diff --git a/dev b/dev
index 9f2b9450e..2d204a0b4 100755
--- a/dev
+++ b/dev
@@ -40,11 +40,13 @@ COMMANDS:
   eval:   Evaluate an Erlang expression
 
 OPTIONS:
+  -h|--help:         Print this usage info.
   -p|--profile:      emqx | emqx-enterprise, defaults to 'PROFILE' env.
   -c|--compile:      Force recompile, otherwise starts with the already built libs
                      in '_build/\$PROFILE/lib/'.
   -e|--ekka-epmd:    Force to use ekka_epmd.
   -n|--name:         Node name, defaults to \$EMQX_NODE__NAME or the \$EMQX_NODE_NAME env.
+  -s|--shortnames:   Use shortnames for erlang node name (ie. use -sname parameter).
 
 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES:
 
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ PROFILE="${PROFILE:-emqx}"
 FORCE_COMPILE=0
 # Do not start using ekka epmd by default, so your IDE can connect to it
 EKKA_EPMD=0
+SHORTNAMES=0
 COMMAND='run'
 case "${1:-novalue}" in
     novalue)
@@ -98,6 +101,10 @@ esac
 
 while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
     case $1 in
+        -h|--help)
+            usage
+            exit 0
+            ;;
         -n|--name)
             EMQX_NODE_NAME="$2"
             shift 1
@@ -112,6 +119,9 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
         -e|--ekka-epmd)
             EKKA_EPMD=1
             ;;
+        -s|--shortnames)
+            SHORTNAMES=1
+            ;;
         --)
             shift
             PASSTHROUGH_ARGS=("$@")
@@ -119,6 +129,7 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
             ;;
         *)
             logerr "Unknown argument $1"
+            usage
             exit 1
             ;;
     esac
@@ -171,6 +182,12 @@ else
     EPMD_ARGS=''
 fi
 
+if [ $SHORTNAMES -eq 1 ]; then
+    ERL_NAME_ARG='-sname'
+else
+    ERL_NAME_ARG='-name'
+fi
+
 
 ## build compile the profile is it's not compiled yet
 prepare_erl_libs() {
@@ -206,6 +223,13 @@ prepare_erl_libs() {
             fi
         done
     fi
+    if [ -e "_build/${profile}/checkouts" ]; then
+        for app in "_build/${profile}/checkouts"/*; do
+            erl_libs="${erl_libs}${sep}${app}"
+        done
+    else
+        echo "no checkouts"
+    fi
     export ERL_LIBS="$erl_libs"
 }
 
@@ -288,7 +312,7 @@ append_args_file() {
     ## ensure a new line at the end
     echo '' >> "$ARGS_FILE"
     cat <<EOF >> "$ARGS_FILE"
--name $EMQX_NODE_NAME
+$ERL_NAME_ARG $EMQX_NODE_NAME
 -mnesia dir '"$EMQX_DATA_DIR/mnesia/$EMQX_NODE_NAME"'
 -stdlib restricted_shell emqx_restricted_shell
 +spp true
@@ -386,7 +410,7 @@ boot() {
 
         # shellcheck disable=SC2086
         env APPS="$APPS" iex \
-          --name "$EMQX_NODE_NAME" \
+          -$ERL_NAME_ARG "$EMQX_NODE_NAME" \
           --erl "$EPMD_ARGS_ELIXIR" \
           --erl '-user Elixir.IEx.CLI' \
           --erl '-proto_dist ekka' \
@@ -402,7 +426,7 @@ boot() {
         "
 
         # shellcheck disable=SC2086
-        erl -name "$EMQX_NODE_NAME" \
+        erl $ERL_NAME_ARG "$EMQX_NODE_NAME" \
             $EPMD_ARGS \
             -proto_dist ekka \
             -args_file "$ARGS_FILE" \
@@ -416,14 +440,18 @@ boot() {
 gen_tmp_node_name() {
     local rnd
     rnd="$(od -t u -N 4 /dev/urandom | head -n1 | awk '{print $2 % 1000}')"
-    echo "remsh${rnd}-${EMQX_NODE_NAME}"
+    if [ $SHORTNAMES -eq  1 ]; then
+        echo "remsh${rnd}"
+    else
+        echo "remsh${rnd}-${EMQX_NODE_NAME}"
+    fi
 }
 
 remsh() {
     local tmpnode
     tmpnode="$(gen_tmp_node_name)"
     # shellcheck disable=SC2086
-    erl -name "$tmpnode" \
+    erl $ERL_NAME_ARG "$tmpnode" \
         -hidden \
         -setcookie "$COOKIE" \
         -remsh "$EMQX_NODE_NAME" \
@@ -436,7 +464,7 @@ eval_remsh_erl() {
     tmpnode="$(gen_tmp_node_name)"
     erl_code="$1"
     # shellcheck disable=SC2086 # need to expand EMQD_ARGS
-    erl -name "$tmpnode" -setcookie "$COOKIE" -hidden -noshell $EPMD_ARGS -eval "$erl_code" 2>&1
+    erl $ERL_NAME_ARG "$tmpnode" -setcookie "$COOKIE" -hidden -noshell $EPMD_ARGS -eval "$erl_code" 2>&1
 }
 
 ctl() {