next_expiration(&self) -> Option<Instant> {
-        self.expirations.keys().next().map(|expiration| expiration.0)
+        self.expirations
+            .keys()
+            .next()
+            .map(|expiration| expiration.0)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/frame.rs b/src/frame.rs
index 21735cc..1d3b06d 100644
--- a/src/frame.rs
+++ b/src/frame.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::io::Cursor;
 use std::num::TryFromIntError;
 use std::string::FromUtf8Error;
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum Frame {
     Simple(String),
     Error(String),
@@ -148,6 +148,23 @@ impl Frame {
             _ => unimplemented!(),
         }
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn try_as_str(&self) -> Result<String, String> {
+        match &self {
+            Frame::Simple(response) => Ok(response.to_string()),
+            Frame::Error(response) => Err(response.to_string()),
+            Frame::Integer(response) => Ok(format!("{}", response)),
+            Frame::Bulk(response) => Ok(format!("{:?}", response)),
+            Frame::Null => Ok("(nil)".to_string()),
+            Frame::Array(response) => {
+                let mut msg = "".to_string();
+                for item in response {
+                    msg.push_str(&item.try_as_str()?)
+                }
+                Ok(msg)
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 fn peek_u8(src: &mut Cursor<&[u8]>) -> Result<u8, Error> {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 9e7dc87..4d5a979 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ pub const DEFAULT_PORT: &str = "6379";
 
 pub mod client;
 
-mod cmd;
+pub mod cmd;
 use cmd::Command;
 
 mod conn;
diff --git a/src/parse.rs b/src/parse.rs
index 5cfb571..d6c8125 100644
--- a/src/parse.rs
+++ b/src/parse.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::Frame;
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
-use std::{io, str, vec};
+use std::{error, fmt, io, str, vec};
 
 /// Utility for parsing a command
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -76,15 +76,23 @@ impl Parse {
 
 impl From<ParseError> for io::Error {
     fn from(src: ParseError) -> io::Error {
-        use ParseError::*;
-
-        io::Error::new(
-            io::ErrorKind::Other,
-            match src {
-                EndOfStream => "end of stream".to_string(),
-                Invalid => "invalid".to_string(),
-                UnknownCommand(cmd) => format!("unknown command `{}`", cmd),
-            },
-        )
+        io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other, format!("{}", src))
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for ParseError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        let msg = match self {
+            ParseError::EndOfStream => "end of stream".to_string(),
+            ParseError::Invalid => "invalid".to_string(),
+            ParseError::UnknownCommand(cmd) => format!("unknown command `{}`", cmd),
+        };
+        write!(f, "{}", &msg)
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for ParseError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn error::Error + 'static)> {
+        None
     }
 }