Provided are techniques for the managing of command queue dependencies and command queue synchronization. Incoming commands are actively tracked through their dependency relationships. Command dependencies may be tracked across multiple lists, including a submission list and a completion list. Each command on the submission list is prepared for processing and ultimately submitted to command processing logic. Command completion processing is performed on each command on the completion list, including by not limited to removing dependencies from pending commands and possibly queuing pending commands for submission to the command processing logic. Also provided as features of a command queue are a standby barrier, an active barrier and a marker. Standby and active barriers are employed to synchronize and track commands through the command queue. Markers are employed to track commands through the command queue.