diff --git a/docs/framework_events.rst b/docs/framework_events.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a1e3c1b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/framework_events.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+.. framework events list
+
+=============
+Custom Events
+=============
+
+RPC Server
+^^^^^^^^^^
+
+.. py:method:: Red.on_shutdown()
+
+    Dispatched when the bot begins it's shutdown procedures.
diff --git a/redbot/__main__.py b/redbot/__main__.py
index 22d247d08..cf8ae7824 100644
--- a/redbot/__main__.py
+++ b/redbot/__main__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from redbot.core.sentry_setup import init_sentry_logging
 from redbot.core.cli import interactive_config, confirm, parse_cli_flags, ask_sentry
 from redbot.core.core_commands import Core
 from redbot.core.dev_commands import Dev
+from redbot.core import rpc
 import asyncio
 import logging.handlers
 import logging
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ def main():
     red = Red(cli_flags, description=description, pm_help=None)
     init_global_checks(red)
     init_events(red, cli_flags)
-    red.add_cog(Core())
+    red.add_cog(Core(red))
     red.add_cog(CogManagerUI())
     if cli_flags.dev:
         red.add_cog(Dev())
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ def main():
         sentry_log.critical("Fatal Exception", exc_info=e)
         loop.run_until_complete(red.logout())
     finally:
+        rpc.clean_up()
         if cleanup_tasks:
             pending = asyncio.Task.all_tasks(loop=red.loop)
             gathered = asyncio.gather(*pending, loop=red.loop)
diff --git a/redbot/core/__init__.py b/redbot/core/__init__.py
index 663ac1939..4a17d18e2 100644
--- a/redbot/core/__init__.py
+++ b/redbot/core/__init__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ from .context import RedContext
 __all__ = ["Config", "RedContext", "__version__"]
 
 try:
-    __version__ = pkg_resources.require("Red-DiscordBot")[0].version
+    __version__ = pkg_resources.get_distribution("Red-DiscordBot").version
 except pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound:
     __version__ = "3.0.0"
diff --git a/redbot/core/bot.py b/redbot/core/bot.py
index 9ce51d43d..b560ce821 100644
--- a/redbot/core/bot.py
+++ b/redbot/core/bot.py
@@ -10,10 +10,29 @@ from discord.ext.commands.bot import BotBase
 from discord.ext.commands import GroupMixin
 
 from .cog_manager import CogManager
-from . import Config, i18n, RedContext
+from . import (
+    Config,
+    i18n,
+    RedContext,
+    rpc
+)
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from aiohttp_json_rpc import JsonRpc
 
 
-class RedBase(BotBase):
+# noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
+class RpcMethodMixin:
+    async def rpc__cogs(self, request):
+        return list(self.cogs.keys())
+
+    async def rpc__extensions(self, request):
+        return list(self.extensions.keys())
+
+
+class RedBase(BotBase, RpcMethodMixin):
     """Mixin for the main bot class.
 
     This exists because `Red` inherits from `discord.AutoShardedClient`, which
@@ -26,6 +45,7 @@ class RedBase(BotBase):
         self._shutdown_mode = ExitCodes.CRITICAL
         self.db = Config.get_core_conf(force_registration=True)
         self._co_owners = cli_flags.co_owner
+        self.rpc_enabled = cli_flags.rpc
 
         self.db.register_global(
             token=None,
@@ -73,6 +93,8 @@ class RedBase(BotBase):
 
         self.cog_mgr = CogManager(paths=(str(self.main_dir / 'cogs'),))
 
+        self.register_rpc_methods()
+
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
     async def _dict_abuse(self, indict):
@@ -194,6 +216,10 @@ class RedBase(BotBase):
             del self.extensions[name]
             # del sys.modules[name]
 
+    def register_rpc_methods(self):
+        rpc.add_method('bot', self.rpc__cogs)
+        rpc.add_method('bot', self.rpc__extensions)
+
 
 class Red(RedBase, discord.AutoShardedClient):
     """
diff --git a/redbot/core/cli.py b/redbot/core/cli.py
index 9a9081623..e2db950b3 100644
--- a/redbot/core/cli.py
+++ b/redbot/core/cli.py
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ def parse_cli_flags(args):
     parser.add_argument("--dev",
                         action="store_true",
                         help="Enables developer mode")
+    parser.add_argument("--rpc",
+                        action="store_true",
+                        help="Enables the built-in RPC server. Please read the docs"
+                             "prior to enabling this!")
     parser.add_argument("instance_name",
                         help="Name of the bot instance created during `redbot-setup`.")
 
diff --git a/redbot/core/core_commands.py b/redbot/core/core_commands.py
index 496c3b92b..ac1318179 100644
--- a/redbot/core/core_commands.py
+++ b/redbot/core/core_commands.py
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ from discord.ext import commands
 
 from redbot.core import checks
 from redbot.core import i18n
+from redbot.core import rpc
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from redbot.core.bot import Red
 
 __all__ = ["Core"]
 
@@ -29,6 +35,12 @@ _ = i18n.CogI18n("Core", __file__)
 
 class Core:
     """Commands related to core functions"""
+    def __init__(self, bot):
+        self.bot = bot  # type: Red
+
+        rpc.add_method('core', self.rpc_load)
+        rpc.add_method('core', self.rpc_unload)
+        rpc.add_method('core', self.rpc_reload)
 
     @commands.command()
     @checks.is_owner()
@@ -410,3 +422,25 @@ class Core:
                              "to %s") % destination)
         else:
             await ctx.send(_("Message delivered to %s") % destination)
+
+    # RPC handlers
+    async def rpc_load(self, request):
+        cog_name = request.params[0]
+
+        spec = await self.bot.cog_mgr.find_cog(cog_name)
+        if spec is None:
+            raise LookupError("No such cog found.")
+
+        self.cleanup_and_refresh_modules(spec.name)
+
+        self.bot.load_extension(spec)
+
+    async def rpc_unload(self, request):
+        cog_name = request.params[0]
+
+        self.bot.unload_extension(cog_name)
+
+    async def rpc_reload(self, request):
+        await self.rpc_unload(request)
+        await self.rpc_load(request)
+
diff --git a/redbot/core/events.py b/redbot/core/events.py
index 5448c9097..003ca4a7d 100644
--- a/redbot/core/events.py
+++ b/redbot/core/events.py
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ import discord
 from .sentry_setup import should_log
 from discord.ext import commands
 
+from . import __version__
 from .data_manager import storage_type
 from .utils.chat_formatting import inline, bordered
 from colorama import Fore, Style
+from .rpc import initialize
 
 log = logging.getLogger("red")
 sentry_log = logging.getLogger("red.sentry")
@@ -70,12 +72,13 @@ def init_events(bot, cli_flags):
 
         prefixes = await bot.db.prefix()
         lang = await bot.db.locale()
-        red_pkg = pkg_resources.get_distribution('Red_DiscordBot')
-        dpy_version = pkg_resources.get_distribution('discord.py').version
+        red_version = __version__
+        red_pkg = pkg_resources.get_distribution("Red-DiscordBot")
+        dpy_version = discord.__version__
 
         INFO = [str(bot.user), "Prefixes: {}".format(', '.join(prefixes)),
                 'Language: {}'.format(lang),
-                "Red Bot Version: {}".format(red_pkg.version),
+                "Red Bot Version: {}".format(red_version),
                 "Discord.py Version: {}".format(dpy_version),
                 "Shards: {}".format(bot.shard_count)]
 
@@ -125,6 +128,9 @@ def init_events(bot, cli_flags):
         if invite_url:
             print("\nInvite URL: {}\n".format(invite_url))
 
+        if bot.rpc_enabled:
+            await initialize(bot)
+
     @bot.event
     async def on_command_error(ctx, error):
         if isinstance(error, commands.MissingRequiredArgument):
diff --git a/redbot/core/rpc.py b/redbot/core/rpc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0fc0fdb6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/redbot/core/rpc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+from typing import NewType, TYPE_CHECKING
+
+import asyncio
+
+from aiohttp.web import Application
+from aiohttp_json_rpc import JsonRpc
+
+import logging
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .bot import Red
+
+log = logging.getLogger('red.rpc')
+JsonSerializable = NewType('JsonSerializable', dict)
+
+_rpc = JsonRpc(logger=log)
+
+_rpc_server = None  # type: asyncio.AbstractServer
+
+
+async def initialize(bot: "Red"):
+    global _rpc_server
+
+    app = Application(loop=bot.loop)
+    app.router.add_route('*', '/rpc', _rpc)
+
+    handler = app.make_handler()
+
+    _rpc_server = await bot.loop.create_server(handler, '127.0.0.1', 6133)
+
+    log.debug('Created RPC _rpc_server listener.')
+
+
+def add_topic(topic_name: str):
+    """
+    Adds a topic for clients to listen to.
+
+    :param topic_name:
+    """
+    _rpc.add_topics(topic_name)
+
+
+def notify(topic_name: str, data: JsonSerializable):
+    """
+    Publishes a notification for the given topic name to all listening clients.
+
+    data MUST be json serializable.
+
+    note::
+
+        This method will fail silently.
+
+    :param topic_name:
+    :param data:
+    """
+    _rpc.notify(topic_name, data)
+
+
+def add_method(prefix, method):
+    """
+    Makes a method available to RPC clients. The name given to clients will be as
+    follows::
+
+        "{}__{}".format(prefix, method.__name__)
+
+    note::
+
+        This method will fail silently.
+
+    :param prefix:
+    :param method:
+        MUST BE A COROUTINE OR OBJECT.
+    :return:
+    """
+    _rpc.add_methods(
+        ('', method),
+        prefix=prefix
+    )
+
+
+def clean_up():
+    _rpc_server.close()
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 9891ed898..89d0beede 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 appdirs
 youtube_dl
 raven
-colorama
\ No newline at end of file
+colorama
+aiohttp-json-rpc