diff --git a/src/core/chuck.cpp b/src/core/chuck.cpp
index 3bfc0d531..631d8bc1f 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck.cpp
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ t_CKBOOL ChucK::initChugins()
 
         EM_pushlog();
         // print host version
-        EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, TC::green("host version: %d.%d", true).c_str(), CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR, CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR );
+        EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, TC::green("host API version: %d.%d", true).c_str(), CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR, CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR );
         EM_poplog();
 
         //---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ void ChucK::probeChugins()
     // print whether chugins enabled
     EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "chugin system: %s", getParamInt( CHUCK_PARAM_CHUGIN_ENABLE ) ? "ON" : "OFF" );
     // print host version
-    EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, TC::green("host version: %d.%d", true).c_str(), CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR, CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR );
+    EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, TC::green("host API version: %d.%d", true).c_str(), CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR, CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR );
     // push
     EM_pushlog();
     // print host version
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp b/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
index b54da266d..c999d933c 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
@@ -976,9 +976,12 @@ t_CKBOOL load_external_module_at_path( Chuck_Compiler * compiler,
                                        const char * name,
                                        const char * dl_path )
 {
+    // get env
     Chuck_Env * env = compiler->env();
 
-    // EM_log(CK_LOG_SEVERE, "loading chugin '%s'", name);
+    // log with no newline; print status next
+    // NOTE this is more informative if the chugin crashes, we can see the name
+    EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SEVERE, EM_LOG_NO_NEWLINE, "[%s] %s ", TC::magenta("chugin",true).c_str(), name );
 
     Chuck_DLL * dll = new Chuck_DLL( compiler->carrier(), name );
     t_CKBOOL query_failed = FALSE;
@@ -992,7 +995,7 @@ t_CKBOOL load_external_module_at_path( Chuck_Compiler * compiler,
         if( !dll->compatible() )
         {
             // print
-            EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "[%s] loading chugin %s (%d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), name, dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
+            EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SEVERE, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s] (API version: %d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
             // push
             EM_pushlog();
             EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "reason: %s", TC::orange(dll->last_error(),true).c_str() );
@@ -1007,7 +1010,7 @@ t_CKBOOL load_external_module_at_path( Chuck_Compiler * compiler,
         if( query_failed || !type_engine_add_dll2( env, dll, "global" ) )
         {
             // print
-            EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "[%s] loading chugin %s (%d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), name, dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
+            EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SEVERE, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s] (API version: %d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
             EM_pushlog();
             // if add_dll2 failed, an error should have already been output
             if( query_failed )
@@ -1024,7 +1027,7 @@ t_CKBOOL load_external_module_at_path( Chuck_Compiler * compiler,
     else
     {
         // print
-        EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "[%s] chugin '%s' load...", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), name );
+        EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SEVERE, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s]", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str() );
         // more info
         EM_pushlog();
         EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "reason: %s", TC::orange(dll->last_error(),true).c_str() );
@@ -1034,7 +1037,7 @@ t_CKBOOL load_external_module_at_path( Chuck_Compiler * compiler,
     }
 
     // print
-    EM_log( CK_LOG_SEVERE, "[%s] chugin %s (%d.%d)", TC::green("OK",true).c_str(), name, dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
+    EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SEVERE, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s] (API version: %d.%d)", TC::green("OK",true).c_str(), dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
     // add to compiler
     compiler->m_dlls.push_back(dll);
     // commit operator overloads | 1.5.1.5
@@ -1192,6 +1195,10 @@ t_CKBOOL probe_external_module_at_path( const char * name, const char * dl_path
     // create dynamic module
     Chuck_DLL * dll = new Chuck_DLL( NULL, name );
 
+    // log with no newline; print status next
+    // NOTE this is more informative if the chugin crashes, we can see the name
+    EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, EM_LOG_NO_NEWLINE, "[%s] %s ", TC::magenta("chugin",true).c_str(), name );
+
     // load the dll, lazy mode
     if( dll->load(dl_path, CK_QUERY_FUNC, TRUE) )
     {
@@ -1201,12 +1208,14 @@ t_CKBOOL probe_external_module_at_path( const char * name, const char * dl_path
         if( dll->compatible() )
         {
             // print
-            EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "[%s] chugin %s (%d.%d)", TC::green("OK",true).c_str(), name, dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
+            EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s] (API version: %d.%d)", TC::green("OK",true).c_str(),
+                         dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
         }
         else
         {
             // print
-            EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "[%s] chugin %s (%d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), name, dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
+            EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s] (API version: %d.%d)", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(),
+                         dll->versionMajor(), dll->versionMinor() );
             // push
             EM_pushlog();
             EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "reason: %s", TC::orange(dll->last_error(),true).c_str() );
@@ -1217,7 +1226,7 @@ t_CKBOOL probe_external_module_at_path( const char * name, const char * dl_path
     else
     {
         // print
-        EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "[%s] chugin '%s' load...", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str(), name );
+        EM_log_opts( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX, "[%s]...", TC::red("FAILED",true).c_str() );
         // more info
         EM_pushlog();
         EM_log( CK_LOG_SYSTEM, "reason: %s", TC::orange(dll->last_error(),true).c_str() );
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_dl.cpp b/src/core/chuck_dl.cpp
index 06998d6bc..f960ddaf3 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_dl.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_dl.cpp
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ t_CKBOOL Chuck_DLL::load( const char * filename, const char * func, t_CKBOOL laz
 t_CKBOOL Chuck_DLL::load( f_ck_query query_func, t_CKBOOL lazy )
 {
     m_query_func = query_func;
-    m_version_func = ck_builtin_declversion;
+    m_api_version_func = ck_builtin_declversion;
     m_done_query = FALSE;
     m_func = "ck_query";
 
@@ -904,18 +904,18 @@ const Chuck_DL_Query * Chuck_DLL::query()
         return &m_query;
 
     // get the address of the DL version function from the DLL
-    if( !m_version_func )
-        m_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC );
-    if( !m_version_func )
-        m_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( (string("_")+CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC).c_str() );
-    if( !m_version_func )
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
+        m_api_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC );
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
+        m_api_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( (string("_")+CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC).c_str() );
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
     {
         m_last_error = string("no version function found in dll '") + m_filename + string("'");
         return NULL;
     }
 
     // check version
-    t_CKUINT dll_version = m_version_func();
+    t_CKUINT dll_version = m_api_version_func();
     // get major and minor version numbers
     m_versionMajor = CK_DLL_VERSION_GETMAJOR(dll_version);
     m_versionMinor = CK_DLL_VERSION_GETMINOR(dll_version);
@@ -930,10 +930,10 @@ const Chuck_DL_Query * Chuck_DLL::query()
     {
         // construct error string
         ostringstream oss;
-        oss << "chugin version incompatible..." << endl
+        oss << "chugin API version incompatible..." << endl
             << "chugin path: '" << m_filename << "'" << endl
-            << "chugin version: " << m_versionMajor << "." << m_versionMinor
-            << " VS host version: " << CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR << "." << CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR;
+            << "chugin API version: " << m_versionMajor << "." << m_versionMinor
+            << " VS host API version: " << CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR << "." << CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR;
         m_last_error = oss.str();
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -1069,18 +1069,18 @@ t_CKBOOL Chuck_DLL::probe()
     }
 
     // get the address of the DL version function from the DLL
-    if( !m_version_func )
-        m_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC );
-    if( !m_version_func )
-        m_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( (string("_")+CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC).c_str() );
-    if( !m_version_func )
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
+        m_api_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC );
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
+        m_api_version_func = (f_ck_declversion)this->get_addr( (string("_")+CK_DECLVERSION_FUNC).c_str() );
+    if( !m_api_version_func )
     {
         m_last_error = string("no version function found in dll '") + m_filename + string("'");
         return FALSE;
     }
 
     // check version
-    t_CKUINT dll_version = m_version_func();
+    t_CKUINT dll_version = m_api_version_func();
     // get major and minor version numbers
     m_versionMajor = CK_DLL_VERSION_GETMAJOR(dll_version);
     m_versionMinor = CK_DLL_VERSION_GETMINOR(dll_version);
@@ -1216,8 +1216,10 @@ t_CKBOOL Chuck_DLL::compatible()
     if( m_versionMajor == CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR && m_versionMinor <= CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR )
     { return TRUE; }
     else {
-        m_last_error = string("version incompatible with host ") +
-                       ck_itoa(CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR) + "." + ck_itoa(CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR);
+        m_last_error = string("incompatible API version: chugin (") + ck_itoa(m_versionMajor) + "." + ck_itoa(m_versionMinor)
+                       + string(") vs. host (")
+                       + ck_itoa(CK_DLL_VERSION_MAJOR) + "." + ck_itoa(CK_DLL_VERSION_MINOR)
+                       + ")";
         return FALSE;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_dl.h b/src/core/chuck_dl.h
index b130f0663..e047e3171 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_dl.h
+++ b/src/core/chuck_dl.h
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ struct Chuck_DL_Arg
 extern "C" {
 // query
 typedef t_CKUINT (CK_DLL_CALL * f_ck_declversion)();
+typedef const char * (CK_DLL_CALL * f_ck_info)( const char * key );
 typedef t_CKBOOL (CK_DLL_CALL * f_ck_query)( Chuck_DL_Query * QUERY );
 // object
 typedef Chuck_Object * (CK_DLL_CALL * f_alloc)( Chuck_VM * VM, Chuck_VM_Shred * SHRED, CK_DL_API API );
@@ -764,7 +765,7 @@ struct Chuck_DLL : public Chuck_VM_Object
     // constructor
     Chuck_DLL( Chuck_Carrier * carrier, const char * xid = NULL )
         : m_handle(NULL), m_id(xid ? xid : ""),
-        m_done_query(FALSE), m_version_func(NULL), m_query_func(NULL),
+        m_done_query(FALSE), m_api_version_func(NULL), m_info_func(NULL), m_query_func(NULL),
         m_query( carrier, this ), m_versionMajor(0), m_versionMinor(0)
     { }
     // destructor
@@ -779,8 +780,13 @@ struct Chuck_DLL : public Chuck_VM_Object
     std::string m_func;
     t_CKBOOL m_done_query;
 
-    f_ck_declversion m_version_func;
+    // host/client api version
+    f_ck_declversion m_api_version_func;
+    // chugin info func
+    f_ck_info m_info_func;
+    // the query func
     f_ck_query m_query_func;
+    // the query shuttle object
     Chuck_DL_Query m_query;
 
 protected: // addition info 1.5.0.4 (ge) added
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_errmsg.cpp b/src/core/chuck_errmsg.cpp
index 1c8a1a82f..c9cf2c631 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_errmsg.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_errmsg.cpp
@@ -821,6 +821,62 @@ void EM_log( t_CKINT level, const char * message, ... )
 
 
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// name: EM_log_opts()
+// desc: output log message at a particular log level (no NL)
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void EM_log_opts( t_CKINT level, enum em_LogOpts options, const char * message, ... )
+{
+    va_list ap;
+
+    if( level > CK_LOG_ALL ) level = CK_LOG_ALL;
+    else if( level <= CK_LOG_NONE ) level = CK_LOG_NONE + 1;
+
+    // check level
+    if( level > g_loglevel ) return;
+
+    // whether to print prefix
+    t_CKBOOL prefix = !(options & EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX);
+    // whether to print newline at end
+    t_CKBOOL nl = !(options & EM_LOG_NO_NEWLINE);
+
+    #ifndef __DISABLE_THREADS__
+    g_logmutex.acquire();
+    #endif
+
+    // check option
+    if( prefix )
+    {
+        TC::off();
+        CK_FPRINTF_STDERR( "[%s:%s:%s]: ",
+                           TC::blue("chuck", true).c_str(),
+                           TC::blue( ck_itoa(level), false ).c_str(),
+                           TC::blue( g_str[level] ).c_str() );
+        TC::on();
+
+        // if( g_logstack ) CK_FPRINTF_STDERR( " " );
+        for( int i = 0; i < g_logstack; i++ )
+            CK_FPRINTF_STDERR( " | " );
+    }
+
+    va_start( ap, message );
+    CK_VFPRINTF_STDERR( message, ap );
+    va_end( ap );
+
+    // print newline
+    if( nl ) CK_FPRINTF_STDERR( "\n" );
+
+    // flush
+    CK_FFLUSH_STDERR();
+
+    #ifndef __DISABLE_THREADS__
+    g_logmutex.release();
+    #endif
+}
+
+
+
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // name: EM_setlog()
 // desc: set log level
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_errmsg.h b/src/core/chuck_errmsg.h
index f570f0952..98b53a50e 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_errmsg.h
+++ b/src/core/chuck_errmsg.h
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@
 #define CK_LOG_CORE             1
 #define CK_LOG_NONE             0  // set this to log nothing
 
+// bitwise options for EM_log_opts
+enum em_LogOpts
+{
+    EM_LOG_NONE = 0,
+    EM_LOG_NO_NEWLINE = 0x1,
+    EM_LOG_NO_PREFIX = 0x10
+};
 
 // C linkage
 #if defined(_cplusplus) || defined(__cplusplus)
@@ -66,8 +73,11 @@ extern "C" {
 #define CK_LOG( level, ... ) do{ if(level <= g_loglevel) \
                                  { EM_log( level, __VA_ARGS__ ); } }while(0)
 
+
 // output log message
 void EM_log( t_CKINT, c_constr, ... );
+// output log message (with options)
+void EM_log_opts( t_CKINT level, enum em_LogOpts options, c_constr, ... );
 // set log level [CK_LOG_NONE, CK_LOG_ALL]
 void EM_setlog( t_CKINT level );
 // push the log indentation