diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/run_local.sh b/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/run_local.sh
index 76b1a4f33345..20e820ef3e09 100755
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/run_local.sh
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/run_local.sh
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ full-without-monitoring:
     - use: compute-node
     - use: frontend
     - use: compactor
-    - use: zookeeper
     - use: kafka
+      user-managed: true
+      address: message_queue
+      port: 29092
 EOF
 
 cat <<EOF > risedev-components.user.env
@@ -32,7 +34,6 @@ RISEDEV_CONFIGURED=false
 
 ENABLE_MINIO=true
 ENABLE_ETCD=true
-ENABLE_KAFKA=true
 
 # Fetch risingwave binary from release.
 ENABLE_BUILD_RUST=true
@@ -65,4 +66,4 @@ main() {
   validate_new_cluster "$NEW_VERSION"
 }
 
-main
\ No newline at end of file
+main
diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/utils.sh b/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/utils.sh
index ad4fd7faae9d..6b5184b2bb0e 100644
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/utils.sh
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/scripts/utils.sh
@@ -19,36 +19,9 @@ RECOVERY_DURATION=20
 
 # Setup test directory
 TEST_DIR=.risingwave/backwards-compat-tests/
-KAFKA_PATH=.risingwave/bin/kafka
 mkdir -p $TEST_DIR
 cp -r backwards-compat-tests/slt/* $TEST_DIR
 
-wait_kafka_exit() {
-  # Follow kafka-server-stop.sh
-  while [[ -n "$(ps ax | grep ' kafka\.Kafka ' | grep java | grep -v grep | awk '{print $1}')" ]]; do
-    echo "Waiting for kafka to exit"
-    sleep 1
-  done
-}
-
-wait_zookeeper_exit() {
-  # Follow zookeeper-server-stop.sh
-  while [[ -n "$(ps ax | grep java | grep -i QuorumPeerMain | grep -v grep | awk '{print $1}')" ]]; do
-    echo "Waiting for zookeeper to exit"
-    sleep 1
-  done
-}
-
-kill_kafka() {
-  $KAFKA_PATH/bin/kafka-server-stop.sh
-  wait_kafka_exit
-}
-
-kill_zookeeper() {
-  $KAFKA_PATH/bin/zookeeper-server-stop.sh
-  wait_zookeeper_exit
-}
-
 wait_for_process() {
   process_name="$1"
 
@@ -77,21 +50,9 @@ kill_cluster() {
 
   # Kill other components
   $TMUX list-windows -t risedev -F "#{window_name} #{pane_id}" |
-    grep -v 'kafka' |
-    grep -v 'zookeeper' |
     awk '{ print $2 }' |
     xargs -I {} $TMUX send-keys -t {} C-c C-d
 
-  set +e
-  if [[ -n $($TMUX list-windows -t risedev | grep kafka) ]]; then
-    echo "kill kafka"
-    kill_kafka
-
-    echo "kill zookeeper"
-    kill_zookeeper
-  fi
-  set -e
-
   $TMUX kill-server
   test $? -eq 0 || {
     echo "Failed to stop all RiseDev components."
@@ -117,18 +78,16 @@ check_version() {
 }
 
 create_kafka_topic() {
-  "$KAFKA_PATH"/bin/kafka-topics.sh \
-    --create \
-    --topic backwards_compat_test_kafka_source --bootstrap-server localhost:29092
+  RPK_BROKERS=message_queue:29092 \
+  rpk topic create backwards_compat_test_kafka_source
 }
 
 insert_json_kafka() {
   local JSON=$1
-  echo "$JSON" | "$KAFKA_PATH"/bin/kafka-console-producer.sh \
-    --topic backwards_compat_test_kafka_source \
-    --bootstrap-server localhost:29092 \
-    --property "parse.key=true" \
-    --property "key.separator=,"
+
+  echo "$JSON" | \
+  RPK_BROKERS=message_queue:29092 \
+  rpk topic produce backwards_compat_test_kafka_source -f "%k,%v"
 }
 
 seed_json_kafka() {
diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/invalid_options/seed.slt b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/invalid_options/seed.slt
index 6021cf1253b8..2fef943c8ab4 100644
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/invalid_options/seed.slt
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/invalid_options/seed.slt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ CREATE SOURCE IF NOT EXISTS kafka_source_with_invalid_option
 WITH (
  connector='kafka',
  topic='backwards_compat_test_kafka_source',
- properties.bootstrap.server='localhost:29092',
+ properties.bootstrap.server='message_queue:29092',
  scan.startup.mode='earliest',
  invalid_option='oops'
 ) FORMAT PLAIN ENCODE JSON;
diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/seed.slt b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/seed.slt
index 3840ce0c96b1..aa2a196694e4 100644
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/seed.slt
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/seed.slt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ CREATE SOURCE IF NOT EXISTS kafka_source
 WITH (
  connector='kafka',
  topic='backwards_compat_test_kafka_source',
- properties.bootstrap.server='localhost:29092',
+ properties.bootstrap.server='message_queue:29092',
  scan.startup.mode='earliest',
 ) FORMAT PLAIN ENCODE JSON;
 
diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/deprecate_upsert.slt b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/deprecate_upsert.slt
index 55cfce886455..57f1e2d27391 100644
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/deprecate_upsert.slt
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/deprecate_upsert.slt
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS kafka_table
 WITH (
  connector='kafka',
  topic='backwards_compat_test_kafka_source',
- properties.bootstrap.server='localhost:29092',
+ properties.bootstrap.server='message_queue:29092',
  scan.startup.mode='earliest',
-) FORMAT UPSERT ENCODE JSON;
\ No newline at end of file
+) FORMAT UPSERT ENCODE JSON;
diff --git a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/include_key_as.slt b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/include_key_as.slt
index 36ef42657422..37d41e195ee0 100644
--- a/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/include_key_as.slt
+++ b/backwards-compat-tests/slt/kafka/upsert/include_key_as.slt
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ INCLUDE key as _rw_key
 WITH (
  connector='kafka',
  topic='backwards_compat_test_kafka_source',
- properties.bootstrap.server='localhost:29092',
+ properties.bootstrap.server='message_queue:29092',
  scan.startup.mode='earliest',
-) FORMAT UPSERT ENCODE JSON;
\ No newline at end of file
+) FORMAT UPSERT ENCODE JSON;
diff --git a/ci/scripts/backwards-compat-test.sh b/ci/scripts/backwards-compat-test.sh
index d539748a23fd..3ffb3fb8284a 100755
--- a/ci/scripts/backwards-compat-test.sh
+++ b/ci/scripts/backwards-compat-test.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ source backwards-compat-tests/scripts/utils.sh
 
 configure_rw() {
 VERSION="$1"
+ENABLE_BUILD="$2"
 
 echo "--- Setting up cluster config"
 cat <<EOF > risedev-profiles.user.yml
@@ -49,8 +50,6 @@ full-without-monitoring:
     - use: compute-node
     - use: frontend
     - use: compactor
-    - use: zookeeper
-    - use: kafka
 EOF
 
 cat <<EOF > risedev-components.user.env
@@ -58,10 +57,9 @@ RISEDEV_CONFIGURED=true
 
 ENABLE_MINIO=true
 ENABLE_ETCD=true
-ENABLE_KAFKA=true
 
-# Fetch risingwave binary from release.
-ENABLE_BUILD_RUST=false
+# Whether to build or directly fetch binary from release.
+ENABLE_BUILD_RUST=$ENABLE_BUILD
 
 # Use target/debug for simplicity.
 ENABLE_RELEASE_PROFILE=false
@@ -73,36 +71,6 @@ if version_le "${VERSION:-}" "1.8.0" ; then
 fi
 }
 
-configure_rw_build() {
-echo "--- Setting up cluster config"
-cat <<EOF > risedev-profiles.user.yml
-full-without-monitoring:
-  steps:
-    - use: minio
-    - use: etcd
-    - use: meta-node
-    - use: compute-node
-    - use: frontend
-    - use: compactor
-    - use: zookeeper
-    - use: kafka
-EOF
-
-cat <<EOF > risedev-components.user.env
-RISEDEV_CONFIGURED=true
-
-ENABLE_MINIO=true
-ENABLE_ETCD=true
-ENABLE_KAFKA=true
-
-# Make sure that it builds
-ENABLE_BUILD_RUST=true
-
-# Use target/debug for simplicity.
-ENABLE_RELEASE_PROFILE=false
-EOF
-}
-
 setup_old_cluster() {
   echo "--- Build risedev for $OLD_VERSION, it may not be backwards compatible"
   git config --global --add safe.directory /risingwave
@@ -115,7 +83,7 @@ setup_old_cluster() {
   if [[ "$?" -ne 0 ]]; then
     set -e
     echo "Failed to download ${OLD_VERSION} from github releases, build from source later during \`risedev d\`"
-    configure_rw_build
+    configure_rw "$OLD_VERSION" true
   else
     set -e
     tar -xvf risingwave-v"${OLD_VERSION}"-x86_64-unknown-linux.tar.gz
@@ -123,7 +91,7 @@ setup_old_cluster() {
 
     echo "--- Start cluster on tag $OLD_VERSION"
     git config --global --add safe.directory /risingwave
-    configure_rw "$OLD_VERSION"
+    configure_rw "$OLD_VERSION" false
   fi
 }
 
@@ -148,8 +116,8 @@ main() {
   # Assume we use the latest version, so we just set to some large number.
   # The current $NEW_VERSION as of this change is 1.7.0, so we can't use that.
   # See: https://github.com/risingwavelabs/risingwave/pull/15448
-  configure_rw "99.99.99"
+  configure_rw "99.99.99" false
   validate_new_cluster "$NEW_VERSION"
 }
 
-main
\ No newline at end of file
+main
diff --git a/ci/scripts/run-backfill-tests.sh b/ci/scripts/run-backfill-tests.sh
index f01e2c5b3d77..b64106585333 100755
--- a/ci/scripts/run-backfill-tests.sh
+++ b/ci/scripts/run-backfill-tests.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #   1002 | CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW m1 AS SELECT * FROM t | 56.12%   | 2023-09-27 06:37:06.636+00:00
 #(1 row)
 
+# TODO: refactor with inline style.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
diff --git a/ci/workflows/main-cron.yml b/ci/workflows/main-cron.yml
index ba3a04705825..30881275cf27 100644
--- a/ci/workflows/main-cron.yml
+++ b/ci/workflows/main-cron.yml
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ steps:
       - "build"
     plugins:
       - docker-compose#v5.1.0:
-          run: rw-build-env
+          run: source-test-env
           config: ci/docker-compose.yml
           mount-buildkite-agent: true
       - ./ci/plugins/upload-failure-logs
diff --git a/ci/workflows/pull-request.yml b/ci/workflows/pull-request.yml
index 10e57f6fee82..475b981a18b0 100644
--- a/ci/workflows/pull-request.yml
+++ b/ci/workflows/pull-request.yml
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ steps:
       - "build"
     plugins:
       - docker-compose#v5.1.0:
-          run: rw-build-env
+          run: source-test-env
           config: ci/docker-compose.yml
           mount-buildkite-agent: true
       - ./ci/plugins/upload-failure-logs
diff --git a/src/risedevtool/src/task/kafka_service.rs b/src/risedevtool/src/task/kafka_service.rs
index df0eb4a0fa31..ec3a54599c50 100644
--- a/src/risedevtool/src/task/kafka_service.rs
+++ b/src/risedevtool/src/task/kafka_service.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ impl KafkaService {
 impl Task for KafkaService {
     fn execute(&mut self, ctx: &mut ExecuteContext<impl std::io::Write>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         ctx.service(self);
+
+        if self.config.user_managed {
+            ctx.pb.set_message("user managed");
+            writeln!(
+                &mut ctx.log,
+                "Please start your Kafka at {}:{}\n\n",
+                self.config.address, self.config.port
+            )?;
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
         ctx.pb.set_message("starting...");
 
         let path = self.kafka_path()?;
@@ -74,16 +85,7 @@ impl Task for KafkaService {
 
         cmd.arg(config_path);
 
-        if !self.config.user_managed {
-            ctx.run_command(ctx.tmux_run(cmd)?)?;
-        } else {
-            ctx.pb.set_message("user managed");
-            writeln!(
-                &mut ctx.log,
-                "Please start your Kafka at {}:{}\n\n",
-                self.config.listen_address, self.config.port
-            )?;
-        }
+        ctx.run_command(ctx.tmux_run(cmd)?)?;
 
         ctx.pb.set_message("started");