diff --git a/devstack/README.md b/devstack/README.md
index 0c5073f..9bd8140 100644
--- a/devstack/README.md
+++ b/devstack/README.md
@@ -87,7 +87,10 @@ Once the deploy is up use the following commands to set up tox.
 
 To regenerate the environment for development purposes a script is provided
 on the devstack instance at
+/opt/stack/monasca-transform/tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh
+To run the refresh_monasca_transform.sh script on devstack instance
 
+    cd /opt/stack/monasca-transform
     tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh
 
 (note: to use/run tox after running this script, the
@@ -95,10 +98,18 @@ on the devstack instance at
 
 This mostly re-does the work of the devstack plugin, updating the code from the
 shared directory, regenerating the venv and the zip that is passed to spark
-during the spark-submit call.  The configuration and the contents of the
-database are updated with fresh copies also though the start scripts, driver and
-service python code are left as they are (because I'm not envisaging much change
-in those).
+during the spark-submit call.  The configuration and the transform and
+pre transform specs in the database are updated with fresh copies, along
+with driver and service python code.
+
+If refresh_monasca_transform.sh script completes successfully you should see
+a message like the following in the console.
+
+        ***********************************************
+        *                                             *
+        * SUCCESS!! refresh monasca transform done.   *
+        *                                             *
+        ***********************************************
 
 ### Development workflow
 
@@ -157,6 +168,19 @@ For example:
 
 Reference: https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Testr
 
+## Access Spark Streaming and Spark Master/Worker User Interface
+
+In a devstack environment ports on which Spark Streaming UI (4040), Spark Master(18080)
+and Spark Worker (18081) UI are available are forwarded to the host and are
+accessible from the host machine.
+
+    http://<host_machine_ip>:4040/ (Note: Spark Streaming UI,
+                                    is available only when
+                                    monasca-transform application
+                                    is running)
+    http://<host_machine_ip>:18080/ (Spark Master UI)
+    http://<host_machine_ip>:18081/ (Spark Worker UI)
+
 ## To run monasca-transform using a different deployment technology
 
 Monasca-transform requires supporting services, such as Kafka and
diff --git a/monasca_transform/service/transform_service.py b/monasca_transform/service/transform_service.py
index 99894d6..794e0b8 100644
--- a/monasca_transform/service/transform_service.py
+++ b/monasca_transform/service/transform_service.py
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ class Transform(os_service.Service):
                           'Shutting down all threads and exiting')
             shutdown_all_threads_and_die()
 
+    def stop(self, graceful):
+        shutdown_all_threads_and_die()
+
 
 class TransformService(threading.Thread):
 
diff --git a/scripts/create_zip.sh b/scripts/create_zip.sh
index d2cf564..b5eb3e4 100755
--- a/scripts/create_zip.sh
+++ b/scripts/create_zip.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 SCRIPT_HOME=$(dirname $(readlink -f $BASH_SOURCE))
 pushd $SCRIPT_HOME
 
+echo "create_zip.py: creating a zip file at ../monasca_transform/monasca-transform.zip..."
 python create_zip.py
-
-popd
\ No newline at end of file
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "created zip file at ../monasca_transfom/monasca-transform.zip sucessfully"
+else
+    echo "error creating zip file at ../monasca_transform/monasca-transform.zip, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
+popd
diff --git a/scripts/generate_ddl.sh b/scripts/generate_ddl.sh
index 075863d..8260f47 100755
--- a/scripts/generate_ddl.sh
+++ b/scripts/generate_ddl.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,29 @@
 SCRIPT_HOME=$(dirname $(readlink -f $BASH_SOURCE))
 pushd $SCRIPT_HOME
 
-python ddl/generate_ddl.py -t pre_transform_spec -i ddl/pre_transform_specs_template.sql -s ../monasca_transform/data_driven_specs/pre_transform_specs/pre_transform_specs.json -o ddl/pre_transform_specs.sql
-python ddl/generate_ddl.py -t transform_spec -i ddl/transform_specs_template.sql -s ../monasca_transform/data_driven_specs/transform_specs/transform_specs.json -o ddl/transform_specs.sql
+PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON="../monasca_transform/data_driven_specs/pre_transform_specs/pre_transform_specs.json"
+PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL="ddl/pre_transform_specs.sql"
 
-popd
\ No newline at end of file
+TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON="../monasca_transform/data_driven_specs/transform_specs/transform_specs.json"
+TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL="ddl/transform_specs.sql"
+
+echo "converting {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL} ..."
+python ddl/generate_ddl.py -t pre_transform_spec -i ddl/pre_transform_specs_template.sql -s "$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON" -o "$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL"
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "converting {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL} sucessfully..."
+else
+    echo "error in converting {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$PRE_TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL}, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "converting {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL}..."
+python ddl/generate_ddl.py -t transform_spec -i ddl/transform_specs_template.sql -s "$TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON" -o "$TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL"
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "converting {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL} sucessfully..."
+else
+    echo "error in converting {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_JSON} to {$TRANSFORM_SPECS_SQL}, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
+popd
diff --git a/tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh b/tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh
index 98a6893..f01ab97 100755
--- a/tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh
+++ b/tools/vagrant/refresh_monasca_transform.sh
@@ -1,40 +1,73 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+#
+# for debugging
+#
+
+## turn on display command
+## set -x
+
 if grep -q devstack <<<`hostname`; then
     echo Refreshing monasca-transform
 else
     echo Yikes, no - this is not devstack!
     exit 1
 fi
-if [ -d "/home/vagrant/devstack" ] ; then
 
-. /home/vagrant/devstack/.stackenv
+if [ -d ~/devstack ] ; then
+
+. ~/devstack/.stackenv
 
 fi
 
 SCRIPT_HOME=$(dirname $(readlink -f $BASH_SOURCE))
 pushd $SCRIPT_HOME
 
-# TODO not sure how to stop monasca-transform from here now that
-# the control for it in DevStack is via screen -x stack
-if grep -q running <<<`sudo service monasca-transform status`; then
-    sudo service monasca-transform stop
-else
-    echo "monasca-transform service not running"
+# stop monasca-transform process running in screen session
+STOP_SLEEP=10
+if [[ -r /opt/stack/status/stack/monasca-transform.pid ]]; then
+    echo "going to shutdown $service running in screen session..."
+    pkill -g $(cat /opt/stack/status/stack/monasca-transform.pid)
+    rc=$?
+    if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+        echo "waiting $STOP_SLEEP seconds for monasca-transform to exit..."
+        sleep $STOP_SLEEP
+        screen -S stack -p monasca-transform -X stuff "\015"
+        echo "monasca-transform process stopped sucessfully"
+    else
+        echo "monasca-transform process wasnt running, proceeding"
+    fi
 fi
 
+#
+# turn on exit immediately if command fails
+#
+set -e
+
 sudo rm -rf /home/vagrant/monasca-transform-source /home/vagrant/monasca-transform
 
+echo "calling setup_local_repos.sh ..."
 sudo ./setup_local_repos.sh
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "setup_local_repos.sh completed sucessfully..."
+else
+    echo "Error in setup_local_repos.sh, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
 
 # update the database with configuration
+echo "populating monasca-transform db tables with pre_transform_specs and transform_specs..."
 sudo cp /home/vagrant/monasca-transform/scripts/ddl/pre_transform_specs.sql /opt/monasca/transform/lib/pre_transform_specs.sql
 sudo cp /home/vagrant/monasca-transform/scripts/ddl/transform_specs.sql /opt/monasca/transform/lib/transform_specs.sql
 sudo mysql -h "127.0.0.1" -um-transform -ppassword < /opt/monasca/transform/lib/pre_transform_specs.sql
 sudo mysql -h "127.0.0.1" -um-transform -ppassword <  /opt/monasca/transform/lib/transform_specs.sql
+echo "populating monasca-transform db tables with pre_transform_specs and transform_specs done."
 
 # update the zip file used for spark submit
+echo "copying new monasca-transform.zip to /opt/monasca/transform/lib/ ..."
 sudo cp /home/vagrant/monasca-transform/scripts/monasca-transform.zip /opt/monasca/transform/lib/.
+echo "copying new monasca-transform.zip to /opt/monasca/transform/lib/ done."
 
 # update the configuration file
 sudo cp /home/vagrant/monasca-transform/devstack/files/monasca-transform/monasca-transform.conf /etc/.
@@ -42,18 +75,31 @@ if [ -n "$SERVICE_HOST" ]; then
     sudo sudo sed -i "s/brokers=192\.168\.15\.6:9092/brokers=${SERVICE_HOST}:9092/g" /etc/monasca-transform.conf
 fi
 
-# delete the venv
-sudo rm -rf /opt/monasca/transform/venv
 
-# refresh the monasca-transform code to /opt/stack
-sudo rm -rf /opt/stack/monasca-transform
+MONASCA_TRANSFORM_VENV="/opt/monasca/transform/venv"
+MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR="/opt/stack/monasca-transform"
+
+echo "refreshing $MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR..."
+
+# turn on display command
+set -x
+
+# delete the venv
+sudo rm -rf $MONASCA_TRANSFORM_VENV
+# refresh the monasca-transform code at /opt/stack
+sudo rm -rf "$MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR"
 pushd /opt/stack
 sudo git clone /home/vagrant/monasca-transform
-sudo chown -R vagrant:vagrant /opt/stack/monasca-transform
-virtualenv /opt/monasca/transform/venv
-. /opt/monasca/transform/venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e /opt/stack/monasca-transform/
+sudo chown -R vagrant:vagrant "$MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR"
+virtualenv "$MONASCA_TRANSFORM_VENV"
+. "$MONASCA_TRANSFORM_VENV"/bin/activate
+pip install -e "$MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR"
 deactivate
+
+# turn off display command
+set +x
+
+echo "refreshing $MONASCA_TRANSFORM_DIR done."
 popd
 
 function get_id () {
@@ -62,10 +108,26 @@ function get_id () {
 
 source ~/devstack/openrc admin admin
 export ADMIN_PROJECT_ID=$(get_id openstack project show admin)
+echo "updating publish_kafka_project_id to $ADMIN_PROJECT_ID in /etc/monasca-transform.conf..."
 sudo sed -i "s/publish_kafka_project_id=d2cb21079930415a9f2a33588b9f2bb6/publish_kafka_project_id=${ADMIN_PROJECT_ID}/g" /etc/monasca-transform.conf
+echo "updating publish_kafka_project_id to $ADMIN_PROJECT_ID in /etc/monasca-transform.conf done."
 
-# TODO not sure how to start monasca-transform from here now that
-# the control for it in DevStack is via screen -x stack
-sudo service monasca-transform start
+# start monasca-transform in screen session
+start_command="/etc/monasca/transform/init/start-monasca-transform.sh"
+screen -S stack -p monasca-transform -X stuff "$start_command & echo \$! >/opt/stack/status/stack/monasca-transform.pid; fg || echo \"monasca-transform failed to start\""
+screen -S stack -p monasca-transform -X stuff "\015"
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "monasca-transform process started sucessfully"
+else
+    echo "Error: monasca-transfrom process was not started. Please check screen session for error messages"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "***********************************************"
+echo "*                                             *"
+echo "* SUCCESS!! refresh monasca transform done.   *"
+echo "*                                             *"
+echo "***********************************************"
 
 popd
diff --git a/tools/vagrant/setup_local_repos.sh b/tools/vagrant/setup_local_repos.sh
index a89a373..97b612e 100755
--- a/tools/vagrant/setup_local_repos.sh
+++ b/tools/vagrant/setup_local_repos.sh
@@ -1,24 +1,47 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+echo "going to copy /monasca-transform-source to /home/vagrant ..."
 rsync -a --exclude='tools/vagrant/.vagrant' /monasca-transform-source /home/vagrant/
+
+echo "going to move /home/vagrant/monasca-transform-source /home/vagrant/monasca-transform..."
 mv /home/vagrant/monasca-transform-source /home/vagrant/monasca-transform
 pushd /home/vagrant/monasca-transform
+
 # prepare the codebase
 #
-# generate the sql scripts to populate the database
+# generate the sql scripts which will populate the database
+# with the pre_transform and transform specs
 scripts/generate_ddl.sh
-# build the zip
-scripts/create_zip.sh
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "scripts/generate_ddl.sh completed sucessfully..."
+else
+    echo "Error in scripts/generate_ddl.sh, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
 
+
+# build the zip (to be submitted with spark application)
+scripts/create_zip.sh
+rc=$?
+if [[ $rc == 0 ]]; then
+    echo "scripts/create_zip.sh completed sucessfully..."
+else
+    echo "Error in scripts/create_zip.sh, bailing out"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "creating a local commit..."
 git config --global user.email "local.devstack.committer@hpe.com"
 git config --global user.name "Local devstack committer"
 git add --all
 git commit -m "Local commit"
+echo "creating a local commit done."
 
 CURRENT_BRANCH=`git status | grep 'On branch' | sed 's/On branch //'`
 if [ ${CURRENT_BRANCH} != 'master' ]
 then
-    echo Maintaining current branch ${CURRENT_BRANCH}
+    echo "Maintaining current branch ${CURRENT_BRANCH}"
     # set the branch to what we're using in local.conf
     if [[ -z `grep ${CURRENT_BRANCH} /home/vagrant/devstack/local.conf` ]]; then
         sed -i "s/enable_plugin monasca-transform \/home\/vagrant\/monasca-transform//g" /home/vagrant/devstack/local.conf
@@ -27,5 +50,4 @@ then
         printf "# END DEVSTACK LOCAL.CONF CONTENTS" >> /home/vagrant/devstack/local.conf
     fi
 fi
-
 popd