diff --git a/packages/core/bin/rslib.js b/packages/core/bin/rslib.js
index 665f09b3f..a29c927fa 100755
--- a/packages/core/bin/rslib.js
+++ b/packages/core/bin/rslib.js
@@ -13,14 +13,8 @@ if (enableCompileCache) {
 }
 
 async function main() {
-  const { logger, prepareCli, runCli } = await import('../dist/index.js');
-  prepareCli();
-
-  try {
-    runCli();
-  } catch (err) {
-    logger.error(err);
-  }
+  const { runCLI } = await import('../dist/index.js');
+  runCLI();
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/cli/commands.ts b/packages/core/src/cli/commands.ts
index 613bf1746..fbc299c16 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/cli/commands.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/cli/commands.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { LogLevel, RsbuildMode, RsbuildPlugin } from '@rsbuild/core';
 import cac, { type CAC } from 'cac';
-import type { ConfigLoader } from '../config';
-import type { Format, Syntax } from '../types/config';
+import type { ConfigLoader } from '../loadConfig';
+import type { Format, Syntax } from '../types';
 import { color } from '../utils/color';
 import { logger } from '../utils/logger';
 import { build } from './build';
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import { inspect } from './inspect';
 import { startMFDevServer } from './mf';
 import { watchFilesForRestart } from './restart';
 
+export const RSPACK_BUILD_ERROR = 'Rspack build failed.';
+
 export type CommonOptions = {
   root?: string;
   config?: string;
@@ -81,11 +83,12 @@ const applyCommonOptions = (cli: CAC) => {
     );
 };
 
-export function runCli(): void {
+export function setupCommands(): void {
   const cli = cac('rslib');
 
   cli.version(RSLIB_VERSION);
 
+  // Apply common options to all commands
   applyCommonOptions(cli);
 
   const buildDescription = `build the library for production ${color.dim('(default if no command is given)')}`;
@@ -162,7 +165,11 @@ export function runCli(): void {
 
         await cliBuild();
       } catch (err) {
-        logger.error('Failed to build.');
+        const isRspackError =
+          err instanceof Error && err.message === RSPACK_BUILD_ERROR;
+        if (!isRspackError) {
+          logger.error('Failed to build.');
+        }
         if (err instanceof AggregateError) {
           for (const error of err.errors) {
             logger.error(error);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/cli/index.ts b/packages/core/src/cli/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..881a706f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/cli/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import type { LogLevel } from '@rsbuild/core';
+import { isDebug, logger } from '../utils/logger';
+import { setupCommands } from './commands';
+
+function initNodeEnv() {
+  if (!process.env.NODE_ENV) {
+    const command = process.argv[2] ?? '';
+    process.env.NODE_ENV = ['build'].includes(command)
+      ? 'production'
+      : 'development';
+  }
+}
+
+function showGreeting() {
+  // Ensure consistent spacing before the greeting message.
+  // Different package managers handle output formatting differently - some automatically
+  // add a blank line before command output, while others do not.
+  const { npm_execpath, npm_lifecycle_event, NODE_RUN_SCRIPT_NAME } =
+    process.env;
+  const isNpx = npm_lifecycle_event === 'npx';
+  const isBun = npm_execpath?.includes('.bun');
+  const isNodeRun = Boolean(NODE_RUN_SCRIPT_NAME);
+  const prefix = isNpx || isBun || isNodeRun ? '\n' : '';
+  logger.greet(`${prefix}Rslib v${RSLIB_VERSION}\n`);
+}
+
+// ensure log level is set before any log is printed
+function setupLogLevel() {
+  const logLevelIndex = process.argv.findIndex(
+    (item) => item === '--log-level' || item === '--logLevel',
+  );
+  if (logLevelIndex !== -1) {
+    const level = process.argv[logLevelIndex + 1];
+    if (level && ['warn', 'error', 'silent'].includes(level) && !isDebug()) {
+      logger.level = level as LogLevel;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export function runCLI(): void {
+  // make it easier to identify the process via activity monitor or other tools
+  process.title = 'rslib-node';
+
+  initNodeEnv();
+  setupLogLevel();
+  showGreeting();
+
+  try {
+    setupCommands();
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.error('Failed to start Rslib CLI.');
+    logger.error(err);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/cli/initConfig.ts b/packages/core/src/cli/initConfig.ts
index e21b75e0d..57866216c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/cli/initConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/cli/initConfig.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import path from 'node:path';
 import util from 'node:util';
 import { loadEnv, type RsbuildEntry } from '@rsbuild/core';
-import { loadConfig } from '../config';
+import { loadConfig } from '../loadConfig';
 import type {
   LibConfig,
   RsbuildConfigOutputTarget,
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export const applyCliOptions = (
 
 export async function initConfig(options: CommonOptions): Promise<{
   config: RslibConfig;
-  configFilePath?: string;
+  configFilePath: string | null;
   watchFiles: string[];
 }> {
   const cwd = process.cwd();
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ export async function initConfig(options: CommonOptions): Promise<{
     loader: options.configLoader,
   });
 
-  if (configFilePath === undefined) {
+  if (configFilePath === null) {
     config.lib = [{} satisfies LibConfig];
     logger.debug(
       'No config file found. Falling back to CLI options for the default library.',
diff --git a/packages/core/src/cli/prepare.ts b/packages/core/src/cli/prepare.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 644556eaf..000000000
--- a/packages/core/src/cli/prepare.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-import type { LogLevel } from '@rsbuild/core';
-import { isDebug, logger } from '../utils/logger';
-
-function initNodeEnv() {
-  if (!process.env.NODE_ENV) {
-    const command = process.argv[2] ?? '';
-    process.env.NODE_ENV = ['build'].includes(command)
-      ? 'production'
-      : 'development';
-  }
-}
-
-// ensure log level is set before any log is printed
-function setupLogLevel() {
-  const logLevelIndex = process.argv.findIndex(
-    (item) => item === '--log-level' || item === '--logLevel',
-  );
-  if (logLevelIndex !== -1) {
-    const level = process.argv[logLevelIndex + 1];
-    if (level && ['warn', 'error', 'silent'].includes(level) && !isDebug()) {
-      logger.level = level as LogLevel;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-export function prepareCli(): void {
-  initNodeEnv();
-  setupLogLevel();
-
-  // Print a blank line to keep the greet log nice.
-  // Some package managers automatically output a blank line, some do not.
-  const { npm_execpath } = process.env;
-  if (
-    !npm_execpath ||
-    npm_execpath.includes('npx-cli.js') ||
-    npm_execpath.includes('.bun')
-  ) {
-    logger.log();
-  }
-
-  logger.greet(`  Rslib v${RSLIB_VERSION}\n`);
-}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config.ts b/packages/core/src/config.ts
index 27f16d1ad..081742d4f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/config.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import fs from 'node:fs';
-import path, { dirname, extname, isAbsolute, join } from 'node:path';
+import path, { dirname, extname, join } from 'node:path';
 import {
   defineConfig as defineRsbuildConfig,
   type EnvironmentConfig,
-  loadConfig as loadRsbuildConfig,
   mergeRsbuildConfig,
   type RsbuildConfig,
   type RsbuildEntry,
@@ -16,8 +15,6 @@ import {
 import { glob } from 'tinyglobby';
 import { composeAssetConfig } from './asset/assetConfig';
 import {
-  DEFAULT_CONFIG_EXTENSIONS,
-  DEFAULT_CONFIG_NAME,
   DTS_EXTENSIONS_PATTERN,
   JS_EXTENSIONS_PATTERN,
   SWC_HELPERS,
@@ -50,9 +47,6 @@ import type {
   RsbuildConfigOutputTarget,
   RsbuildConfigWithLibInfo,
   RslibConfig,
-  RslibConfigAsyncFn,
-  RslibConfigExport,
-  RslibConfigSyncFn,
   RspackResolver,
   Shims,
   Syntax,
@@ -81,81 +75,6 @@ import {
 } from './utils/syntax';
 import { loadTsconfig } from './utils/tsconfig';
 
-/**
- * This function helps you to autocomplete configuration types.
- * It accepts a Rslib config object, or a function that returns a config.
- */
-export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfig): RslibConfig;
-export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigSyncFn): RslibConfigSyncFn;
-export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigAsyncFn): RslibConfigAsyncFn;
-export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigExport): RslibConfigExport;
-export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigExport) {
-  return config;
-}
-
-const findConfig = (basePath: string): string | undefined => {
-  return DEFAULT_CONFIG_EXTENSIONS.map((ext) => basePath + ext).find(
-    fs.existsSync,
-  );
-};
-
-const resolveConfigPath = (
-  root: string,
-  customConfig?: string,
-): string | undefined => {
-  if (customConfig) {
-    const customConfigPath = isAbsolute(customConfig)
-      ? customConfig
-      : join(root, customConfig);
-    if (fs.existsSync(customConfigPath)) {
-      return customConfigPath;
-    }
-    logger.warn(`Cannot find config file: ${color.dim(customConfigPath)}\n`);
-  }
-
-  const configFilePath = findConfig(join(root, DEFAULT_CONFIG_NAME));
-
-  if (configFilePath) {
-    return configFilePath;
-  }
-  return undefined;
-};
-
-export type ConfigLoader = 'auto' | 'jiti' | 'native';
-
-export async function loadConfig({
-  cwd = process.cwd(),
-  path,
-  envMode,
-  loader,
-}: {
-  cwd?: string;
-  path?: string;
-  envMode?: string;
-  loader?: ConfigLoader;
-}): Promise<{
-  content: RslibConfig;
-  filePath?: string;
-}> {
-  const configFilePath = resolveConfigPath(cwd, path);
-  if (!configFilePath) {
-    return {
-      content: {
-        lib: [],
-      },
-      filePath: undefined,
-    };
-  }
-  const { content } = await loadRsbuildConfig({
-    cwd: dirname(configFilePath),
-    path: configFilePath,
-    envMode,
-    loader,
-  });
-
-  return { content: content as RslibConfig, filePath: configFilePath };
-}
-
 // Match logic is derived from https://github.com/webpack/webpack/blob/94aba382eccf3de1004d235045d4462918dfdbb7/lib/ExternalModuleFactoryPlugin.js#L89-L158
 const handleMatchedExternal = (
   value: string | string[] | boolean | Record<string, string | string[]>,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/constant.ts b/packages/core/src/constant.ts
index 3e4bae461..2cd8fdd12 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/constant.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/constant.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,3 @@
-export const DEFAULT_CONFIG_NAME = 'rslib.config';
-
-export const DEFAULT_CONFIG_EXTENSIONS = [
-  '.js',
-  '.ts',
-  '.mjs',
-  '.mts',
-  '.cjs',
-  '.cts',
-] as const;
-
 export const SWC_HELPERS = '@swc/helpers';
 
 const DTS_EXTENSIONS: string[] = ['d.ts', 'd.mts', 'd.cts'];
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 62d4101f0..d1320e6d2 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
+/**
+ * The methods and types exported from this file are considered as
+ * the public API of @rslib/core.
+ */
+
+export { runCLI } from './cli';
 export { build } from './cli/build';
-export { runCli } from './cli/commands';
 export { inspect } from './cli/inspect';
 export { startMFDevServer } from './cli/mf';
-export { prepareCli } from './cli/prepare';
+export { composeCreateRsbuildConfig as unstable_composeCreateRsbuildConfig } from './config';
 export {
-  composeCreateRsbuildConfig as unstable_composeCreateRsbuildConfig,
+  type ConfigParams,
   defineConfig,
+  type LoadConfigOptions,
+  type LoadConfigResult,
   loadConfig,
-} from './config';
+} from './loadConfig';
+
 export type * from './types';
 export { logger } from './utils/logger';
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/loadConfig.ts b/packages/core/src/loadConfig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfaa06899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/loadConfig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import { dirname, isAbsolute, join } from 'node:path';
+import {
+  loadConfig as loadRsbuildConfig,
+  type LoadConfigOptions as RsbuildLoadConfigOptions,
+} from '@rsbuild/core';
+import type { RslibConfig } from './types';
+import { color } from './utils/color';
+import { logger } from './utils/logger';
+
+export type ConfigParams = {
+  env: string;
+  command: string;
+  envMode?: string;
+  meta?: Record<string, unknown>;
+};
+
+export type RslibConfigSyncFn = (env: ConfigParams) => RslibConfig;
+
+export type RslibConfigAsyncFn = (env: ConfigParams) => Promise<RslibConfig>;
+
+export type RslibConfigExport =
+  | RslibConfig
+  | RslibConfigSyncFn
+  | RslibConfigAsyncFn;
+
+export type LoadConfigOptions = Pick<
+  RsbuildLoadConfigOptions,
+  'cwd' | 'path' | 'envMode' | 'meta' | 'loader'
+>;
+
+export type ConfigLoader = RsbuildLoadConfigOptions['loader'];
+
+export type LoadConfigResult = {
+  /**
+   * The loaded configuration object.
+   */
+  content: RslibConfig;
+  /**
+   * The path to the loaded configuration file.
+   * Return `null` if the configuration file is not found.
+   */
+  filePath: string | null;
+};
+
+/**
+ * This function helps you to autocomplete configuration types.
+ * It accepts a Rslib config object, or a function that returns a config.
+ */
+export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfig): RslibConfig;
+export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigSyncFn): RslibConfigSyncFn;
+export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigAsyncFn): RslibConfigAsyncFn;
+export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigExport): RslibConfigExport;
+export function defineConfig(config: RslibConfigExport) {
+  return config;
+}
+
+const resolveConfigPath = (
+  root: string,
+  customConfig?: string,
+): string | null => {
+  if (customConfig) {
+    const customConfigPath = isAbsolute(customConfig)
+      ? customConfig
+      : join(root, customConfig);
+    if (fs.existsSync(customConfigPath)) {
+      return customConfigPath;
+    }
+    logger.warn(`Cannot find config file: ${color.dim(customConfigPath)}\n`);
+  }
+
+  const CONFIG_FILES = [
+    // `.mjs` and `.ts` are the most used configuration types,
+    // so we resolve them first for performance
+    'rslib.config.mjs',
+    'rslib.config.ts',
+    'rslib.config.js',
+    'rslib.config.cjs',
+    'rslib.config.mts',
+    'rslib.config.cts',
+  ];
+
+  for (const file of CONFIG_FILES) {
+    const configFile = join(root, file);
+
+    if (fs.existsSync(configFile)) {
+      return configFile;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return null;
+};
+
+export async function loadConfig({
+  cwd = process.cwd(),
+  path,
+  envMode,
+  meta,
+  loader,
+}: LoadConfigOptions): Promise<LoadConfigResult> {
+  const configFilePath = resolveConfigPath(cwd, path);
+
+  if (!configFilePath) {
+    logger.debug('no config file found.');
+    return {
+      content: {} as RslibConfig,
+      filePath: null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const { content } = await loadRsbuildConfig({
+    cwd: dirname(configFilePath),
+    path: configFilePath,
+    envMode,
+    meta,
+    loader,
+  });
+
+  return { content: content as RslibConfig, filePath: configFilePath };
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types/config.ts b/packages/core/src/types/config.ts
index e84a9bb6e..14270a546 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/types/config.ts
@@ -390,16 +390,3 @@ export interface RslibConfig extends RsbuildConfig {
    */
   output?: RslibOutputConfig;
 }
-
-export type ConfigParams = {
-  env: string;
-  command: string;
-  envMode?: string;
-};
-
-export type RslibConfigSyncFn = (env: ConfigParams) => RslibConfig;
-export type RslibConfigAsyncFn = (env: ConfigParams) => Promise<RslibConfig>;
-export type RslibConfigExport =
-  | RslibConfig
-  | RslibConfigSyncFn
-  | RslibConfigAsyncFn;
diff --git a/packages/core/tests/config.test.ts b/packages/core/tests/config.test.ts
index 36d152e07..0fdfd0992 100644
--- a/packages/core/tests/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/tests/config.test.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import { initConfig } from '../src/cli/initConfig';
 import {
   composeCreateRsbuildConfig,
   composeRsbuildEnvironments,
-  loadConfig,
 } from '../src/config';
+import { loadConfig } from '../src/loadConfig';
 import type { RslibConfig } from '../src/types/config';
 
 rs.mock('rslog');
diff --git a/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/cjs/rslib.config.cjs b/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/cjs/rslib.config.cjs
index 73396182b..af5854b2e 100644
--- a/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/cjs/rslib.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/cjs/rslib.config.cjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const { defineConfig } = require('../../../../../core/src/config');
+const { defineConfig } = require('../../../../../core/src/loadConfig');
 
 module.exports = defineConfig((_args) => ({
   lib: [],
diff --git a/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/esm/rslib.config.mjs b/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/esm/rslib.config.mjs
index cb516051d..23ab5806b 100644
--- a/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/esm/rslib.config.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/tests/fixtures/config/esm/rslib.config.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { defineConfig } from '../../../../../core/src/config';
+import { defineConfig } from '../../../../../core/src/loadConfig';
 
 export default defineConfig((_args) => ({
   lib: [],