diff --git a/command/arguments/plan.go b/command/arguments/plan.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..93de15c29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/arguments/plan.go
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package arguments
+
+import (
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/tfdiags"
+)
+
+// Plan represents the command-line arguments for the plan command.
+type Plan struct {
+	// State, Operation, and Vars are the common extended flags
+	State     *State
+	Operation *Operation
+	Vars      *Vars
+
+	// Destroy can be set to generate a plan to destroy all infrastructure.
+	Destroy bool
+
+	// DetailedExitCode enables different exit codes for error, success with
+	// changes, and success with no changes.
+	DetailedExitCode bool
+
+	// InputEnabled is used to disable interactive input for unspecified
+	// variable and backend config values. Default is true.
+	InputEnabled bool
+
+	// OutPath contains an optional path to store the plan file
+	OutPath string
+
+	// ViewType specifies which output format to use
+	ViewType ViewType
+}
+
+// ParsePlan processes CLI arguments, returning a Plan value and errors.
+// If errors are encountered, a Plan value is still returned representing
+// the best effort interpretation of the arguments.
+func ParsePlan(args []string) (*Plan, tfdiags.Diagnostics) {
+	var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
+	plan := &Plan{
+		State:     &State{},
+		Operation: &Operation{},
+		Vars:      &Vars{},
+	}
+
+	cmdFlags := extendedFlagSet("plan", plan.State, plan.Operation, plan.Vars)
+	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&plan.Destroy, "destroy", false, "destroy")
+	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&plan.DetailedExitCode, "detailed-exitcode", false, "detailed-exitcode")
+	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&plan.InputEnabled, "input", true, "input")
+	cmdFlags.StringVar(&plan.OutPath, "out", "", "out")
+
+	if err := cmdFlags.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+			tfdiags.Error,
+			"Failed to parse command-line flags",
+			err.Error(),
+		))
+	}
+
+	args = cmdFlags.Args()
+
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+			tfdiags.Error,
+			"Too many command line arguments",
+			"To specify a working directory for the plan, use the global -chdir flag.",
+		))
+	}
+
+	diags = diags.Append(plan.Operation.Parse())
+
+	switch {
+	default:
+		plan.ViewType = ViewHuman
+	}
+
+	return plan, diags
+}
diff --git a/command/arguments/plan_test.go b/command/arguments/plan_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa0af925e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/arguments/plan_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+package arguments
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/addrs"
+)
+
+func TestParsePlan_basicValid(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		args []string
+		want *Plan
+	}{
+		"defaults": {
+			nil,
+			&Plan{
+				Destroy:          false,
+				DetailedExitCode: false,
+				InputEnabled:     true,
+				OutPath:          "",
+				ViewType:         ViewHuman,
+			},
+		},
+		"setting all options": {
+			[]string{"-destroy", "-detailed-exitcode", "-input=false", "-out=saved.tfplan"},
+			&Plan{
+				Destroy:          true,
+				DetailedExitCode: true,
+				InputEnabled:     false,
+				OutPath:          "saved.tfplan",
+				ViewType:         ViewHuman,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, diags := ParsePlan(tc.args)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected diags: %v", diags)
+			}
+			// Ignore the extended arguments for simplicity
+			got.State = nil
+			got.Operation = nil
+			got.Vars = nil
+			if *got != *tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected result\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParsePlan_invalid(t *testing.T) {
+	got, diags := ParsePlan([]string{"-frob"})
+	if len(diags) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected diags but got none")
+	}
+	if got, want := diags.Err().Error(), "flag provided but not defined"; !strings.Contains(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong diags\n got: %s\nwant: %s", got, want)
+	}
+	if got.ViewType != ViewHuman {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong view type, got %#v, want %#v", got.ViewType, ViewHuman)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParsePlan_tooManyArguments(t *testing.T) {
+	got, diags := ParsePlan([]string{"saved.tfplan"})
+	if len(diags) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected diags but got none")
+	}
+	if got, want := diags.Err().Error(), "Too many command line arguments"; !strings.Contains(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong diags\n got: %s\nwant: %s", got, want)
+	}
+	if got.ViewType != ViewHuman {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong view type, got %#v, want %#v", got.ViewType, ViewHuman)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParsePlan_targets(t *testing.T) {
+	foobarbaz, _ := addrs.ParseTargetStr("foo_bar.baz")
+	boop, _ := addrs.ParseTargetStr("module.boop")
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		args    []string
+		want    []addrs.Targetable
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		"no targets by default": {
+			args: nil,
+			want: nil,
+		},
+		"one target": {
+			args: []string{"-target=foo_bar.baz"},
+			want: []addrs.Targetable{foobarbaz.Subject},
+		},
+		"two targets": {
+			args: []string{"-target=foo_bar.baz", "-target", "module.boop"},
+			want: []addrs.Targetable{foobarbaz.Subject, boop.Subject},
+		},
+		"invalid traversal": {
+			args:    []string{"-target=foo."},
+			want:    nil,
+			wantErr: "Dot must be followed by attribute name",
+		},
+		"invalid target": {
+			args:    []string{"-target=data[0].foo"},
+			want:    nil,
+			wantErr: "A data source name is required",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, diags := ParsePlan(tc.args)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				if tc.wantErr == "" {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected diags: %v", diags)
+				} else if got := diags.Err().Error(); !strings.Contains(got, tc.wantErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("wrong diags\n got: %s\nwant: %s", got, tc.wantErr)
+				}
+			}
+			if !cmp.Equal(got.Operation.Targets, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected result\n%s", cmp.Diff(got.Operation.Targets, tc.want))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParsePlan_vars(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		args []string
+		want []FlagNameValue
+	}{
+		"no var flags by default": {
+			args: nil,
+			want: nil,
+		},
+		"one var": {
+			args: []string{"-var", "foo=bar"},
+			want: []FlagNameValue{
+				{Name: "-var", Value: "foo=bar"},
+			},
+		},
+		"one var-file": {
+			args: []string{"-var-file", "cool.tfvars"},
+			want: []FlagNameValue{
+				{Name: "-var-file", Value: "cool.tfvars"},
+			},
+		},
+		"ordering preserved": {
+			args: []string{
+				"-var", "foo=bar",
+				"-var-file", "cool.tfvars",
+				"-var", "boop=beep",
+			},
+			want: []FlagNameValue{
+				{Name: "-var", Value: "foo=bar"},
+				{Name: "-var-file", Value: "cool.tfvars"},
+				{Name: "-var", Value: "boop=beep"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, diags := ParsePlan(tc.args)
+			if len(diags) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected diags: %v", diags)
+			}
+			if vars := got.Vars.All(); !cmp.Equal(vars, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected result\n%s", cmp.Diff(vars, tc.want))
+			}
+			if got, want := got.Vars.Empty(), len(tc.want) == 0; got != want {
+				t.Fatalf("expected Empty() to return %t, but was %t", want, got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/command/plan.go b/command/plan.go
index 7b73d0ce6..aa3ea87a8 100644
--- a/command/plan.go
+++ b/command/plan.go
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/arguments"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/views"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/configs"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/terraform"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/tfdiags"
 )
 
@@ -18,112 +16,176 @@ type PlanCommand struct {
 	Meta
 }
 
-func (c *PlanCommand) Run(args []string) int {
-	var destroy, refresh, detailed bool
-	var outPath string
+func (c *PlanCommand) Run(rawArgs []string) int {
+	// Parse and apply global view arguments
+	common, rawArgs := arguments.ParseView(rawArgs)
+	c.View.Configure(common)
 
-	args = c.Meta.process(args)
-	cmdFlags := c.Meta.extendedFlagSet("plan")
-	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&destroy, "destroy", false, "destroy")
-	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&refresh, "refresh", true, "refresh")
-	cmdFlags.StringVar(&outPath, "out", "", "path")
-	cmdFlags.IntVar(&c.Meta.parallelism, "parallelism", DefaultParallelism, "parallelism")
-	cmdFlags.StringVar(&c.Meta.statePath, "state", "", "path")
-	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&detailed, "detailed-exitcode", false, "detailed-exitcode")
-	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&c.Meta.stateLock, "lock", true, "lock state")
-	cmdFlags.DurationVar(&c.Meta.stateLockTimeout, "lock-timeout", 0, "lock timeout")
-	cmdFlags.Usage = func() { c.Ui.Error(c.Help()) }
-	if err := cmdFlags.Parse(args); err != nil {
-		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error parsing command-line flags: %s\n", err.Error()))
-		return 1
-	}
+	// Parse and validate flags
+	args, diags := arguments.ParsePlan(rawArgs)
+
+	// Instantiate the view, even if there are flag errors, so that we render
+	// diagnostics according to the desired view
+	view := views.NewPlan(args.ViewType, c.RunningInAutomation, c.View)
 
-	diags := c.parseTargetFlags()
 	if diags.HasErrors() {
-		c.showDiagnostics(diags)
-		return 1
-	}
-
-	configPath, err := ModulePath(cmdFlags.Args())
-	if err != nil {
-		c.Ui.Error(err.Error())
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
+		view.HelpPrompt("plan")
 		return 1
 	}
 
 	// Check for user-supplied plugin path
+	var err error
 	if c.pluginPath, err = c.loadPluginPath(); err != nil {
-		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error loading plugin path: %s", err))
+		diags = diags.Append(err)
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	var backendConfig *configs.Backend
-	var configDiags tfdiags.Diagnostics
-	backendConfig, configDiags = c.loadBackendConfig(configPath)
-	diags = diags.Append(configDiags)
-	if configDiags.HasErrors() {
-		c.showDiagnostics(diags)
+	// FIXME: the -input flag value is needed to initialize the backend and the
+	// operation, but there is no clear path to pass this value down, so we
+	// continue to mutate the Meta object state for now.
+	c.Meta.input = args.InputEnabled
+
+	// FIXME: the -parallelism flag is used to control the concurrency of
+	// Terraform operations. At the moment, this value is used both to
+	// initialize the backend via the ContextOpts field inside CLIOpts, and to
+	// set a largely unused field on the Operation request. Again, there is no
+	// clear path to pass this value down, so we continue to mutate the Meta
+	// object state for now.
+	c.Meta.parallelism = args.Operation.Parallelism
+
+	diags = diags.Append(c.providerDevOverrideRuntimeWarnings())
+
+	// Prepare the backend with the backend-specific arguments
+	be, beDiags := c.PrepareBackend(args.State)
+	diags = diags.Append(beDiags)
+	if diags.HasErrors() {
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	// Load the backend
-	b, backendDiags := c.Backend(&BackendOpts{
-		Config: backendConfig,
-	})
-	diags = diags.Append(backendDiags)
-	if backendDiags.HasErrors() {
-		c.showDiagnostics(diags)
+	// Build the operation request
+	opReq, opDiags := c.OperationRequest(be, view, args.Operation, args.Destroy, args.OutPath)
+	diags = diags.Append(opDiags)
+	if diags.HasErrors() {
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	// Emit any diagnostics we've accumulated before we delegate to the
-	// backend, since the backend will handle its own diagnostics internally.
-	c.showDiagnostics(diags)
+	// Collect variable value and add them to the operation request
+	diags = diags.Append(c.GatherVariables(opReq, args.Vars))
+	if diags.HasErrors() {
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
+		return 1
+	}
+
+	// Before we delegate to the backend, we'll print any warning diagnostics
+	// we've accumulated here, since the backend will start fresh with its own
+	// diagnostics.
+	view.Diagnostics(diags)
 	diags = nil
 
-	// Build the operation
-	opReq := c.Operation(b)
-	opReq.ConfigDir = configPath
-	opReq.Destroy = destroy
-	opReq.Hooks = []terraform.Hook{c.uiHook()}
-	opReq.PlanOutPath = outPath
-	opReq.PlanRefresh = refresh
-	opReq.ShowDiagnostics = c.showDiagnostics
-	opReq.Type = backend.OperationTypePlan
-	opReq.View = views.NewOperation(arguments.ViewHuman, c.RunningInAutomation, c.View)
-
-	opReq.ConfigLoader, err = c.initConfigLoader()
-	if err != nil {
-		c.showDiagnostics(err)
-		return 1
-	}
-
-	{
-		var moreDiags tfdiags.Diagnostics
-		opReq.Variables, moreDiags = c.collectVariableValues()
-		diags = diags.Append(moreDiags)
-		if moreDiags.HasErrors() {
-			c.showDiagnostics(diags)
-			return 1
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Perform the operation
-	op, err := c.RunOperation(b, opReq)
+	op, err := c.RunOperation(be, opReq)
 	if err != nil {
-		c.showDiagnostics(err)
+		diags = diags.Append(err)
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
 		return 1
 	}
 
 	if op.Result != backend.OperationSuccess {
 		return op.Result.ExitStatus()
 	}
-	if detailed && !op.PlanEmpty {
+	if args.DetailedExitCode && !op.PlanEmpty {
 		return 2
 	}
 
 	return op.Result.ExitStatus()
 }
 
+func (c *PlanCommand) PrepareBackend(args *arguments.State) (backend.Enhanced, tfdiags.Diagnostics) {
+	// FIXME: we need to apply the state arguments to the meta object here
+	// because they are later used when initializing the backend. Carving a
+	// path to pass these arguments to the functions that need them is
+	// difficult but would make their use easier to understand.
+	c.Meta.applyStateArguments(args)
+
+	backendConfig, diags := c.loadBackendConfig(".")
+	if diags.HasErrors() {
+		return nil, diags
+	}
+
+	// Load the backend
+	be, beDiags := c.Backend(&BackendOpts{
+		Config: backendConfig,
+	})
+	diags = diags.Append(beDiags)
+	if beDiags.HasErrors() {
+		return nil, diags
+	}
+
+	return be, diags
+}
+
+func (c *PlanCommand) OperationRequest(
+	be backend.Enhanced,
+	view views.Plan,
+	args *arguments.Operation,
+	destroy bool,
+	planOutPath string,
+) (*backend.Operation, tfdiags.Diagnostics) {
+	var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
+
+	// Build the operation
+	opReq := c.Operation(be)
+	opReq.ConfigDir = "."
+	opReq.Destroy = destroy
+	opReq.Hooks = view.Hooks()
+	opReq.PlanRefresh = args.Refresh
+	opReq.PlanOutPath = planOutPath
+	opReq.Targets = args.Targets
+	opReq.Type = backend.OperationTypePlan
+	opReq.View = view.Operation()
+	// FIXME: this shim is needed until the remote backend is migrated to views
+	opReq.ShowDiagnostics = func(vals ...interface{}) {
+		var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
+		diags = diags.Append(vals...)
+		view.Diagnostics(diags)
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	opReq.ConfigLoader, err = c.initConfigLoader()
+	if err != nil {
+		diags = diags.Append(fmt.Errorf("Failed to initialize config loader: %s", err))
+		return nil, diags
+	}
+
+	return opReq, diags
+}
+
+func (c *PlanCommand) GatherVariables(opReq *backend.Operation, args *arguments.Vars) tfdiags.Diagnostics {
+	var diags tfdiags.Diagnostics
+
+	// FIXME the arguments package currently trivially gathers variable related
+	// arguments in a heterogenous slice, in order to minimize the number of
+	// code paths gathering variables during the transition to this structure.
+	// Once all commands that gather variables have been converted to this
+	// structure, we could move the variable gathering code to the arguments
+	// package directly, removing this shim layer.
+
+	varArgs := args.All()
+	items := make([]rawFlag, len(varArgs))
+	for i := range varArgs {
+		items[i].Name = varArgs[i].Name
+		items[i].Value = varArgs[i].Value
+	}
+	c.Meta.variableArgs = rawFlags{items: &items}
+	opReq.Variables, diags = c.collectVariableValues()
+
+	return diags
+}
+
 func (c *PlanCommand) Help() string {
 	helpText := `
 Usage: terraform plan [options]
diff --git a/command/plan_test.go b/command/plan_test.go
index 5cf53e276..001667348 100644
--- a/command/plan_test.go
+++ b/command/plan_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
-	"github.com/mitchellh/cli"
 	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/addrs"
@@ -31,19 +30,19 @@ func TestPlan(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -60,22 +59,21 @@ func TestPlan_lockedState(t *testing.T) {
 	defer unlock()
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected error")
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	if code == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected error", done(t).Stdout())
 	}
 
-	output := ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+	output := done(t).Stderr()
 	if !strings.Contains(output, "lock") {
 		t.Fatal("command output does not look like a lock error:", output)
 	}
@@ -88,19 +86,19 @@ func TestPlan_plan(t *testing.T) {
 	planPath := testPlanFileNoop(t)
 
 	p := testProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{planPath}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("wrong exit status %d; want 1\nstderr: %s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong exit status %d; want 1\nstderr: %s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -131,12 +129,10 @@ func TestPlan_destroy(t *testing.T) {
 	statePath := testStateFile(t, originalState)
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -146,8 +142,10 @@ func TestPlan_destroy(t *testing.T) {
 		"-out", outPath,
 		"-state", statePath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	plan := testReadPlan(t, outPath)
@@ -165,19 +163,19 @@ func TestPlan_noState(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	// Verify that refresh was called
@@ -202,12 +200,10 @@ func TestPlan_outPath(t *testing.T) {
 	outPath := filepath.Join(td, "test.plan")
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -219,8 +215,10 @@ func TestPlan_outPath(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-out", outPath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	testReadPlan(t, outPath) // will call t.Fatal itself if the file cannot be read
@@ -257,12 +255,10 @@ func TestPlan_outPathNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 	outPath := filepath.Join(td, "test.plan")
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -271,8 +267,10 @@ func TestPlan_outPathNoChange(t *testing.T) {
 		"-out", outPath,
 		"-state", statePath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	plan := testReadPlan(t, outPath)
@@ -337,12 +335,10 @@ func TestPlan_outBackend(t *testing.T) {
 			PlannedState: req.ProposedNewState,
 		}
 	}
-	ui := cli.NewMockUi()
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -350,9 +346,11 @@ func TestPlan_outBackend(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-out", outPath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Logf("stdout: %s", ui.OutputWriter.String())
-		t.Fatalf("plan command failed with exit code %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Logf("stdout: %s", output.Stdout())
+		t.Fatalf("plan command failed with exit code %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	plan := testReadPlan(t, outPath)
@@ -391,12 +389,10 @@ func TestPlan_refreshFalse(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -404,8 +400,10 @@ func TestPlan_refreshFalse(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-refresh=false",
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	if p.ReadResourceCalled {
@@ -424,12 +422,10 @@ func TestPlan_state(t *testing.T) {
 	statePath := testStateFile(t, originalState)
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -437,8 +433,10 @@ func TestPlan_state(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-state", statePath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	// Verify that the provider was called with the existing state
@@ -469,19 +467,19 @@ func TestPlan_stateDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	os.Rename(statePath, path.Join(td, "terraform.tfstate"))
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	// Verify that the provider was called with the existing state
@@ -526,22 +524,22 @@ func TestPlan_validate(t *testing.T) {
 			PlannedState: req.ProposedNewState,
 		}
 	}
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
-	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	args := []string{"-no-color"}
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
-	actual := ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+	actual := output.Stderr()
 	if want := "Error: Invalid count argument"; !strings.Contains(actual, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error output\ngot:\n%s\n\nshould contain: %s", actual, want)
 	}
@@ -555,12 +553,10 @@ func TestPlan_vars(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := planVarsFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -575,8 +571,10 @@ func TestPlan_vars(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-var", "foo=bar",
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	if actual != "bar" {
@@ -602,19 +600,19 @@ func TestPlan_varsUnset(t *testing.T) {
 	defer close()
 
 	p := planVarsFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -667,19 +665,19 @@ func TestPlan_providerArgumentUnset(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 	}
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -696,12 +694,10 @@ func TestPlan_varFile(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	p := planVarsFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -716,8 +712,10 @@ func TestPlan_varFile(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-var-file", varFilePath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	if actual != "bar" {
@@ -738,12 +736,10 @@ func TestPlan_varFileDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	p := planVarsFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -756,8 +752,10 @@ func TestPlan_varFileDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
 	if actual != "bar" {
@@ -778,12 +776,10 @@ func TestPlan_varFileWithDecls(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	p := planVarsFixtureProvider()
-	ui := cli.NewMockUi()
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -791,11 +787,13 @@ func TestPlan_varFileWithDecls(t *testing.T) {
 	args := []string{
 		"-var-file", varFilePath,
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("succeeded; want failure\n\n%s", ui.OutputWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("succeeded; want failure\n\n%s", output.Stdout())
 	}
 
-	msg := ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+	msg := output.Stderr()
 	if got, want := msg, "Variable declaration in .tfvars file"; !strings.Contains(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("missing expected error message\nwant message containing %q\ngot:\n%s", want, got)
 	}
@@ -808,19 +806,19 @@ func TestPlan_detailedExitcode(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := planFixtureProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{"-detailed-exitcode"}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -831,19 +829,19 @@ func TestPlan_detailedExitcode_emptyDiff(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
 	p := testProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{"-detailed-exitcode"}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -858,12 +856,10 @@ func TestPlan_shutdown(t *testing.T) {
 	shutdownCh := make(chan struct{})
 
 	p := testProvider()
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 			ShutdownCh:       shutdownCh,
 		},
@@ -908,8 +904,9 @@ func TestPlan_shutdown(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	code := c.Run([]string{})
+	output := done(t)
 	if code != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("wrong exit code %d; want 1\noutput:\n%s", code, ui.OutputWriter.String())
+		t.Errorf("wrong exit code %d; want 1\noutput:\n%s", code, output.Stdout())
 	}
 
 	select {
@@ -925,23 +922,23 @@ func TestPlan_init_required(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(td)
 	defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-	view, _ := testView(t)
+	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			// Running plan without setting testingOverrides is similar to plan without init
-			Ui:   ui,
 			View: view,
 		},
 	}
 
 	args := []string{}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 1 {
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("expected error, got success")
 	}
-	output := ui.ErrorWriter.String()
-	if !strings.Contains(output, `Plugin reinitialization required. Please run "terraform init".`) {
-		t.Fatal("wrong error message in output:", output)
+	got := output.Stderr()
+	if !strings.Contains(got, `Plugin reinitialization required. Please run "terraform init".`) {
+		t.Fatal("wrong error message in output:", got)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -970,12 +967,10 @@ func TestPlan_targeted(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
 	view, done := testView(t)
 	c := &PlanCommand{
 		Meta: Meta{
 			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
-			Ui:               ui,
 			View:             view,
 		},
 	}
@@ -984,11 +979,13 @@ func TestPlan_targeted(t *testing.T) {
 		"-target", "test_instance.foo",
 		"-target", "test_instance.baz",
 	}
-	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	output := done(t)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stderr())
 	}
 
-	if got, want := done(t).Stdout(), "3 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy"; !strings.Contains(got, want) {
+	if got, want := output.Stdout(), "3 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy"; !strings.Contains(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("bad change summary, want %q, got:\n%s", want, got)
 	}
 }
@@ -1006,11 +1003,9 @@ func TestPlan_targetFlagsDiags(t *testing.T) {
 			defer os.RemoveAll(td)
 			defer testChdir(t, td)()
 
-			ui := new(cli.MockUi)
-			view, _ := testView(t)
+			view, done := testView(t)
 			c := &PlanCommand{
 				Meta: Meta{
-					Ui:   ui,
 					View: view,
 				},
 			}
@@ -1018,11 +1013,13 @@ func TestPlan_targetFlagsDiags(t *testing.T) {
 			args := []string{
 				"-target", target,
 			}
-			if code := c.Run(args); code != 1 {
-				t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+			code := c.Run(args)
+			output := done(t)
+			if code != 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, output.Stdout())
 			}
 
-			got := ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+			got := output.Stderr()
 			if !strings.Contains(got, target) {
 				t.Fatalf("bad error output, want %q, got:\n%s", target, got)
 			}
diff --git a/command/views/plan.go b/command/views/plan.go
index ade7838c3..c569c83bf 100644
--- a/command/views/plan.go
+++ b/command/views/plan.go
@@ -7,12 +7,56 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/addrs"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/arguments"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/format"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/plans"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/states"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/terraform"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/tfdiags"
 )
 
+// The Plan view is used for the plan command.
+type Plan interface {
+	Operation() Operation
+	Hooks() []terraform.Hook
+
+	Diagnostics(diags tfdiags.Diagnostics)
+	HelpPrompt(string)
+}
+
+// NewPlan returns an initialized Plan implementation for the given ViewType.
+func NewPlan(vt arguments.ViewType, runningInAutomation bool, view *View) Plan {
+	switch vt {
+	case arguments.ViewHuman:
+		return &PlanHuman{
+			View:         *view,
+			inAutomation: runningInAutomation,
+		}
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unknown view type %v", vt))
+	}
+}
+
+// The PlanHuman implementation renders human-readable text logs, suitable for
+// a scrolling terminal.
+type PlanHuman struct {
+	View
+
+	inAutomation bool
+}
+
+var _ Plan = (*PlanHuman)(nil)
+
+func (v *PlanHuman) Operation() Operation {
+	return NewOperation(arguments.ViewHuman, v.inAutomation, &v.View)
+}
+
+func (v *PlanHuman) Hooks() []terraform.Hook {
+	return []terraform.Hook{
+		NewUiHook(&v.View),
+	}
+}
+
 // The plan renderer is used by the Operation view (for plan and apply
 // commands) and the Show view (for the show command).
 func renderPlan(plan *plans.Plan, baseState *states.State, schemas *terraform.Schemas, view *View) {
diff --git a/command/views/plan_test.go b/command/views/plan_test.go
index a8ab98804..481b05605 100644
--- a/command/views/plan_test.go
+++ b/command/views/plan_test.go
@@ -4,13 +4,46 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/addrs"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/arguments"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/configs/configschema"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/internal/terminal"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/plans"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/providers"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/terraform"
 	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
 )
 
+// Ensure that the correct view type and in-automation settings propagate to the
+// Operation view.
+func TestPlanHuman_operation(t *testing.T) {
+	streams, done := terminal.StreamsForTesting(t)
+	defer done(t)
+	v := NewPlan(arguments.ViewHuman, true, NewView(streams)).Operation()
+	if hv, ok := v.(*OperationHuman); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected return type %t", v)
+	} else if hv.inAutomation != true {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected inAutomation value on Operation view")
+	}
+}
+
+// Verify that Hooks includes a UI hook
+func TestPlanHuman_hooks(t *testing.T) {
+	streams, done := terminal.StreamsForTesting(t)
+	defer done(t)
+	v := NewPlan(arguments.ViewHuman, true, NewView(streams))
+	hooks := v.Hooks()
+
+	var uiHook *UiHook
+	for _, hook := range hooks {
+		if ch, ok := hook.(*UiHook); ok {
+			uiHook = ch
+		}
+	}
+	if uiHook == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected Hooks to include a UiHook: %#v", hooks)
+	}
+}
+
 // Helper functions to build a trivial test plan, to exercise the plan
 // renderer.
 func testPlan(t *testing.T) *plans.Plan {