diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Jvm.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Jvm.kt
index e7c8960f..a1459112 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Jvm.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Jvm.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt
 
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.log
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.warn
 import java.io.File
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ public open class Jvm constructor(
         if (javaBase == null) {
             //discover based on what's in the sys. property
             try {
-                javaBase = File(System.getProperty("java.home")).getCanonicalFile()
+                javaBase = File(System.getProperty("java.home")).canonicalFile
             } catch (e: IOException) {
                 throw KobaltException(e)
             }
@@ -52,10 +51,10 @@ public open class Jvm constructor(
     private fun findJavaHome(javaBase: File): File {
         val toolsJar = findToolsJar(javaBase)
         if (toolsJar != null) {
-            return toolsJar.getParentFile().getParentFile()
-        } else if (javaBase.getName().equals("jre", true) && File(javaBase.getParentFile(),
+            return toolsJar.parentFile.parentFile
+        } else if (javaBase.name.equals("jre", true) && File(javaBase.parentFile,
                 "bin/java").exists()) {
-            return javaBase.getParentFile()
+            return javaBase.parentFile
         } else {
             return javaBase
         }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/KobaltException.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/KobaltException.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b604f86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/KobaltException.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package com.beust.kobalt
+
+class KobaltException(s: String? = null, ex: Throwable? = null, val docUrl: String? = null)
+        : RuntimeException(s, ex) {
+    constructor(ex: Throwable?) : this(null, ex, null)
+}
+
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Main.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Main.kt
index 32b70fd0..d0c4d171 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Main.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Main.kt
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import com.beust.kobalt.kotlin.BuildFile
 import com.beust.kobalt.kotlin.BuildFileCompiler
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.DepFactory
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.Http
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.LocalRepo
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.*
 import com.google.inject.Guice
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ private class Main @Inject constructor(
             try {
                 result = runWithArgs(jc, args, argv)
             } catch(ex: KobaltException) {
-                error(ex.message ?: "", ex)
+                error("", ex)
                 result = 1
             } finally {
                 executors.shutdown()
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Plugins.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Plugins.kt
index 4a630810..6591249e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Plugins.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/Plugins.kt
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import com.beust.kobalt.internal.PluginInfo
 import com.beust.kobalt.internal.TaskManager
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.DepFactory
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.IClasspathDependency
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.LocalRepo
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KFiles
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KobaltExecutors
@@ -100,11 +99,7 @@ public class Plugins @Inject constructor (val taskManagerProvider : Provider<Tas
 
                 fun toTask(m: Method, project: Project, plugin: IPlugin): (Project) -> TaskResult {
                     val result: (Project) -> TaskResult = {
-                        try {
-                            m.invoke(plugin, project) as TaskResult
-                        } catch(ex: Throwable) {
-                            throw KobaltException("Error while invoking task $m on plugin $plugin")
-                        }
+                        m.invoke(plugin, project) as TaskResult
                     }
                     return result
                 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DocUrl.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DocUrl.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8acab0ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DocUrl.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package com.beust.kobalt.internal
+
+class DocUrl {
+    companion object {
+        private const val HOST = "http://beust.com/kobalt/"
+        private fun url(path: String) = HOST + path
+
+        val PUBLISH_PLUGIN_URL = url("plug-ins/index.html#publishing")
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DynamicGraph.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DynamicGraph.kt
index c11a1830..3742c058 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DynamicGraph.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/DynamicGraph.kt
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.internal
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.NamedThreadFactory
+import com.beust.kobalt.misc.error
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.log
-import com.beust.kobalt.misc.*
+import com.beust.kobalt.misc.toString
 import com.google.common.collect.HashMultimap
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
 import java.util.concurrent.*
 
 open class TaskResult2<T>(success: Boolean, val value: T) : TaskResult(success) {
@@ -73,8 +76,13 @@ public class DynamicGraphExecutor<T>(val graph: DynamicGraph<T>,
                     } catch(ex: TimeoutException) {
                         log(2, "Time out")
                     } catch(ex: Exception) {
-                        error("Error: ${ex.message}", ex)
-                        gotError = true
+                        if (ex.cause is InvocationTargetException
+                                && (ex.cause as InvocationTargetException).targetException is KobaltException) {
+                            throw (ex.cause as InvocationTargetException).targetException
+                        } else {
+                            error("Error: ${ex.message}", ex)
+                            gotError = true
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
index 17ed498d..ecb075bd 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.internal
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.IClasspathContributor
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.KobaltContext
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.DependencyManager
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.IClasspathDependency
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.google.inject.Inject
 import java.io.File
 import java.util.*
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/TaskManager.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/TaskManager.kt
index 56f0c3b7..cb0a617f 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/TaskManager.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/TaskManager.kt
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.internal
 
-import com.beust.kobalt.Args
-import com.beust.kobalt.AsciiArt
-import com.beust.kobalt.Plugins
-import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
+import com.beust.kobalt.*
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.PluginTask
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.log
 import com.google.common.collect.TreeMultimap
 import java.util.*
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/kotlin/BuildFileCompiler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/kotlin/BuildFileCompiler.kt
index 45850d7e..84b6239e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/kotlin/BuildFileCompiler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/kotlin/BuildFileCompiler.kt
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.kotlin
 
 import com.beust.kobalt.Args
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.Plugins
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.*
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.annotation.Task
 import com.beust.kobalt.internal.JvmCompiler
 import com.beust.kobalt.internal.PluginInfo
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.IClasspathDependency
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KFiles
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.Topological
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.countChar
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/ArtifactFetcher.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/ArtifactFetcher.kt
index 30728a26..f1b0fe90 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/ArtifactFetcher.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/ArtifactFetcher.kt
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.maven
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KFiles
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.log
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheLoader
 import com.google.common.cache.LoadingCache
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted
-import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream
 import java.io.File
 import java.util.concurrent.Callable
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DepFactory.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DepFactory.kt
index 23b5c020..11553317 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DepFactory.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DepFactory.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.maven
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KobaltExecutors
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService
 import javax.inject.Inject
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/Http.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/Http.kt
index ea94d1a7..237f41f2 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/Http.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/Http.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.maven
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.CountingFileRequestBody
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.log
 import com.squareup.okhttp.*
@@ -84,7 +85,3 @@ public class Http {
         }
     }
 }
-
-class KobaltException(s: String? = null, ex: Throwable? = null) : RuntimeException(s, ex) {
-    constructor(ex: Throwable?) : this(null, ex)
-}
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/MavenDependency.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/MavenDependency.kt
index adca58d1..44ce048f 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/MavenDependency.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/MavenDependency.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.maven
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Kobalt
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.DependencyExecutor
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.Versions
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/GithubApi.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/GithubApi.kt
index 9d4d5257..f9570364 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/GithubApi.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/GithubApi.kt
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.misc
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
+import com.beust.kobalt.internal.DocUrl
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.Http
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.google.gson.Gson
 import com.google.gson.JsonArray
 import com.google.gson.JsonObject
@@ -51,8 +52,9 @@ public class GithubApi @Inject constructor(val executors: KobaltExecutors,
     fun uploadRelease(packageName: String, tagName: String, zipFile: File) {
         log(1, "Uploading release ${zipFile.name}")
 
-        val username = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_USERNAME)
-        val accessToken = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_ACCESS_TOKEN)
+        val docUrl = DocUrl.PUBLISH_PLUGIN_URL
+        val username = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_USERNAME, docUrl)
+        val accessToken = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_ACCESS_TOKEN, docUrl)
         try {
             service.createRelease(username, accessToken, packageName, CreateRelease(tagName))
                     .flatMap { response ->
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/KobaltLogger.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/KobaltLogger.kt
index d32781c2..675fb5e8 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/KobaltLogger.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/KobaltLogger.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.misc
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Kobalt
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat
 import java.util.*
@@ -48,9 +49,15 @@ class Logger(val dev: Boolean) {
         println(getPattern("D", "Debug ", tag, message))
 
     final fun error(tag: String, message: String, e: Throwable? = null) {
-        println(getPattern("***** E", "***** ERROR ", tag, message) +
-                if (e != null && KobaltLogger.LOG_LEVEL > 1) " Exception: " + e.message else "")
-        if (KobaltLogger.LOG_LEVEL > 0) {
+        val docUrl = if (e is KobaltException && e.docUrl != null) e.docUrl else null
+        val shortMessage = if (e != null) e.message else { "<unknown error>" }
+        val longMessage = "*****\n***** ERROR " + shortMessage + "\n" +
+            docUrl?.let { "***** Documentation: $docUrl" } +
+            "\n*****"
+
+        println(getPattern("***** E $shortMessage " + docUrl?.let { " Documentation: $docUrl" },
+                longMessage, tag, message))
+        if (KobaltLogger.LOG_LEVEL > 1) {
             e?.printStackTrace()
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/LocalProperties.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/LocalProperties.kt
index f6f178e3..371d106d 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/LocalProperties.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/LocalProperties.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.misc
 
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.google.inject.Singleton
 import java.nio.file.Files
 import java.nio.file.Paths
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ import java.util.*
 
 @Singleton
 class LocalProperties {
+    var docUrl: String? = null
     val localProperties: Properties by lazy {
         val result = Properties()
         val filePath = Paths.get("local.properties")
         if (! Files.exists(filePath)) {
-            throw KobaltException("Couldn't find a local.properties file")
+            throw KobaltException("Couldn't find a local.properties file", docUrl = docUrl)
         }
 
         filePath.let { path ->
@@ -26,8 +27,10 @@ class LocalProperties {
         result
     }
 
-    fun get(name: String) : String {
-        val result = localProperties.get(name) ?: throw KobaltException("Couldn't find $name in local.properties")
+    fun get(name: String, docUrl: String? = null) : String {
+        this.docUrl = docUrl
+        val result = localProperties[name]
+                ?: throw KobaltException("Couldn't find $name in local.properties", docUrl = docUrl)
         return result as String
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/application/ApplicationPlugin.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/application/ApplicationPlugin.kt
index eebfa3b0..ceccfae3 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/application/ApplicationPlugin.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/application/ApplicationPlugin.kt
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.plugin.application
 
-import com.beust.kobalt.JavaInfo
-import com.beust.kobalt.Plugins
-import com.beust.kobalt.SystemProperties
+import com.beust.kobalt.*
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.BasePlugin
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.annotation.Directive
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.annotation.Task
-import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KobaltExecutors
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.RunCommand
 import com.beust.kobalt.plugin.packaging.PackagingPlugin
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/JCenterApi.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/JCenterApi.kt
index b00dabce..9e7077ef 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/JCenterApi.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/JCenterApi.kt
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.plugin.publish
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
 import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.Gpg
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.Http
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.Md5
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KobaltExecutors
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.error
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/PublishPlugin.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/PublishPlugin.kt
index 22ef0a61..d21229a0 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/PublishPlugin.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/publish/PublishPlugin.kt
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.plugin.publish
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.BasePlugin
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Kobalt
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.annotation.Directive
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.annotation.Task
-import com.beust.kobalt.TaskResult
+import com.beust.kobalt.internal.DocUrl
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.PomGenerator
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.*
 import com.google.common.base.Preconditions
@@ -85,8 +86,9 @@ public class PublishPlugin @Inject constructor(val files: KFiles, val factory: P
     }
 
     private fun uploadJcenter(project: Project) : TaskResult {
-        val user = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_BINTRAY_USER)
-        val password = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_BINTRAY_PASSWORD)
+        val docUrl = DocUrl.PUBLISH_PLUGIN_URL
+        val user = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_BINTRAY_USER, docUrl)
+        val password = localProperties.get(PROPERTY_BINTRAY_PASSWORD, docUrl)
 
         val jcenter = jcenterFactory.create(user, password)
         var success = false