diff --git a/include/qredis/client.h b/include/qredis/client.h
index 63f8803..3bd4235 100644
--- a/include/qredis/client.h
+++ b/include/qredis/client.h
@@ -63,7 +63,15 @@ namespace QRedis
              * @param command the command to execute
              * @return an object representing the request
              */
-            Request * sendCommand(const QString & command);
+            Request * sendCommand(const QByteArray & command);
+
+            /**
+             * @brief Attempts to set the specified key to the specified value
+             * @param name the name of the key
+             * @param value the value of the key
+             * @return the request issued
+             */
+            Request * set(const QByteArray & name, const QByteArray & value);
 
             /**
              * @brief Waits for the socket to finish connecting
diff --git a/include/qredis/request.h b/include/qredis/request.h
index 2864024..2f0e803 100644
--- a/include/qredis/request.h
+++ b/include/qredis/request.h
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ namespace QRedis
              */
             void multiBulk(const QVariantList & values);
 
+            /**
+             * @brief Emitted when any reply is received
+             */
+            void reply();
+
             /**
              * @brief Emitted when a status reply is received
              * @param message a descriptive status message
diff --git a/src/client.cpp b/src/client.cpp
index 5b46bc7..d31b433 100644
--- a/src/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client.cpp
@@ -12,12 +12,23 @@ ClientPrivate::ClientPrivate(Client * client)
     connect(&socket, &QTcpSocket::readyRead,    this, &ClientPrivate::readReply);
 }
 
+int ClientPrivate::readInteger(qlonglong & value)
+{
+    int pos = buffer.indexOf("\r\n");
+    if(pos != -1)
+    {
+        value = buffer.mid(0, pos).toLongLong();
+        buffer.remove(0, pos + 2);
+    }
+    return pos;
+}
+
 /*
  * Note: error replies actually contain a type and then the error description
  * but we just combine them here for simplicity.
  */
 
-bool ClientPrivate::readStatusOrError()
+bool ClientPrivate::readStatusOrErrorReply()
 {
     /* Check if the reply contains \r\n. */
     int pos = buffer.indexOf("\r\n");
@@ -37,7 +48,7 @@ bool ClientPrivate::readStatusOrError()
     return false;
 }
 
-bool ClientPrivate::readInteger()
+bool ClientPrivate::readIntegerReply()
 {
     /* Check if the reply contains \r\n. */
     int pos = buffer.indexOf("\r\n");
@@ -52,7 +63,7 @@ bool ClientPrivate::readInteger()
     return false;
 }
 
-bool ClientPrivate::readBulk()
+bool ClientPrivate::readBulkReply()
 {
     /* Check if the reply contains \r\n. */
     int pos = buffer.indexOf("\r\n");
@@ -71,7 +82,7 @@ bool ClientPrivate::readBulk()
     return false;
 }
 
-bool ClientPrivate::readMultiBulk()
+bool ClientPrivate::readMultiBulkReply()
 {
     return false;
 }
@@ -95,16 +106,16 @@ void ClientPrivate::readReply()
         {
             case '+':
             case '-':
-                finished = readStatusOrError();
+                finished = readStatusOrErrorReply();
                 break;
             case ':':
-                finished = readInteger();
+                finished = readIntegerReply();
                 break;
             case '$':
-                finished = readBulk();
+                finished = readBulkReply();
                 break;
             case '*':
-                finished = readMultiBulk();
+                finished = readMultiBulkReply();
                 break;
         }
 
@@ -137,9 +148,9 @@ bool Client::isConnected() const
     return d->socket.state() == QAbstractSocket::ConnectedState;
 }
 
-Request * Client::sendCommand(const QString & command)
+Request * Client::sendCommand(const QByteArray & command)
 {
-    d->socket.write(QString("%1\r\n").arg(command).toUtf8());
+    d->socket.write(command + "\r\n");
 
     Request * request = new Request(this);
     d->queue.enqueue(request);
diff --git a/src/client_p.h b/src/client_p.h
index 6d08deb..5d72511 100644
--- a/src/client_p.h
+++ b/src/client_p.h
@@ -18,10 +18,13 @@ namespace QRedis
 
             ClientPrivate(Client *);
 
-            bool readStatusOrError();
-            bool readInteger();
-            bool readBulk();
-            bool readMultiBulk();
+            /* Utility methods for reading items from the buffer. */
+            int readInteger(qlonglong &);
+
+            bool readStatusOrErrorReply();
+            bool readIntegerReply();
+            bool readBulkReply();
+            bool readMultiBulkReply();
 
             QTcpSocket socket;
 
diff --git a/src/request.cpp b/src/request.cpp
index 5a9a285..fa8177a 100644
--- a/src/request.cpp
+++ b/src/request.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@ void RequestPrivate::quitEventLoop()
 Request::Request(QObject * parent)
     : QObject(parent), d(new RequestPrivate)
 {
+    /*
+     * Each of these signals also causes the generic reply() signal to be emitted.
+     */
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(bulk(QByteArray)),        SIGNAL(reply()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(error(QString)),          SIGNAL(reply()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(integer(qlonglong)),      SIGNAL(reply()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(multiBulk(QVariantList)), SIGNAL(reply()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(status(QString)),         SIGNAL(reply()));
+
+    /*
+     * We also need to ensure that this object is deleted when the reply is received.
+     */
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(reply()), SLOT(deleteLater()));
 }
 
 Request::~Request()
@@ -25,12 +38,8 @@ bool Request::waitForReply(int msecs)
     timer.setInterval(msecs);
     timer.setSingleShot(true);
 
-    connect(&timer, SIGNAL(timeout()),               &d->loop, SLOT(quit()));
-    connect(this,   SIGNAL(bulk(QByteArray)),        d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
-    connect(this,   SIGNAL(error(QString)),          d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
-    connect(this,   SIGNAL(integer(qlonglong)),      d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
-    connect(this,   SIGNAL(multiBulk(QVariantList)), d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
-    connect(this,   SIGNAL(status(QString)),         d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
+    connect(&timer, SIGNAL(timeout()), &d->loop, SLOT(quit()));
+    connect(this,   SIGNAL(reply()),   d.data(), SLOT(quitEventLoop()));
 
     /*
      * If the timer fires, the return value will be 0.