diff --git a/cli/app.go b/cli/app.go
index c5b40b74..766b7a68 100644
--- a/cli/app.go
+++ b/cli/app.go
@@ -20,14 +20,15 @@ import (
 
 var appNewCommand = &cli.Command{
 	Name:  "new",
-	Usage: "Create a new app",
+	Usage: "Create a new app of <type>",
 	Description: `
 This command takes a recipe and uses it to cook up a new app. This app
 configuration is stored in your ~/.abra directory under the appropriate server.
 This command does not deploy your app for you. You will need to run "abra app
 deploy <app>" to do so.
 
-You can see what apps can be created by running "abra recipe ls".
+You can see what apps can be created (i.e. values for the <type> argument) by
+running "abra recipe ls".
 
 Passing the "--secrets" flag will automatically generate secrets for your app
 and store them encrypted at rest on the chosen target server. These generated
@@ -42,6 +43,30 @@ locally in a pass store (see passwordstore.org for more).
 		PassFlag,
 		SecretsFlag,
 	},
+	ArgsUsage: "<type>",
+	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+		appType := c.Args().First()
+		if appType == "" {
+			cli.ShowSubcommandHelp(c)
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// TODO:
+		// ensure ABRA_DIR exists
+		// get the apps_json
+		// get the servers list
+		// select latest version of recipe from apps_json
+		// prompt to choose server if not provided
+		// prompt to choose domain name if not provided
+		// prompt to choose app name if not provided
+		// convert name and truncate or error out if needed
+		// cp over env.sample and do some sed/replacing
+		// generate secrets if asked to do so
+		// save them in a pass store if asked to do so
+		// Output some instructions on how to deploy this thing
+
+		return nil
+	},
 }
 var appDeployCommand = &cli.Command{
 	Name: "deploy",