diff --git a/examples/simple/ruby_version_topology.rb b/examples/simple/ruby_version_topology.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c48ee1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple/ruby_version_topology.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+require 'red_storm'
+
+# this example topology only prints the Ruby version string. No tuple is emitted.
+
+module RedStorm
+  module Examples
+    class VersionSpout < RedStorm::SimpleSpout
+      output_fields :dummy
+      on_init {log.info("****** JRuby version #{RUBY_VERSION}")}
+      on_send {}
+    end
+
+    class RubyVersionTopology < RedStorm::SimpleTopology
+      spout VersionSpout
+            
+      configure do |env|
+        debug true
+        
+        # set the JRuby version property for this topology. this will only affect remote cluster execution
+        # for local execution use the --1.8|--1.9 switch when launching
+        set("topology.worker.childopts", "-Djruby.compat.version=RUBY1_9")
+      end
+
+      on_submit do |env|
+        if env == :local
+          sleep(1)
+          cluster.shutdown
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/application.rb b/lib/red_storm/application.rb
index ead1b1a..067644b 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/application.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/application.rb
@@ -13,15 +13,19 @@ module RedStorm
         if ["install", "examples", "jar"].include?(args[0])
           load(TASKS_FILE)
           Rake::Task[args.shift].invoke(*args)
-        elsif args.size == 2 && ["local"].include?(args[0]) && File.exist?(args[1])
-          load(TASKS_FILE)
-          Rake::Task['launch'].invoke(*args)
-        else
-          usage
+          exit
+        elsif args.size >= 2 && args.include?("local") 
+          args.delete("local")
+          version = args.delete("--1.8") || args.delete("--1.9") || "--1.8"
+          if args.size == 1
+            file = args[0]
+            load(TASKS_FILE)
+            Rake::Task['launch'].invoke("local", version, file)
+            exit
+          end
         end
-      else
-        usage
       end
+      usage
     end
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb b/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
index f39488e..c739da6 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/proxy/bolt.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Tuple'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Fields'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'java.util.Map'
+java_import 'org.apache.log4j.Logger'
 
 java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
 
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb b/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
index 2789de0..f84c2d0 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/proxy/spout.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Tuple'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Fields'
 java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'java.util.Map'
+java_import 'org.apache.log4j.Logger'
 
 java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ java_package 'redstorm.proxy'
 # - fail(msg_id)
 # - close
 #
+
 class Spout
   java_implements IRichSpout
 
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/simple_bolt.rb b/lib/red_storm/simple_bolt.rb
index 251da38..4f21183 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/simple_bolt.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/simple_bolt.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ module RedStorm
 
     # DSL class methods
 
+    def self.log
+      @log ||= Logger.getLogger(self.name)
+    end
+
     def self.output_fields(*fields)
       @fields = fields.map(&:to_s)
     end
@@ -27,6 +31,10 @@ module RedStorm
 
     # DSL instance methods
 
+    def log
+      self.class.log
+    end
+
     def unanchored_emit(*values)
       @collector.emit(Values.new(*values)) 
     end
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/simple_spout.rb b/lib/red_storm/simple_spout.rb
index bfe17b4..8ad1c5c 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/simple_spout.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/simple_spout.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ module RedStorm
       self.spout_options.merge!(options)
     end
 
+    def self.log
+      @log ||= Logger.getLogger(self.name)
+    end
+
     def self.output_fields(*fields)
       @fields = fields.map(&:to_s)
     end
@@ -43,6 +47,10 @@ module RedStorm
       @collector.emit(Values.new(*values)) 
     end
 
+    def log
+      self.class.log
+    end
+
     # Spout proxy interface
 
     def next_tuple
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb b/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
index 6f203dc..b675a71 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/simple_topology.rb
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ module RedStorm
         @config = Config.new
       end
 
+      def set(attribute, value)
+        @config.put(attribute, value)
+      end
+
       def method_missing(sym, *args)
         config_method = "set#{self.class.camel_case(sym)}"
         @config.send(config_method, *args)
diff --git a/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb b/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
index fc4b48b..07e5236 100644
--- a/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
+++ b/lib/red_storm/topology_launcher.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ java_import 'backtype.storm.tuple.Values'
 java_import 'redstorm.storm.jruby.JRubyBolt'
 java_import 'redstorm.storm.jruby.JRubySpout'
 
+java_import 'org.apache.log4j.Logger'
+
 java_package 'redstorm'
 
 # TopologyLauncher is the application entry point when launching a topology. Basically it will 
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ class TopologyLauncher
     env = args[0].to_sym
     class_path = args[1]
 
-    require class_path
+    require "./#{class_path}" # ./ for 1.9 compatibility
 
     topology_name = RedStorm::Configuration.topology_class.respond_to?(:topology_name) ? "/#{RedStorm::Configuration.topology_class.topology_name}" : ''
     puts("RedStorm v#{RedStorm::VERSION} starting topology #{RedStorm::Configuration.topology_class.name}#{topology_name} in #{env.to_s} environment")
diff --git a/lib/tasks/red_storm.rake b/lib/tasks/red_storm.rake
index 645ce49..4b84f1e 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/red_storm.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/red_storm.rake
@@ -25,9 +25,10 @@ JRUBY_SRC_DIR = "#{RedStorm::REDSTORM_HOME}/lib"
 SRC_EXAMPLES = "#{RedStorm::REDSTORM_HOME}/examples"
 DST_EXAMPLES = "#{CWD}/examples"
 
-task :launch, :env, :class_file do |t, args|
+task :launch, :env, :version, :class_file do |t, args|
+  version_token = args[:version] == "--1.9" ? "RUBY1_9" : "RUBY1_8"
   gem_home = ENV["GEM_HOME"].to_s.empty? ? " -Djruby.gem.home=`gem env home`" : ""
-  command = "java -cp \"#{TARGET_CLASSES_DIR}:#{TARGET_DEPENDENCY_DIR}/*\"#{gem_home} redstorm.TopologyLauncher #{args[:env]} #{args[:class_file]}"
+  command = "java -Djruby.compat.version=#{version_token} -cp \"#{TARGET_CLASSES_DIR}:#{TARGET_DEPENDENCY_DIR}/*\"#{gem_home} redstorm.TopologyLauncher #{args[:env]} #{args[:class_file]}"
   puts("launching #{command}")
   system(command)
 end