diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ClearCommand.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ClearCommand.cs
index 41c6634..2569b6e 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ClearCommand.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ClearCommand.cs
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 
 using Microsoft.Extensions.CommandLineUtils;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal class ClearCommand : ICommand
+    public class ClearCommand : ICommand
     {
         public static void Configure(CommandLineApplication command, CommandLineOptions options)
         {
@@ -19,10 +18,10 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
             });
         }
 
-        public void Execute(SecretsStore store, ILogger logger)
+        public void Execute(CommandContext context)
         {
-            store.Clear();
-            store.Save();
+            context.SecretStore.Clear();
+            context.SecretStore.Save();
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandContext.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandContext.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9503178
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandContext.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
+{
+    public class CommandContext
+    {
+        public CommandContext(
+            SecretsStore store,
+            ILogger logger,
+            IConsole console)
+        {
+            SecretStore = store;
+            Logger = logger;
+            Console = console;
+        }
+
+        public IConsole Console { get; }
+        public ILogger Logger { get; }
+        public SecretsStore SecretStore { get; }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandLineOptions.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandLineOptions.cs
index 1b93392..3770542 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandLineOptions.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/CommandLineOptions.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 
-using System.IO;
 using System.Reflection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.CommandLineUtils;
 
@@ -9,16 +8,18 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
     public class CommandLineOptions
     {
+        public string Id { get; set; }
         public bool IsVerbose { get; set; }
         public bool IsHelp { get; set; }
         public string Project { get; set; }
-        internal ICommand Command { get; set; }
+        public ICommand Command { get; set; }
 
-        public static CommandLineOptions Parse(string[] args, TextWriter output)
+        public static CommandLineOptions Parse(string[] args, IConsole console)
         {
             var app = new CommandLineApplication()
             {
-                Out = output,
+                Out = console.Out,
+                Error = console.Error,
                 Name = "dotnet user-secrets",
                 FullName = "User Secrets Manager",
                 Description = "Manages user secrets"
@@ -33,7 +34,13 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
             var optionProject = app.Option("-p|--project <PROJECT>", "Path to project, default is current directory",
                 CommandOptionType.SingleValue, inherited: true);
 
+            // the escape hatch if project evaluation fails, or if users want to alter a secret store other than the one
+            // in the current project
+            var optionId = app.Option("--id", "The user secret id to use.",
+                CommandOptionType.SingleValue, inherited: true);
+
             var options = new CommandLineOptions();
+
             app.Command("set", c => SetCommand.Configure(c, options));
             app.Command("remove", c => RemoveCommand.Configure(c, options));
             app.Command("list", c => ListCommand.Configure(c, options));
@@ -48,6 +55,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
                 return null;
             }
 
+            options.Id = optionId.Value();
             options.IsHelp = app.IsShowingInformation;
             options.IsVerbose = optionVerbose.HasValue();
             options.Project = optionProject.Value();
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ICommand.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ICommand.cs
index 3d6035d..636c08a 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ICommand.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ICommand.cs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
-
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal interface ICommand
+    public interface ICommand
     {
-        void Execute(SecretsStore store, ILogger logger);
+        void Execute(CommandContext context);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/IConsole.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/IConsole.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..819d477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/IConsole.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
+{
+    public interface IConsole
+    {
+        TextWriter Out { get; }
+        TextWriter Error { get; }
+        TextReader In { get; }
+        bool IsInputRedirected { get; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ListCommand.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ListCommand.cs
index efc012c..16ee59a 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ListCommand.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ListCommand.cs
@@ -3,35 +3,67 @@
 
 using Microsoft.Extensions.CommandLineUtils;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Newtonsoft.Json;
+using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal class ListCommand : ICommand
+    public class ListCommand : ICommand
     {
+        private readonly bool _jsonOutput;
+
         public static void Configure(CommandLineApplication command, CommandLineOptions options)
         {
             command.Description = "Lists all the application secrets";
             command.HelpOption();
 
+            var optJson = command.Option("--json", "Use json output. JSON is wrapped by '//BEGIN' and '//END'",
+                CommandOptionType.NoValue);
+
             command.OnExecute(() =>
             {
-                options.Command = new ListCommand();
+                options.Command = new ListCommand(optJson.HasValue());
             });
         }
 
-        public void Execute(SecretsStore store, ILogger logger)
+        public ListCommand(bool jsonOutput)
         {
-            if (store.Count == 0)
+            _jsonOutput = jsonOutput;
+        }
+
+        public void Execute(CommandContext context)
+        {
+            if (_jsonOutput)
             {
-                logger.LogInformation(Resources.Error_No_Secrets_Found);
+                ReportJson(context);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (context.SecretStore.Count == 0)
+            {
+                context.Logger.LogInformation(Resources.Error_No_Secrets_Found);
             }
             else
             {
-                foreach (var secret in store.AsEnumerable())
+                foreach (var secret in context.SecretStore.AsEnumerable())
                 {
-                    logger.LogInformation(Resources.FormatMessage_Secret_Value_Format(secret.Key, secret.Value));
+                    context.Logger.LogInformation(Resources.FormatMessage_Secret_Value_Format(secret.Key, secret.Value));
                 }
             }
         }
+
+        private void ReportJson(CommandContext context)
+        {
+            var jObject = new JObject();
+            foreach(var item in context.SecretStore.AsEnumerable())
+            {
+                jObject[item.Key] = item.Value;
+            }
+
+            // TODO logger would prefix each line.
+            context.Console.Out.WriteLine("//BEGIN");
+            context.Console.Out.WriteLine(jObject.ToString(Formatting.Indented));
+            context.Console.Out.WriteLine("//END");
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/PhysicalConsole.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/PhysicalConsole.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6be8ff4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/PhysicalConsole.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
+{
+    public class PhysicalConsole : IConsole
+    {
+        private PhysicalConsole() { }
+
+        public static IConsole Singleton { get; } = new PhysicalConsole();
+        public TextWriter Error => Console.Error;
+        public TextReader In => Console.In;
+        public TextWriter Out => Console.Out;
+        public bool IsInputRedirected => Console.IsInputRedirected;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ReadableJsonConfigurationSource.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ReadableJsonConfigurationSource.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96d0554
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/ReadableJsonConfigurationSource.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Json;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
+{
+    public class ReadableJsonConfigurationProvider : JsonConfigurationProvider
+    {
+        public ReadableJsonConfigurationProvider()
+            : base(new JsonConfigurationSource())
+        {
+        }
+
+        public IDictionary<string, string> CurrentData => Data;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/RemoveCommand.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/RemoveCommand.cs
index ff48c25..84910b9 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/RemoveCommand.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/RemoveCommand.cs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal class RemoveCommand : ICommand
+    public class RemoveCommand : ICommand
     {
         private readonly string _keyName;
 
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
             _keyName = keyName;
         }
 
-        public void Execute(SecretsStore store, ILogger logger)
+        public void Execute(CommandContext context)
         {
-            if (!store.ContainsKey(_keyName))
+            if (!context.SecretStore.ContainsKey(_keyName))
             {
-                logger.LogWarning(Resources.Error_Missing_Secret, _keyName);
+                context.Logger.LogWarning(Resources.Error_Missing_Secret, _keyName);
             }
             else
             {
-                store.Remove(_keyName);
-                store.Save();
+                context.SecretStore.Remove(_keyName);
+                context.SecretStore.Save();
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SecretsStore.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SecretsStore.cs
index b25a757..67461d7 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SecretsStore.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SecretsStore.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal class SecretsStore
+    public class SecretsStore
     {
         private readonly string _secretsFilePath;
         private IDictionary<string, string> _secrets;
@@ -27,13 +27,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 
             _secretsFilePath = PathHelper.GetSecretsPathFromSecretsId(userSecretsId);
             logger.LogDebug(Resources.Message_Secret_File_Path, _secretsFilePath);
+            _secrets = Load(userSecretsId);
+        }
 
-            _secrets = new ConfigurationBuilder()
-                .AddJsonFile(_secretsFilePath, optional: true)
-                .Build()
-                .AsEnumerable()
-                .Where(i => i.Value != null)
-                .ToDictionary(i => i.Key, i => i.Value, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        public string this[string key]
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return _secrets[key];
+            }
         }
 
         public int Count => _secrets.Count;
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
             }
         }
 
-        public void Save()
+        public virtual void Save()
         {
             Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.GetDirectoryName(_secretsFilePath));
 
@@ -69,5 +71,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 
             File.WriteAllText(_secretsFilePath, contents.ToString(), Encoding.UTF8);
         }
+
+        protected virtual IDictionary<string, string> Load(string userSecretsId)
+        {
+            return new ConfigurationBuilder()
+                .AddJsonFile(_secretsFilePath, optional: true)
+                .Build()
+                .AsEnumerable()
+                .Where(i => i.Value != null)
+                .ToDictionary(i => i.Key, i => i.Value, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SetCommand.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SetCommand.cs
index 15852ce..4799d9f 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SetCommand.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Internal/SetCommand.cs
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 // Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Text;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.CommandLineUtils;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
 {
-    internal class SetCommand : ICommand
+    public class SetCommand : ICommand
     {
         private readonly string _keyName;
         private readonly string _keyValue;
@@ -14,38 +17,88 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal
         public static void Configure(CommandLineApplication command, CommandLineOptions options)
         {
             command.Description = "Sets the user secret to the specified value";
+            command.ExtendedHelpText = @"
+Additional Info:
+  This command will also handle piped input. Piped input is expected to be a valid JSON format.
+
+Examples:
+  dotnet user-secrets set ConnStr ""User ID=bob;Password=***""
+  cat secrets.json | dotnet user-secrets set
+";
+
             command.HelpOption();
 
-            var keyArg = command.Argument("[name]", "Name of the secret");
+            var nameArg = command.Argument("[name]", "Name of the secret");
             var valueArg = command.Argument("[value]", "Value of the secret");
 
             command.OnExecute(() =>
             {
-                if (keyArg.Value == null)
-                {
-                    throw new GracefulException("Missing parameter value for 'name'.\nUse the '--help' flag to see info.");
-                }
-
-                if (valueArg.Value == null)
-                {
-                    throw new GracefulException("Missing parameter value for 'value'.\nUse the '--help' flag to see info.");
-                }
-
-                options.Command = new SetCommand(keyArg.Value, valueArg.Value);
+                options.Command = new SetCommand(nameArg.Value, valueArg.Value);
             });
         }
 
-        public SetCommand(string keyName, string keyValue)
+        internal SetCommand(string keyName, string keyValue)
         {
+            Debug.Assert(keyName != null || keyValue == null, "Inconsistent state. keyValue must not be null if keyName is null.");
             _keyName = keyName;
             _keyValue = keyValue;
         }
 
-        public void Execute(SecretsStore store, ILogger logger)
+        internal SetCommand()
+        { }
+
+        public void Execute(CommandContext context)
         {
-            store.Set(_keyName, _keyValue);
-            store.Save();
-            logger.LogInformation(Resources.Message_Saved_Secret, _keyName, _keyValue);
+            if (context.Console.IsInputRedirected && _keyName == null)
+            {
+                ReadFromInput(context);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                SetFromArguments(context);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void ReadFromInput(CommandContext context)
+        {
+            // parses stdin with the same parser that Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Json would use
+            var provider = new ReadableJsonConfigurationProvider();
+            using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
+            {
+                using (var writer = new StreamWriter(stream, Encoding.Unicode, 1024, true))
+                {
+                    writer.Write(context.Console.In.ReadToEnd()); // TODO buffer?
+                }
+
+                stream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
+                provider.Load(stream);
+            }
+
+            foreach (var k in provider.CurrentData)
+            {
+                context.SecretStore.Set(k.Key, k.Value);
+            }
+
+            context.Logger.LogInformation(Resources.Message_Saved_Secrets, provider.CurrentData.Count);
+
+            context.SecretStore.Save();
+        }
+
+        private void SetFromArguments(CommandContext context)
+        {
+            if (_keyName == null)
+            {
+                throw new GracefulException(Resources.FormatError_MissingArgument("name"));
+            }
+
+            if (_keyValue == null)
+            {
+                throw new GracefulException((Resources.FormatError_MissingArgument("value")));
+            }
+
+            context.SecretStore.Set(_keyName, _keyValue);
+            context.SecretStore.Save();
+            context.Logger.LogInformation(Resources.Message_Saved_Secret, _keyName, _keyValue);
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Program.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Program.cs
index 82422bd..cef3cad 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Program.cs
@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools
     {
         private ILogger _logger;
         private CommandOutputProvider _loggerProvider;
-        private readonly TextWriter _consoleOutput;
+        private readonly IConsole _console;
         private readonly string _workingDirectory;
 
         public Program()
-            : this(Console.Out, Directory.GetCurrentDirectory())
+            : this(PhysicalConsole.Singleton, Directory.GetCurrentDirectory())
         {
         }
 
-        internal Program(TextWriter consoleOutput, string workingDirectory)
+        internal Program(IConsole console, string workingDirectory)
         {
-            _consoleOutput = consoleOutput;
+            _console = console;
             _workingDirectory = workingDirectory;
 
             var loggerFactory = new LoggerFactory();
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools
 
         internal int RunInternal(params string[] args)
         {
-            var options = CommandLineOptions.Parse(args, _consoleOutput);
+            var options = CommandLineOptions.Parse(args, _console);
 
             if (options == null)
             {
@@ -136,12 +136,18 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools
 
             var userSecretsId = ResolveUserSecretsId(options);
             var store = new SecretsStore(userSecretsId, Logger);
-            options.Command.Execute(store, Logger);
+            var context = new CommandContext(store, Logger, _console);
+            options.Command.Execute(context);
             return 0;
         }
 
         private string ResolveUserSecretsId(CommandLineOptions options)
         {
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(options.Id))
+            {
+                return options.Id;
+            }
+
             var projectPath = options.Project ?? _workingDirectory;
 
             if (!Path.IsPathRooted(projectPath))
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
index d9ae9fe..f8af024 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,24 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools
             return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("Error_Command_Failed", "message"), message);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Missing parameter value for '{name}'.
+        /// Use the '--help' flag to see info.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Error_MissingArgument
+        {
+            get { return GetString("Error_MissingArgument"); }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Missing parameter value for '{name}'.
+        /// Use the '--help' flag to see info.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string FormatError_MissingArgument(object name)
+        {
+            return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("Error_MissingArgument", "name"), name);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Cannot find '{key}' in the secret store.
         /// </summary>
@@ -106,6 +124,22 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools
             return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("Message_Saved_Secret", "key", "value"), key, value);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Successfully saved {number} secrets to the secret store.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Message_Saved_Secrets
+        {
+            get { return GetString("Message_Saved_Secrets"); }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Successfully saved {number} secrets to the secret store.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string FormatMessage_Saved_Secrets(object number)
+        {
+            return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("Message_Saved_Secrets", "number"), number);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Secrets file path {secretsFilePath}.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/README.md b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..088485f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+dotnet-user-secrets
+===================
+
+`dotnet-user-secrets` is a command line tool for managing the secrets in a user secret store.
+
+### How To Install
+
+Add `Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools` to the `tools` section of your `project.json` file:
+
+```js
+{
+    ..
+    "tools": {
+        "Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools": "1.0.0-*"
+    }
+    ...
+}
+```
+
+### How To Use
+
+Run `dotnet user-secrets --help` for more information about usage.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Resources.resx b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Resources.resx
index 76631de..63d6550 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Resources.resx
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools/Resources.resx
@@ -120,6 +120,10 @@
   <data name="Error_Command_Failed" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Command failed : {message}</value>
   </data>
+  <data name="Error_MissingArgument" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Missing parameter value for '{name}'.
+Use the '--help' flag to see info.</value>
+  </data>
   <data name="Error_Missing_Secret" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Cannot find '{key}' in the secret store.</value>
   </data>
@@ -135,6 +139,9 @@
   <data name="Message_Saved_Secret" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Successfully saved {key} = {value} to the secret store.</value>
   </data>
+  <data name="Message_Saved_Secrets" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Successfully saved {number} secrets to the secret store.</value>
+  </data>
   <data name="Message_Secret_File_Path" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Secrets file path {secretsFilePath}.</value>
   </data>
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SecretManagerTests.cs b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SecretManagerTests.cs
index f9b8f62..082b53c 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SecretManagerTests.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SecretManagerTests.cs
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ using System.Text;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.UserSecrets;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.UserSecrets.Tests;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal;
 using Xunit;
 using Xunit.Abstractions;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
 {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
         public void Error_Project_DoesNotExist()
         {
             var projectPath = Path.Combine(GetTempSecretProject(), "does_not_exist", "project.json");
-            var secretManager = new Program(Console.Out, Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()) { Logger = _logger };
+            var secretManager = new Program(new TestConsole(), Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()) { Logger = _logger };
 
             var ex = Assert.Throws<GracefulException>(() => secretManager.RunInternal("list", "--project", projectPath));
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
             var projectPath = GetTempSecretProject();
             var cwd = Path.Combine(projectPath, "nested1");
             Directory.CreateDirectory(cwd);
-            var secretManager = new Program(Console.Out, cwd) { Logger = _logger, CommandOutputProvider = _logger.CommandOutputProvider };
+            var secretManager = new Program(new TestConsole(), cwd) { Logger = _logger, CommandOutputProvider = _logger.CommandOutputProvider };
             secretManager.CommandOutputProvider.LogLevel = LogLevel.Debug;
 
             secretManager.RunInternal("list", "-p", "../", "--verbose");
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
             var dir = fromCurrentDirectory
                 ? projectPath
                 : Path.GetTempPath();
-            var secretManager = new Program(Console.Out, dir) { Logger = _logger };
+            var secretManager = new Program(new TestConsole(), dir) { Logger = _logger };
 
             foreach (var secret in secrets)
             {
@@ -222,6 +222,27 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
             Assert.Contains("AzureAd:ClientSecret = abcd郩˙î", _logger.Messages);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void List_Json()
+        {
+            var output = new StringBuilder();
+            var testConsole = new TestConsole
+            {
+                Out = new StringWriter(output)
+            };
+            string id;
+            var projectPath = GetTempSecretProject(out id);
+            var secretsFile = PathHelper.GetSecretsPathFromSecretsId(id);
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.GetDirectoryName(secretsFile));
+            File.WriteAllText(secretsFile, @"{ ""AzureAd"": { ""ClientSecret"": ""abcd郩˙î""} }", Encoding.UTF8);
+            var secretManager = new Program(testConsole, Path.GetDirectoryName(projectPath)) { Logger = _logger };
+            secretManager.RunInternal("list", "--id", id, "--json");
+            var stdout = output.ToString();
+            Assert.Contains("//BEGIN", stdout);
+            Assert.Contains(@"""AzureAd:ClientSecret"": ""abcd郩˙î""", stdout);
+            Assert.Contains("//END", stdout);
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void Set_Flattens_Nested_Objects()
         {
@@ -265,7 +286,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
                 ? projectPath
                 : Path.GetTempPath();
 
-            var secretManager = new Program(Console.Out, dir) { Logger = _logger };
+            var secretManager = new Program(new TestConsole(), dir) { Logger = _logger };
 
             var secrets = new KeyValuePair<string, string>[]
                         {
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SetCommandTest.cs b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SetCommandTest.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fdd43b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/SetCommandTest.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System.IO;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
+{
+    public class SetCommandTest
+    {
+        [Fact]
+        public void SetsFromPipedInput()
+        {
+            var input = @"
+{
+   ""Key1"": ""str value"",
+""Key2"": 1234,
+""Key3"": false
+}";
+            var testConsole = new TestConsole
+            {
+                IsInputRedirected = true,
+                In = new StringReader(input)
+            };
+            var secretStore = new TestSecretsStore();
+            var command = new SetCommand();
+
+            command.Execute(new CommandContext(secretStore, NullLogger.Instance, testConsole));
+
+            Assert.Equal(3, secretStore.Count);
+            Assert.Equal("str value", secretStore["Key1"]);
+            Assert.Equal("1234", secretStore["Key2"]);
+            Assert.Equal("False", secretStore["Key3"]);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void ParsesNestedObjects()
+        {
+            var input = @"
+                {
+                   ""Key1"": {
+                       ""nested"" : ""value""
+                   },
+                   ""array"": [ 1, 2 ]
+                }";
+
+            var testConsole = new TestConsole
+            {
+                IsInputRedirected = true,
+                In = new StringReader(input)
+            };
+            var secretStore = new TestSecretsStore();
+            var command = new SetCommand();
+
+            command.Execute(new CommandContext(secretStore, NullLogger.Instance, testConsole));
+
+            Assert.Equal(3, secretStore.Count);
+            Assert.True(secretStore.ContainsKey("Key1:nested"));
+            Assert.Equal("value", secretStore["Key1:nested"]);
+            Assert.Equal("1", secretStore["array:0"]);
+            Assert.Equal("2", secretStore["array:1"]);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void OnlyPipesInIfNoArgs()
+        {
+            var testConsole = new TestConsole
+            {
+                IsInputRedirected = true,
+                In = new StringReader("")
+            };
+            var secretStore = new TestSecretsStore();
+            var command = new SetCommand("key", null);
+
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<GracefulException>(
+                () => command.Execute(new CommandContext(secretStore, NullLogger.Instance, testConsole)));
+            Assert.Equal(Resources.FormatError_MissingArgument("value"), ex.Message);
+        }
+
+        private class TestSecretsStore : SecretsStore
+        {
+            public TestSecretsStore()
+                : base("xyz", NullLogger.Instance)
+            {
+            }
+
+            protected override IDictionary<string, string> Load(string userSecretsId)
+            {
+                return new Dictionary<string, string>();
+            }
+
+            public override void Save()
+            {
+                // noop
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/TestConsole.cs b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/TestConsole.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8370ecf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/TestConsole.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Internal;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests
+{
+    public class TestConsole : IConsole
+    {
+        public TextWriter Error { get; set; } = Console.Error;
+        public TextReader In { get; set; } = Console.In;
+        public TextWriter Out { get; set; } = Console.Out;
+        public bool IsInputRedirected { get; set; } = false;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/UserSecretHelper.cs b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/UserSecretHelper.cs
index 87dbddc..00932db 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/UserSecretHelper.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.Extensions.SecretManager.Tools.Tests/UserSecretHelper.cs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ using Newtonsoft.Json;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.UserSecrets.Tests
 {
-    internal class UserSecretHelper
+    public class UserSecretHelper
     {
         internal static string GetTempSecretProject()
         {