diff --git a/config/api.go b/config/api.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..530052a953218
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/api.go
@@ -0,0 +1,360 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/internal"
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
+)
+
+// API is the main interaction with this package
+// This is set by telegraf when it loads up.
+var API *api
+
+// api is the general interface to interacting with Telegraf's current config
+type api struct {
+	config *Config
+}
+
+func newAPI(c *Config) *api {
+	return &api{config: c}
+}
+
+// PluginConfig is a plugin name and details about the config fields.
+type PluginConfig struct {
+	Name   string
+	Config map[string]FieldConfig
+}
+
+// FieldConfig describes a single field
+type FieldConfig struct {
+	Type      FieldType              `json:"type,omitempty"`       // see FieldType
+	Default   interface{}            `json:"default,omitempty"`    // whatever the default value is
+	Format    string                 `json:"format,omitempty"`     // type-specific format info. eg a url is a string, but has url-formatting rules.
+	Required  bool                   `json:"required,omitempty"`   // this is sort of validation, which I'm not sure belongs here.
+	SubType   FieldType              `json:"sub_type,omitempty"`   // The subtype. map[string]int subtype is int. []string subtype is string.
+	SubFields map[string]FieldConfig `json:"sub_fields,omitempty"` // only for struct/object/FieldConfig types
+}
+
+// FieldType enumerable type. Describes config field type information to external applications
+type FieldType string
+
+// FieldTypes
+const (
+	FieldTypeUnknown     FieldType = ""
+	FieldTypeString      FieldType = "string"
+	FieldTypeInteger     FieldType = "integer"
+	FieldTypeDuration    FieldType = "duration" // a special case of integer
+	FieldTypeSize        FieldType = "size"     // a special case of integer
+	FieldTypeFloat       FieldType = "float"
+	FieldTypeBool        FieldType = "bool"
+	FieldTypeInterface   FieldType = "any"
+	FieldTypeSlice       FieldType = "array"  // array
+	FieldTypeFieldConfig FieldType = "object" // a FieldConfig?
+	FieldTypeMap         FieldType = "map"    // always map[string]FieldConfig ?
+)
+
+// PluginID is the random id assigned to the plugin so it can be referenced later
+type PluginID string
+
+// PluginState describes what the instantiated plugin is currently doing
+type PluginState string
+
+const (
+	PluginStateCreated  PluginState = "created"
+	PluginStateStarting PluginState = "starting"
+	PluginStateRunning  PluginState = "running"
+	PluginStateStopping PluginState = "stopping"
+	PluginStateDead     PluginState = "" // or unknown
+)
+
+// Plugin is an instance of a plugin running with a specific configuration
+type Plugin struct {
+	ID   string
+	Name string
+	// State()
+	Config map[string]FieldConfig
+}
+
+func (a *api) ListPluginTypes() []PluginConfig {
+	result := []PluginConfig{}
+	inputNames := []string{}
+	for name := range inputs.Inputs {
+		inputNames = append(inputNames, name)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(inputNames)
+
+	for _, name := range inputNames {
+		creator := inputs.Inputs[name]
+		cfg := PluginConfig{
+			Name:   name,
+			Config: map[string]FieldConfig{},
+		}
+
+		p := creator()
+		getFieldConfig(p, cfg.Config)
+
+		result = append(result, cfg)
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+func (a *api) ListRunningPlugins() []Plugin {
+
+	return []Plugin{}
+}
+
+func (a *api) CreatePlugin(config PluginConfig) PluginID {
+
+	return PluginID("")
+}
+
+func (a *api) GetPluginStatus(ID PluginID) PluginState {
+
+	return PluginState("")
+}
+
+func (a *api) DeletePlugin(ID PluginID) {
+
+}
+
+// func (a *API) PausePlugin(ID PluginID) {
+
+// }
+
+// func (a *API) ResumePlugin(ID PluginID) {
+
+// }
+
+var count = 0
+
+// getFieldConfig expects a PluginDescriber and a map to populate.
+// it calls itself recursively so p must be an interface{}
+func getFieldConfig(p interface{}, cfg map[string]FieldConfig) {
+	count++
+	fmt.Println(count)
+	structVal := reflect.ValueOf(p)
+	structType := structVal.Type()
+	for structType.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		structVal = structVal.Elem()
+		structType = structType.Elem()
+	}
+
+	// safety check.
+	if structType.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		// woah, what?
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("getFieldConfig expected a struct type, but got %v %v", p, structType.String()))
+	}
+	// structType.NumField()
+
+	for i := 0; i < structType.NumField(); i++ {
+		var f reflect.Value
+		if !structVal.IsZero() {
+			f = structVal.Field(i)
+		}
+		_ = f
+		ft := structType.Field(i)
+		fmt.Println(ft.Name)
+
+		ftType := ft.Type
+		if ftType.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			ftType = ftType.Elem()
+			// f = f.Elem()
+		}
+
+		// check if it's not exported, and skip if so.
+		// fmt.Println(ft.Name)
+		if len(ft.Name) > 0 && strings.ToLower(string(ft.Name[0])) == string(ft.Name[0]) {
+			fmt.Println("Skipped unexported field ", ft.Name)
+			continue
+		}
+		tomlTag := ft.Tag.Get("toml")
+		if tomlTag == "-" {
+			continue
+		}
+		switch ftType.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Func, reflect.Interface:
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// if this field is a struct, get the structure of it.
+		// fmt.Println("ftType.Kind() ", ftType.Kind().String())
+		if ftType.Kind() == reflect.Struct && !isInternalStructFieldType(ft.Type) {
+			// fmt.Println("plugin", structType.Name(), "name", ft.Name)
+			if ft.Anonymous { // embedded
+				t := getSubTypeType(ft)
+				i := reflect.New(t)
+				// fmt.Println("Anonymous ", t.Name())
+				getFieldConfig(i.Interface(), cfg)
+			} else {
+				subCfg := map[string]FieldConfig{}
+				t := getSubTypeType(ft)
+				i := reflect.New(t)
+				// fmt.Println("Named ", t.Name())
+				getFieldConfig(i.Interface(), subCfg)
+				cfg[ft.Name] = FieldConfig{
+					Type:      FieldTypeFieldConfig,
+					SubFields: subCfg,
+					SubType:   getFieldType(t),
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// all other field types...
+		fc := FieldConfig{
+			Type:     getFieldTypeFromStructField(ft),
+			Format:   ft.Tag.Get("format"),
+			Required: ft.Tag.Get("required") == "true",
+		}
+
+		// set the default value for the field
+		if f.IsValid() && !f.IsZero() {
+			fc.Default = f.Interface()
+			// special handling for internal struct types so the struct doesn't serialize to an object.
+			if d, ok := fc.Default.(internal.Duration); ok {
+				fc.Default = d.Duration
+			}
+			if s, ok := fc.Default.(internal.Size); ok {
+				fc.Default = s.Size
+			}
+		}
+
+		// if we found a slice of objects, get the structure of that object
+		if hasSubType(ft.Type) {
+			t := getSubTypeType(ft)
+			n := t.Name()
+			_ = n
+			fc.SubType = getFieldType(t)
+
+			// fmt.Println(t.Name())
+			if t.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
+				i := reflect.New(t)
+				subCfg := map[string]FieldConfig{}
+				getFieldConfig(i.Interface(), subCfg)
+				fc.SubFields = subCfg
+			}
+		}
+		// if we found a map of objects, get the structure of that object
+
+		cfg[ft.Name] = fc
+	}
+}
+
+// hasSubType returns true when the field has a subtype (map,slice,struct)
+func hasSubType(t reflect.Type) bool {
+	if t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		t = t.Elem()
+	}
+	switch t.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Slice, reflect.Map:
+		return true
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		switch t.String() {
+		case "internal.Duration", "config.Duration", "internal.Size", "config.Size":
+			return false
+		}
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// getSubTypeType gets the underlying subtype's reflect.Type
+// examples:
+//   []string => string
+//   map[string]int => int
+//   User => User
+func getSubTypeType(structField reflect.StructField) reflect.Type {
+	ft := structField.Type
+	if ft.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		ft = ft.Elem()
+	}
+	switch ft.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Slice:
+		t := ft.Elem()
+		if t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			t = t.Elem()
+		}
+		return t
+	case reflect.Map:
+		t := ft.Elem()
+		if t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+			t = t.Elem()
+		}
+		return t
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		return ft
+	}
+	panic(ft.String() + " is not a type that has subtype information (map, slice, struct)")
+}
+
+// getFieldType translates reflect.Types to our API field types.
+func getFieldType(t reflect.Type) FieldType {
+	if t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		t = t.Elem()
+	}
+	switch t.Kind() {
+	case reflect.String:
+		return FieldTypeString
+	case reflect.Int, reflect.Int8, reflect.Int16, reflect.Int32,
+		reflect.Int64, reflect.Uint, reflect.Uint8, reflect.Uint16,
+		reflect.Uint32, reflect.Uint64:
+		return FieldTypeInteger
+	case reflect.Float32, reflect.Float64:
+		return FieldTypeFloat
+	case reflect.Bool:
+		return FieldTypeBool
+	case reflect.Slice:
+		return FieldTypeSlice
+	case reflect.Map:
+		return FieldTypeMap
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		switch t.String() {
+		case "internal.Duration", "config.Duration":
+			return FieldTypeDuration
+		case "internal.Size", "config.Size":
+			return FieldTypeSize
+		}
+		return FieldTypeFieldConfig
+	}
+	return FieldTypeUnknown
+}
+
+func getFieldTypeFromStructField(structField reflect.StructField) FieldType {
+	fieldName := structField.Name
+	ft := structField.Type
+	result := getFieldType(ft)
+	if result == FieldTypeUnknown {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unknown type, name: %q, string: %q", fieldName, ft.String()))
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+func isInternalStructFieldType(t reflect.Type) bool {
+	switch t.String() {
+	case "internal.Duration", "config.Duration":
+		return true
+	case "internal.Size", "config.Size":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// Invalid Kind = iota
+// reflect.Uintptr
+// reflect.Complex64
+// reflect.Complex128
+// reflect.Array
+// reflect.Chan
+// reflect.Func
+// reflect.Interface
+// reflect.Ptr
+// reflect.Slice
+// reflect.String
+// reflect.Struct
+// reflect.UnsafePointer
diff --git a/config/api_test.go b/config/api_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e2ad742da8f81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/api_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package config_test
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/config"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs/all"
+)
+
+// TestListPluginTypes tests that the config api can scrape all existing plugins
+// for type information to build a schema.
+func TestListPluginTypes(t *testing.T) {
+	config.NewConfig() // initalizes API
+	pluginConfigs := config.API.ListPluginTypes()
+	require.Greater(t, len(pluginConfigs), 10)
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(pluginConfigs)
+	fmt.Println(string(b))
+
+	// find the gnmi plugin
+	var gnmi config.PluginConfig
+	for _, conf := range pluginConfigs {
+		if conf.Name == "gnmi" {
+			gnmi = conf
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	// find the cloudwatch plugin
+	var cloudwatch config.PluginConfig
+	for _, conf := range pluginConfigs {
+		if conf.Name == "cloudwatch" {
+			cloudwatch = conf
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	// validate a slice of objects
+	require.EqualValues(t, "array", gnmi.Config["Subscriptions"].Type)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "object", gnmi.Config["Subscriptions"].SubType)
+	require.NotNil(t, gnmi.Config["Subscriptions"].SubFields)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "string", gnmi.Config["Subscriptions"].SubFields["Name"].Type)
+
+	// validate a slice of pointer objects
+	require.EqualValues(t, "array", cloudwatch.Config["Metrics"].Type)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "object", cloudwatch.Config["Metrics"].SubType)
+	require.NotNil(t, cloudwatch.Config["Metrics"].SubFields)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "array", cloudwatch.Config["Metrics"].SubFields["StatisticExclude"].Type)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "array", cloudwatch.Config["Metrics"].SubFields["MetricNames"].Type)
+
+	// validate a map of strings
+	require.EqualValues(t, "map", gnmi.Config["Aliases"].Type)
+	require.EqualValues(t, "string", gnmi.Config["Aliases"].SubType)
+
+	// check a default value
+	require.EqualValues(t, "proto", gnmi.Config["Encoding"].Default)
+	require.EqualValues(t, 10*1e9, gnmi.Config["Redial"].Default)
+
+	// check anonymous composed fields
+	require.EqualValues(t, "bool", gnmi.Config["InsecureSkipVerify"].Type)
+
+	// check named composed fields
+
+}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/clickhouse/clickhouse.go b/plugins/inputs/clickhouse/clickhouse.go
index 187ead5cf6790..88aad51e541a1 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/clickhouse/clickhouse.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/clickhouse/clickhouse.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ type ClickHouse struct {
 	ClusterInclude []string          `toml:"cluster_include"`
 	ClusterExclude []string          `toml:"cluster_exclude"`
 	Timeout        internal.Duration `toml:"timeout"`
-	HTTPClient     http.Client
+	HTTPClient     http.Client       `toml:"-"`
 	tls.ClientConfig
 }