command/write: adding force flag for when no data fields are necessary. Fixes #357

command/write.go

@@ -19,15 +19,18 @@ type WriteCommand struct {
 
 func (c *WriteCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 	var format string
+	var force bool
 	flags := c.Meta.FlagSet("write", FlagSetDefault)
 	flags.StringVar(&format, "format", "table", "")
+	flags.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "")
+	flags.BoolVar(&force, "f", false, "")
 	flags.Usage = func() { c.Ui.Error(c.Help()) }
 	if err := flags.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return 1
 	}
 
 	args = flags.Args()
-	if len(args) < 2 {
+	if len(args) < 2 && !force {
 		c.Ui.Error("write expects at least two arguments")
 		flags.Usage()
 		return 1
@@ -117,6 +120,12 @@ General Options:
                           not recommended. This is especially not recommended
                           for unsealing a vault.
 
+Write Options:
+
+  -f | -force             Force the write to continue without any data values
+                          specified. This allows writing to keys that do not
+                          need or expect any fields to be specified.
+
 `
 	return strings.TrimSpace(helpText)
 }

command/write_test.go

@@ -246,3 +246,26 @@ func TestWrite_Output(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %s", string(ui.OutputWriter.Bytes()))
 	}
 }
+
+func TestWrite_force(t *testing.T) {
+	core, _, token := vault.TestCoreUnsealed(t)
+	ln, addr := http.TestServer(t, core)
+	defer ln.Close()
+
+	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
+	c := &WriteCommand{
+		Meta: Meta{
+			ClientToken: token,
+			Ui:          ui,
+		},
+	}
+
+	args := []string{
+		"-address", addr,
+		"-force",
+		"sys/rotate",
+	}
+	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	}
+}