diff --git a/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology.rb b/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology.rb
index 3e665bc..25590d7 100644
--- a/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology.rb
+++ b/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.testing.TestWordSpout'
 require 'examples/ruby_exclamation_bolt'
 
 class RubyExclamationTopology
-  def start
+  def start(base_class_path)
     builder = TopologyBuilder.new
     
     builder.setSpout(1, TestWordSpout.new, 10)     
-    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new("RubyExclamationBolt"), 3).shuffleGrouping(1)
-    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new("RubyExclamationBolt"), 2).shuffleGrouping(2)
+    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyExclamationBolt"), 3).shuffleGrouping(1)
+    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyExclamationBolt"), 2).shuffleGrouping(2)
             
     conf = Config.new
     conf.setDebug(true)
diff --git a/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology2.rb b/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology2.rb
index 5a87d1e..87a4ae0 100644
--- a/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology2.rb
+++ b/examples/ruby_exclamation_topology2.rb
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ class RubyExclamationBolt2
 end
 
 class RubyExclamationTopology2
-  def start
+  def start(base_class_path)
     builder = TopologyBuilder.new
     
     builder.setSpout(1, TestWordSpout.new, 10)     
-    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new("RubyExclamationBolt2"), 3).shuffleGrouping(1)
-    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new("RubyExclamationBolt2"), 2).shuffleGrouping(2)
+    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyExclamationBolt2"), 3).shuffleGrouping(1)
+    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyExclamationBolt2"), 2).shuffleGrouping(2)
             
     conf = Config.new
     conf.setDebug(true)
diff --git a/examples/ruby_redis_word_count_topology.rb b/examples/ruby_redis_word_count_topology.rb
index 689bf8a..b510a74 100644
--- a/examples/ruby_redis_word_count_topology.rb
+++ b/examples/ruby_redis_word_count_topology.rb
@@ -4,13 +4,8 @@ require 'thread'
 # RubyRedisWordSpout reads the Redis queue "test" on localhost:6379 
 # and emits each word items pop'ed from the queue.
 class RubyRedisWordSpout
-  def is_distributed
-    false
-  end
-
   def open(conf, context, collector)
     @collector = collector
-
     @q = Queue.new
     @redis_reader = detach_redis_reader
   end
@@ -65,10 +60,10 @@ class RubyRedisWordCount
 end
 
 class RubyRedisWordCountTopology
-  def start
+  def start(base_class_path)
     builder = TopologyBuilder.new
-    builder.setSpout(1, JRubySpout.new("RubyRedisWordSpout"), 1)
-    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new("RubyRedisWordCount"), 3).fieldsGrouping(1, Fields.new("word"))
+    builder.setSpout(1, JRubySpout.new(base_class_path, "RubyRedisWordSpout"), 1)
+    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyRedisWordCount"), 3).fieldsGrouping(1, Fields.new("word"))
 
     conf = Config.new
     conf.setDebug(true)
diff --git a/examples/ruby_word_count_topology.rb b/examples/ruby_word_count_topology.rb
index c33ea0a..0b53a85 100644
--- a/examples/ruby_word_count_topology.rb
+++ b/examples/ruby_word_count_topology.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 class RubyRandomSentenceSpout
+  attr_reader :is_distributed
+
   def initialize
+    @is_distributed = true
     @sentences = [
       "the cow jumped over the moon",
       "an apple a day keeps the doctor away",
@@ -9,10 +12,6 @@ class RubyRandomSentenceSpout
     ]
   end 
 
-  def is_distributed
-    true
-  end
-
   def open(conf, context, collector)
     @collector = collector
   end
@@ -62,11 +61,11 @@ end
 
 
 class RubyWordCountTopology
-  def start
+  def start(base_class_path)
     builder = TopologyBuilder.new
-    builder.setSpout(1, JRubySpout.new("RubyRandomSentenceSpout"), 5)
-    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new("RubySplitSentence"), 8).shuffleGrouping(1)
-    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new("RubyWordCount"), 12).fieldsGrouping(2, Fields.new("word"))
+    builder.setSpout(1, JRubySpout.new(base_class_path, "RubyRandomSentenceSpout"), 5)
+    builder.setBolt(2, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubySplitSentence"), 8).shuffleGrouping(1)
+    builder.setBolt(3, JRubyBolt.new(base_class_path, "RubyWordCount"), 12).fieldsGrouping(2, Fields.new("word"))
 
     conf = Config.new
     conf.setDebug(true)
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb b/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
index 809946b..eb9434f 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.task.OutputCollector'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.task.TopologyContext'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.topology.IRichBolt'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.topology.OutputFieldsDeclarer'
-java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Fields'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Tuple'
-java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'java.util.Map'
 
 java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
@@ -25,8 +23,11 @@ java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
 class Bolt
   java_implements IRichBolt
 
-  java_signature 'IRichBolt (String real_bolt_class_name)'
-  def initialize(real_bolt_class_name)
+  java_signature 'IRichBolt (String base_class_path, String real_bolt_class_name)'
+  def initialize(base_class_path, real_bolt_class_name)
+    @real_bolt = Object.module_eval(real_bolt_class_name).new
+  rescue NameError
+    require base_class_path
     @real_bolt = Object.module_eval(real_bolt_class_name).new
   end
 
@@ -49,5 +50,4 @@ class Bolt
   def declareOutputFields(declarer)
     @real_bolt.declare_output_fields(declarer)
   end
-
 end
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb b/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
index 6ccdb54..b154b9c 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.spout.SpoutOutputCollector'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.task.TopologyContext'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.topology.IRichSpout'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.topology.OutputFieldsDeclarer'
-java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Fields'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Tuple'
-java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'java.util.Map'
 
 java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
@@ -28,14 +26,17 @@ java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
 class Spout
   java_implements IRichSpout
 
-  java_signature 'IRichSpout (String real_spout_class_name)'
-  def initialize(real_spout_class_name)
+  java_signature 'IRichSpout (String base_class_path, String real_spout_class_name)'
+  def initialize(base_class_path, real_spout_class_name)
+    @real_spout = Object.module_eval(real_spout_class_name).new
+  rescue NameError
+    require base_class_path
     @real_spout = Object.module_eval(real_spout_class_name).new
   end
 
   java_signature 'boolean isDistributed()'
   def isDistributed
-    @real_spout.is_distributed
+    @real_spout.respond_to?(:is_distributed) ? @real_spout.is_distributed : false
   end
 
   java_signature 'void open(Map, TopologyContext, SpoutOutputCollector)'
@@ -67,5 +68,4 @@ class Spout
   def declareOutputFields(declarer)
     @real_spout.declare_output_fields(declarer)
   end
-
 end
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb b/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
index 2053c35..aeb8a3d 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 require 'java'
 require 'rubygems'
 
+require 'lib/red_storm/version'
+
 java_import 'backtype.storm.Config'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.LocalCluster'
+java_import 'backtype.storm.StormSubmitter'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.topology.TopologyBuilder'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Fields'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Tuple'
@@ -11,19 +14,21 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.jruby.JRubyBolt'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.jruby.JRubySpout'
 
-
+# TopologyLauncher is the application entry point when launching a topology. Basically it will 
+# call require on the specified Ruby topology/project class file path and call its start method
 class TopologyLauncher
 
   java_signature 'void main(String[])'
   def self.main(args)
     unless args.size > 0 
-      puts("usage: redstorm {ruby topology class file path}")
+      puts("Usage: redstorm topology_class_file")
       exit(1)
     end
-    require args[0]
-    clazz = camel_case(args[0].split('/').last.split('.').first)
-    puts("redstorm launching #{clazz}")
-    Object.module_eval(clazz).new.start
+    class_path = args[0]
+    clazz = camel_case(class_path.split('/').last.split('.').first)
+    puts("redstorm v#{Redstorm::VERSION} launching #{clazz}")
+    require class_path
+    Object.module_eval(clazz).new.start(class_path)
   end
 
   private 
@@ -31,4 +36,4 @@ class TopologyLauncher
   def self.camel_case(s)
     s.to_s.gsub(/\/(.?)/) { "::#{$1.upcase}" }.gsub(/(?:^|_)(.)/) { $1.upcase }
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/version.rb b/lib/red_storm/version.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc3fa18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/red_storm/version.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module Redstorm
+  VERSION = '0.1'
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubyBolt.java b/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubyBolt.java
index ef1d075..b73099c 100644
--- a/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubyBolt.java
+++ b/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubyBolt.java
@@ -20,20 +20,22 @@ import java.util.Map;
 public class JRubyBolt implements IRichBolt {
   IRichBolt _proxyBolt;
   String _realBoltClassName;
-  
+  String _baseClassPath; 
   /**
    * create a new JRubyBolt
    * 
+   * @param baseClassPath the topology/project base JRuby class file path 
    * @param realBoltClassName the fully qualified JRuby bolt implementation class name
    */
-  public JRubyBolt(String realBoltClassName) {
+  public JRubyBolt(String baseClassPath, String realBoltClassName) {
+    _baseClassPath = baseClassPath;
     _realBoltClassName = realBoltClassName;
   }
 
   @Override
   public void prepare(final Map stormConf, final TopologyContext context, final OutputCollector collector) {
     // create instance of the jruby class here, after deserialization in the workers.
-    _proxyBolt = newProxyBolt(_realBoltClassName);
+    _proxyBolt = newProxyBolt(_baseClassPath, _realBoltClassName);
     _proxyBolt.prepare(stormConf, context, collector);
   }
 
@@ -52,13 +54,13 @@ public class JRubyBolt implements IRichBolt {
     // declareOutputFields is executed in the topology creation time, before serialisation.
     // do not set the _proxyBolt instance variable here to avoid JRuby serialization
     // issues. Just create tmp bolt instance to call declareOutputFields.
-    IRichBolt bolt = newProxyBolt(_realBoltClassName);
+    IRichBolt bolt = newProxyBolt(_baseClassPath, _realBoltClassName);
     bolt.declareOutputFields(declarer);
   }
 
-  private static IRichBolt newProxyBolt(String realBoltClassName) {
+  private static IRichBolt newProxyBolt(String baseClassPath, String realBoltClassName) {
     try {
-      redstorm.proxy.Bolt proxy = new redstorm.proxy.Bolt(realBoltClassName);
+      redstorm.proxy.Bolt proxy = new redstorm.proxy.Bolt(baseClassPath, realBoltClassName);
       return proxy;
     }
     catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubySpout.java b/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubySpout.java
index 631e9d6..4cd7a7d 100644
--- a/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubySpout.java
+++ b/storm/src/jvm/backtype/storm/jruby/JRubySpout.java
@@ -20,13 +20,16 @@ import java.util.Map;
 public class JRubySpout implements IRichSpout {
   IRichSpout _proxySpout;
   String _realSpoutClassName;
+  String _baseClassPath;
   
   /**
    * create a new JRubySpout
    * 
+   * @param baseClassPath the topology/project base JRuby class file path 
    * @param realSpoutClassName the fully qualified JRuby spout implementation class name
    */
-  public JRubySpout(String realSpoutClassName) {
+  public JRubySpout(String baseClassPath, String realSpoutClassName) {
+    _baseClassPath = baseClassPath;
     _realSpoutClassName = realSpoutClassName;
   }
 
@@ -35,14 +38,14 @@ public class JRubySpout implements IRichSpout {
     // isDistributed is executed in the topology creation time before serialisation.
     // do not set the _proxySpout instance variable here to avoid JRuby serialization
     // issues. Just create tmp spout instance to call isDistributed.
-    IRichSpout spout = newProxySpout(_realSpoutClassName);
+    IRichSpout spout = newProxySpout(_baseClassPath, _realSpoutClassName);
     return spout.isDistributed();
   }
 
   @Override
   public void open(final Map conf, final TopologyContext context, final SpoutOutputCollector collector) {
     // create instance of the jruby proxy class here, after deserialization in the workers.
-    _proxySpout = newProxySpout(_realSpoutClassName);
+    _proxySpout = newProxySpout(_baseClassPath, _realSpoutClassName);
     _proxySpout.open(conf, context, collector);
   }
 
@@ -71,13 +74,13 @@ public class JRubySpout implements IRichSpout {
     // declareOutputFields is executed in the topology creation time before serialisation.
     // do not set the _proxySpout instance variable here to avoid JRuby serialization
     // issues. Just create tmp spout instance to call declareOutputFields.
-    IRichSpout spout = newProxySpout(_realSpoutClassName);
+    IRichSpout spout = newProxySpout(_baseClassPath, _realSpoutClassName);
     spout.declareOutputFields(declarer);
   }  
 
-  private static IRichSpout newProxySpout(String realSpoutClassName) {
+  private static IRichSpout newProxySpout(String baseClassPath, String realSpoutClassName) {
     try {
-      redstorm.proxy.Spout proxy = new redstorm.proxy.Spout(realSpoutClassName);
+      redstorm.proxy.Spout proxy = new redstorm.proxy.Spout(baseClassPath, realSpoutClassName);
       return proxy;
     }
     catch (Exception e) {