Typed Command Interfaces — Request Determines Response 🟡

What you'll learn: How associated types on a command trait create a compile-time binding between request and response, eliminating mismatched parsing, unit confusion, and silent type coercion across IPMI, Redfish, and NVMe protocols.

Cross-references: ch01 (philosophy), ch06 (dimensional types), ch07 (validated boundaries), ch10 (integration)

The Untyped Swamp

Most hardware management stacks — IPMI, Redfish, NVMe Admin, PLDM — start life as raw bytes in → raw bytes out. This creates a category of bugs that tests can only partially find:

use std::io;

struct BmcRaw { /* ipmitool handle */ }

impl BmcRaw {
    fn raw_command(&self, net_fn: u8, cmd: u8, data: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
        // ... shells out to ipmitool ...
        Ok(vec![0x00, 0x19, 0x00]) // stub
    }
}

fn diagnose_thermal(bmc: &BmcRaw) -> io::Result<()> {
    let raw = bmc.raw_command(0x04, 0x2D, &[0x20])?;
    let cpu_temp = raw[0] as f64;        // 🤞 is byte 0 the reading?

    let raw = bmc.raw_command(0x04, 0x2D, &[0x30])?;
    let fan_rpm = raw[0] as u32;         // 🐛 fan speed is 2 bytes LE

    let raw = bmc.raw_command(0x04, 0x2D, &[0x40])?;
    let voltage = raw[0] as f64;         // 🐛 need to divide by 1000

    if cpu_temp > fan_rpm as f64 {       // 🐛 comparing °C to RPM
        println!("uh oh");
    }

    log_temp(voltage);                   // 🐛 passing Volts as temperature
    Ok(())
}

fn log_temp(t: f64) { println!("Temp: {t}°C"); }

#	Bug	Discovered
1	Fan RPM parsed as 1 byte instead of 2	Production, 3 AM
2	Voltage not scaled	Every PSU flagged as overvoltage
3	Comparing °C to RPM	Maybe never
4	Volts passed to temp logger	6 months later, reading historical data

Root cause: Everything is Vec<u8> → f64 → pray.

The Typed Command Pattern

Step 1 — Domain newtypes

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, PartialOrd)]
pub struct Celsius(pub f64);

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, PartialOrd)]
pub struct Rpm(pub u32);  // u32: raw IPMI sensor value (integer RPM)

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, PartialOrd)]
pub struct Volts(pub f64);

#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, PartialOrd)]
pub struct Watts(pub f64);

Note on Rpm(u32) vs Rpm(f64): In this chapter the inner type is u32 because IPMI sensor readings are integer values. In ch06 (Dimensional Analysis), Rpm uses f64 to support arithmetic operations (averaging, scaling). Both are valid — the newtype prevents cross-unit confusion regardless of inner type.

Step 2 — The command trait (type-indexed dispatch)

The associated type Response is the key — it binds each command struct to its return type. Each implementing struct pins Response to a specific domain type, so execute() always returns exactly the right type:

pub trait IpmiCmd {
    /// The "type index" — determines what execute() returns.
    type Response;

    fn net_fn(&self) -> u8;
    fn cmd_byte(&self) -> u8;
    fn payload(&self) -> Vec<u8>;

    /// Parsing encapsulated here — each command knows its own byte layout.
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Self::Response>;
}

Step 3 — One struct per command

pub struct ReadTemp { pub sensor_id: u8 }
impl IpmiCmd for ReadTemp {
    type Response = Celsius;
    fn net_fn(&self) -> u8 { 0x04 }
    fn cmd_byte(&self) -> u8 { 0x2D }
    fn payload(&self) -> Vec<u8> { vec![self.sensor_id] }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Celsius> {
        if raw.is_empty() {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "empty response"));
        }
        // Note: ch01's untyped example uses `raw[0] as i8 as f64` (signed)
        // because that function was demonstrating generic parsing without
        // SDR metadata. Here we use unsigned (`as f64`) because the SDR
        // linearization formula in IPMI spec §35.5 converts the unsigned
        // raw reading to a calibrated value. In production, apply the
        // full SDR formula: result = (M × raw + B) × 10^(R_exp).
        Ok(Celsius(raw[0] as f64))  // unsigned raw byte, converted per SDR formula
    }
}

pub struct ReadFanSpeed { pub fan_id: u8 }
impl IpmiCmd for ReadFanSpeed {
    type Response = Rpm;
    fn net_fn(&self) -> u8 { 0x04 }
    fn cmd_byte(&self) -> u8 { 0x2D }
    fn payload(&self) -> Vec<u8> { vec![self.fan_id] }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Rpm> {
        if raw.len() < 2 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
                format!("fan speed needs 2 bytes, got {}", raw.len())));
        }
        Ok(Rpm(u16::from_le_bytes([raw[0], raw[1]]) as u32))
    }
}

pub struct ReadVoltage { pub rail: u8 }
impl IpmiCmd for ReadVoltage {
    type Response = Volts;
    fn net_fn(&self) -> u8 { 0x04 }
    fn cmd_byte(&self) -> u8 { 0x2D }
    fn payload(&self) -> Vec<u8> { vec![self.rail] }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Volts> {
        if raw.len() < 2 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
                format!("voltage needs 2 bytes, got {}", raw.len())));
        }
        Ok(Volts(u16::from_le_bytes([raw[0], raw[1]]) as f64 / 1000.0))
    }
}

Step 4 — The executor (zero `dyn`, monomorphised)

pub struct BmcConnection { pub timeout_secs: u32 }

impl BmcConnection {
    pub fn execute<C: IpmiCmd>(&self, cmd: &C) -> io::Result<C::Response> {
        let raw = self.raw_send(cmd.net_fn(), cmd.cmd_byte(), &cmd.payload())?;
        cmd.parse_response(&raw)
    }

    fn raw_send(&self, _nf: u8, _cmd: u8, _data: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
        Ok(vec![0x19, 0x00]) // stub
    }
}

Step 5 — All four bugs become compile errors

fn diagnose_thermal_typed(bmc: &BmcConnection) -> io::Result<()> {
    let cpu_temp: Celsius = bmc.execute(&ReadTemp { sensor_id: 0x20 })?;
    let fan_rpm:  Rpm     = bmc.execute(&ReadFanSpeed { fan_id: 0x30 })?;
    let voltage:  Volts   = bmc.execute(&ReadVoltage { rail: 0x40 })?;

    // Bug #1 — IMPOSSIBLE: parsing lives in ReadFanSpeed::parse_response
    // Bug #2 — IMPOSSIBLE: unit scaling lives in ReadVoltage::parse_response

    // Bug #3 — COMPILE ERROR:
    // if cpu_temp > fan_rpm { }
    //    ^^^^^^^^   ^^^^^^^ Celsius vs Rpm → "mismatched types" ❌

    // Bug #4 — COMPILE ERROR:
    // log_temperature(voltage);
    //                 ^^^^^^^ Volts, expected Celsius ❌

    if cpu_temp > Celsius(85.0) { println!("CPU overheating: {:?}", cpu_temp); }
    if fan_rpm < Rpm(4000)      { println!("Fan too slow: {:?}", fan_rpm); }

    Ok(())
}

fn log_temperature(t: Celsius) { println!("Temp: {:?}", t); }
fn log_voltage(v: Volts)       { println!("Voltage: {:?}", v); }

IPMI: Sensor Reads That Can't Be Confused

Adding a new sensor is one struct + one impl — no scattered parsing:

pub struct ReadPowerDraw { pub domain: u8 }
impl IpmiCmd for ReadPowerDraw {
    type Response = Watts;
    fn net_fn(&self) -> u8 { 0x04 }
    fn cmd_byte(&self) -> u8 { 0x2D }
    fn payload(&self) -> Vec<u8> { vec![self.domain] }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Watts> {
        if raw.len() < 2 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
                format!("power draw needs 2 bytes, got {}", raw.len())));
        }
        Ok(Watts(u16::from_le_bytes([raw[0], raw[1]]) as f64))
    }
}

// Every caller that uses bmc.execute(&ReadPowerDraw { domain: 0 })
// automatically gets Watts back — no parsing code elsewhere

Testing Each Command in Isolation

#[cfg(test)]
mod tests {
    use super::*;

    struct StubBmc {
        responses: std::collections::HashMap<u8, Vec<u8>>,
    }

    impl StubBmc {
        fn execute<C: IpmiCmd>(&self, cmd: &C) -> io::Result<C::Response> {
            let key = cmd.payload()[0];
            let raw = self.responses.get(&key)
                .ok_or_else(|| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::NotFound, "no stub"))?;
            cmd.parse_response(raw)
        }
    }

    #[test]
    fn read_temp_parses_raw_byte() {
        let bmc = StubBmc {
            responses: [(0x20, vec![0x19])].into(), // 25 decimal = 0x19
        };
        let temp = bmc.execute(&ReadTemp { sensor_id: 0x20 }).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(temp, Celsius(25.0));
    }

    #[test]
    fn read_fan_parses_two_byte_le() {
        let bmc = StubBmc {
            responses: [(0x30, vec![0x00, 0x19])].into(), // 0x1900 = 6400
        };
        let rpm = bmc.execute(&ReadFanSpeed { fan_id: 0x30 }).unwrap();
        assert_eq!(rpm, Rpm(6400));
    }

    #[test]
    fn read_voltage_scales_millivolts() {
        let bmc = StubBmc {
            responses: [(0x40, vec![0xE8, 0x2E])].into(), // 0x2EE8 = 12008 mV
        };
        let v = bmc.execute(&ReadVoltage { rail: 0x40 }).unwrap();
        assert!((v.0 - 12.008).abs() < 0.001);
    }
}

Redfish: Schema-Typed REST Endpoints

Redfish is an even better fit — each endpoint returns a DMTF-defined JSON schema:

use serde::Deserialize;

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct ThermalResponse {
    #[serde(rename = "Temperatures")]
    pub temperatures: Vec<RedfishTemp>,
    #[serde(rename = "Fans")]
    pub fans: Vec<RedfishFan>,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct RedfishTemp {
    #[serde(rename = "Name")]
    pub name: String,
    #[serde(rename = "ReadingCelsius")]
    pub reading: f64,
    #[serde(rename = "UpperThresholdCritical")]
    pub critical_hi: Option<f64>,
    #[serde(rename = "Status")]
    pub status: RedfishHealth,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct RedfishFan {
    #[serde(rename = "Name")]
    pub name: String,
    #[serde(rename = "Reading")]
    pub rpm: u32,
    #[serde(rename = "Status")]
    pub status: RedfishHealth,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct PowerResponse {
    #[serde(rename = "Voltages")]
    pub voltages: Vec<RedfishVoltage>,
    #[serde(rename = "PowerSupplies")]
    pub psus: Vec<RedfishPsu>,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct RedfishVoltage {
    #[serde(rename = "Name")]
    pub name: String,
    #[serde(rename = "ReadingVolts")]
    pub reading: f64,
    #[serde(rename = "Status")]
    pub status: RedfishHealth,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct RedfishPsu {
    #[serde(rename = "Name")]
    pub name: String,
    #[serde(rename = "PowerOutputWatts")]
    pub output_watts: Option<f64>,
    #[serde(rename = "Status")]
    pub status: RedfishHealth,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct ProcessorResponse {
    #[serde(rename = "Model")]
    pub model: String,
    #[serde(rename = "TotalCores")]
    pub cores: u32,
    #[serde(rename = "Status")]
    pub status: RedfishHealth,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
pub struct RedfishHealth {
    #[serde(rename = "State")]
    pub state: String,
    #[serde(rename = "Health")]
    pub health: Option<String>,
}

/// Typed Redfish endpoint — each knows its response type.
pub trait RedfishEndpoint {
    type Response: serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
    fn method(&self) -> &'static str;
    fn path(&self) -> String;
}

pub struct GetThermal { pub chassis_id: String }
impl RedfishEndpoint for GetThermal {
    type Response = ThermalResponse;
    fn method(&self) -> &'static str { "GET" }
    fn path(&self) -> String {
        format!("/redfish/v1/Chassis/{}/Thermal", self.chassis_id)
    }
}

pub struct GetPower { pub chassis_id: String }
impl RedfishEndpoint for GetPower {
    type Response = PowerResponse;
    fn method(&self) -> &'static str { "GET" }
    fn path(&self) -> String {
        format!("/redfish/v1/Chassis/{}/Power", self.chassis_id)
    }
}

pub struct GetProcessor { pub system_id: String, pub proc_id: String }
impl RedfishEndpoint for GetProcessor {
    type Response = ProcessorResponse;
    fn method(&self) -> &'static str { "GET" }
    fn path(&self) -> String {
        format!("/redfish/v1/Systems/{}/Processors/{}", self.system_id, self.proc_id)
    }
}

pub struct RedfishClient {
    pub base_url: String,
    pub auth_token: String,
}

impl RedfishClient {
    pub fn execute<E: RedfishEndpoint>(&self, endpoint: &E) -> io::Result<E::Response> {
        let url = format!("{}{}", self.base_url, endpoint.path());
        let json_bytes = self.http_request(endpoint.method(), &url)?;
        serde_json::from_slice(&json_bytes)
            .map_err(|e| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e))
    }

    fn http_request(&self, _method: &str, _url: &str) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
        Ok(vec![]) // stub — real impl uses reqwest/hyper
    }
}

// Usage — fully typed, self-documenting
fn redfish_pre_flight(client: &RedfishClient) -> io::Result<()> {
    let thermal: ThermalResponse = client.execute(&GetThermal {
        chassis_id: "1".into(),
    })?;
    let power: PowerResponse = client.execute(&GetPower {
        chassis_id: "1".into(),
    })?;

    // ❌ Compile error — can't pass PowerResponse to a thermal check:
    // check_thermals(&power);  → "expected ThermalResponse, found PowerResponse"

    for temp in &thermal.temperatures {
        if let Some(crit) = temp.critical_hi {
            if temp.reading > crit {
                println!("CRITICAL: {} at {}°C (threshold: {}°C)",
                    temp.name, temp.reading, crit);
            }
        }
    }
    Ok(())
}

NVMe Admin: Identify Doesn't Return Log Pages

NVMe admin commands follow the same shape. The controller distinguishes command opcodes, but in C the caller must know which struct to overlay on the 4 KB completion buffer. The typed-command pattern makes this impossible to get wrong:

use std::io;

/// The NVMe Admin command trait — same shape as IpmiCmd.
pub trait NvmeAdminCmd {
    type Response;
    fn opcode(&self) -> u8;
    fn parse_completion(&self, data: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Self::Response>;
}

// ── Identify (opcode 0x06) ──

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct IdentifyResponse {
    pub model_number: String,   // bytes 24–63
    pub serial_number: String,  // bytes 4–23
    pub firmware_rev: String,   // bytes 64–71
    pub total_capacity_gb: u64,
}

pub struct Identify {
    pub nsid: u32, // 0 = controller, >0 = namespace
}

impl NvmeAdminCmd for Identify {
    type Response = IdentifyResponse;
    fn opcode(&self) -> u8 { 0x06 }
    fn parse_completion(&self, data: &[u8]) -> io::Result<IdentifyResponse> {
        if data.len() < 4096 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "short identify"));
        }
        Ok(IdentifyResponse {
            serial_number: String::from_utf8_lossy(&data[4..24]).trim().to_string(),
            model_number: String::from_utf8_lossy(&data[24..64]).trim().to_string(),
            firmware_rev: String::from_utf8_lossy(&data[64..72]).trim().to_string(),
            total_capacity_gb: u64::from_le_bytes(
                data[280..288].try_into().unwrap()
            ) / (1024 * 1024 * 1024),
        })
    }
}

// ── Get Log Page (opcode 0x02) ──

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct SmartLog {
    pub critical_warning: u8,
    pub temperature_kelvin: u16,
    pub available_spare_pct: u8,
    pub data_units_read: u128,
}

pub struct GetLogPage {
    pub log_id: u8, // 0x02 = SMART/Health
}

impl NvmeAdminCmd for GetLogPage {
    type Response = SmartLog;
    fn opcode(&self) -> u8 { 0x02 }
    fn parse_completion(&self, data: &[u8]) -> io::Result<SmartLog> {
        if data.len() < 512 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "short log page"));
        }
        Ok(SmartLog {
            critical_warning: data[0],
            temperature_kelvin: u16::from_le_bytes([data[1], data[2]]),
            available_spare_pct: data[3],
            data_units_read: u128::from_le_bytes(data[32..48].try_into().unwrap()),
        })
    }
}

// ── Executor ──

pub struct NvmeController { /* fd, BAR, etc. */ }

impl NvmeController {
    pub fn admin_cmd<C: NvmeAdminCmd>(&self, cmd: &C) -> io::Result<C::Response> {
        let raw = self.submit_and_wait(cmd.opcode())?;
        cmd.parse_completion(&raw)
    }

    fn submit_and_wait(&self, _opcode: u8) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
        Ok(vec![0u8; 4096]) // stub — real impl issues doorbell + waits for CQ entry
    }
}

// ── Usage ──

fn nvme_health_check(ctrl: &NvmeController) -> io::Result<()> {
    let id: IdentifyResponse = ctrl.admin_cmd(&Identify { nsid: 0 })?;
    let smart: SmartLog = ctrl.admin_cmd(&GetLogPage { log_id: 0x02 })?;

    // ❌ Compile error — Identify returns IdentifyResponse, not SmartLog:
    // let smart: SmartLog = ctrl.admin_cmd(&Identify { nsid: 0 })?;

    println!("{} (FW {}): {}°C, {}% spare",
        id.model_number, id.firmware_rev,
        smart.temperature_kelvin.saturating_sub(273),
        smart.available_spare_pct);

    Ok(())
}

The three-protocol progression now follows a graduated arc (the same technique ch07 uses for validated boundaries):

Beat	Protocol	Complexity	What it adds
1	IPMI	Simple: sensor ID → reading	Core pattern: `trait + associated type`
2	Redfish	REST: endpoint → typed JSON	Serde integration, schema-typed responses
3	NVMe	Binary: opcode → 4 KB struct overlay	Raw buffer parsing, multi-struct completion data

Extension: Macro DSL for Command Scripts

/// Execute a series of typed IPMI commands, returning a tuple of results.
macro_rules! diag_script {
    ($bmc:expr; $($cmd:expr),+ $(,)?) => {{
        ( $( $bmc.execute(&$cmd)?, )+ )
    }};
}

fn full_pre_flight(bmc: &BmcConnection) -> io::Result<()> {
    let (temp, rpm, volts) = diag_script!(bmc;
        ReadTemp     { sensor_id: 0x20 },
        ReadFanSpeed { fan_id:    0x30 },
        ReadVoltage  { rail:      0x40 },
    );
    // Type: (Celsius, Rpm, Volts) — fully inferred, swap = compile error
    assert!(temp  < Celsius(95.0), "CPU too hot");
    assert!(rpm   > Rpm(3000),     "Fan too slow");
    assert!(volts > Volts(11.4),   "12V rail sagging");
    Ok(())
}

Extension: Enum Dispatch for Dynamic Scripts

When commands come from JSON config at runtime:

pub enum AnyReading {
    Temp(Celsius),
    Rpm(Rpm),
    Volt(Volts),
    Watt(Watts),
}

pub enum AnyCmd {
    Temp(ReadTemp),
    Fan(ReadFanSpeed),
    Voltage(ReadVoltage),
    Power(ReadPowerDraw),
}

impl AnyCmd {
    pub fn execute(&self, bmc: &BmcConnection) -> io::Result<AnyReading> {
        match self {
            AnyCmd::Temp(c)    => Ok(AnyReading::Temp(bmc.execute(c)?)),
            AnyCmd::Fan(c)     => Ok(AnyReading::Rpm(bmc.execute(c)?)),
            AnyCmd::Voltage(c) => Ok(AnyReading::Volt(bmc.execute(c)?)),
            AnyCmd::Power(c)   => Ok(AnyReading::Watt(bmc.execute(c)?)),
        }
    }
}

fn run_dynamic_script(bmc: &BmcConnection, script: &[AnyCmd]) -> io::Result<Vec<AnyReading>> {
    script.iter().map(|cmd| cmd.execute(bmc)).collect()
}

The Pattern Family

This pattern applies to every hardware management protocol:

Protocol	Request Type	Response Type
IPMI Sensor Reading	`ReadTemp`	`Celsius`
Redfish REST	`GetThermal`	`ThermalResponse`
NVMe Admin	`Identify`	`IdentifyResponse`
PLDM	`GetFwParams`	`FwParamsResponse`
MCTP	`GetEid`	`EidResponse`
PCIe Config Space	`ReadCapability`	`CapabilityHeader`
SMBIOS/DMI	`ReadType17`	`MemoryDeviceInfo`

The request type determines the response type — the compiler enforces it everywhere.

Typed Command Flow

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Compile Time"
        RT["ReadTemp"] -->|"type Response = Celsius"| C[Celsius]
        RF["ReadFanSpeed"] -->|"type Response = Rpm"| R[Rpm]
        RV["ReadVoltage"] -->|"type Response = Volts"| V[Volts]
    end
    subgraph "Runtime"
        E["bmc.execute(&cmd)"] -->|"monomorphised"| P["cmd.parse_response(raw)"]
    end
    style RT fill:#e1f5fe,color:#000
    style RF fill:#e1f5fe,color:#000
    style RV fill:#e1f5fe,color:#000
    style C fill:#c8e6c9,color:#000
    style R fill:#c8e6c9,color:#000
    style V fill:#c8e6c9,color:#000
    style E fill:#fff3e0,color:#000
    style P fill:#fff3e0,color:#000

Exercise: PLDM Typed Commands

Design a PldmCmd trait (same shape as IpmiCmd) for two PLDM commands:

GetFwParams → FwParamsResponse { active_version: String, pending_version: Option<String> }
QueryDeviceIds → DeviceIdResponse { descriptors: Vec<Descriptor> }

Requirements: static dispatch, parse_response returns io::Result<Self::Response>.

<details> <summary>Solution</summary>

use std::io;

pub trait PldmCmd {
    type Response;
    fn pldm_type(&self) -> u8;
    fn command_code(&self) -> u8;
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Self::Response>;
}

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct FwParamsResponse {
    pub active_version: String,
    pub pending_version: Option<String>,
}

pub struct GetFwParams;
impl PldmCmd for GetFwParams {
    type Response = FwParamsResponse;
    fn pldm_type(&self) -> u8 { 0x05 } // Firmware Update
    fn command_code(&self) -> u8 { 0x02 }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<FwParamsResponse> {
        // Simplified — real impl decodes PLDM FW Update spec fields
        if raw.len() < 4 {
            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "too short"));
        }
        Ok(FwParamsResponse {
            active_version: String::from_utf8_lossy(&raw[..4]).to_string(),
            pending_version: None,
        })
    }
}

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct Descriptor { pub descriptor_type: u16, pub data: Vec<u8> }

#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct DeviceIdResponse { pub descriptors: Vec<Descriptor> }

pub struct QueryDeviceIds;
impl PldmCmd for QueryDeviceIds {
    type Response = DeviceIdResponse;
    fn pldm_type(&self) -> u8 { 0x05 }
    fn command_code(&self) -> u8 { 0x04 }
    fn parse_response(&self, raw: &[u8]) -> io::Result<DeviceIdResponse> {
        Ok(DeviceIdResponse { descriptors: vec![] }) // stub
    }
}

</details>

Key Takeaways

Associated type = compile-time contract — type Response on the command trait locks each request to exactly one response type.
Parsing is encapsulated — byte-layout knowledge lives in parse_response, not scattered across callers.
Zero-cost dispatch — generic execute<C: IpmiCmd> monomorphises to direct calls with no vtable.
One pattern, many protocols — IPMI, Redfish, NVMe, PLDM, MCTP all fit the same trait Cmd { type Response; } shape.
Enum dispatch bridges static and dynamic — wrap typed commands in an enum for runtime-driven scripts without losing type safety inside each arm.
Graduated complexity strengthens intuition — IPMI (sensor ID → reading), Redfish (endpoint → JSON schema), and NVMe (opcode → 4 KB struct overlay) all use the same trait shape, but each beat adds a layer of parsing complexity.