diff --git a/k8sdeps/configmapandsecret/configmapfactory.go b/k8sdeps/configmapandsecret/configmapfactory.go
index a40792258..27897c705 100644
--- a/k8sdeps/configmapandsecret/configmapfactory.go
+++ b/k8sdeps/configmapandsecret/configmapfactory.go
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
-	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
-	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kv/plugin"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
@@ -40,8 +39,8 @@ func NewFactory(
 }
 
 func makeFreshConfigMap(
-	args *types.ConfigMapArgs) *corev1.ConfigMap {
-	cm := &corev1.ConfigMap{}
+	args *types.ConfigMapArgs) *v1.ConfigMap {
+	cm := &v1.ConfigMap{}
 	cm.APIVersion = "v1"
 	cm.Kind = "ConfigMap"
 	cm.Name = args.Name
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func makeFreshConfigMap(
 
 // MakeConfigMap returns a new ConfigMap, or nil and an error.
 func (f *Factory) MakeConfigMap(
-	args *types.ConfigMapArgs) (*corev1.ConfigMap, error) {
+	args *types.ConfigMapArgs) (*v1.ConfigMap, error) {
 	all, err := f.loadKvPairs(args.GeneratorArgs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/k8sdeps/factory.go b/k8sdeps/factory.go
deleted file mode 100644
index a422b25a4..000000000
--- a/k8sdeps/factory.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-// Package k8sdeps provides kustomize factory with k8s dependencies
-package k8sdeps
-
-import (
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/transformer"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/validator"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/factory"
-)
-
-// NewFactory creates an instance of KustFactory using k8sdeps factories
-func NewFactory() *factory.KustFactory {
-	return factory.NewKustFactory(
-		kunstruct.NewKunstructuredFactoryImpl(),
-		validator.NewKustValidator(),
-		transformer.NewFactoryImpl(),
-	)
-}
diff --git a/k8sdeps/kunstruct/factory.go b/k8sdeps/kunstruct/factory.go
index 3c3644c3f..ef40209b9 100644
--- a/k8sdeps/kunstruct/factory.go
+++ b/k8sdeps/kunstruct/factory.go
@@ -32,13 +32,21 @@ import (
 
 // KunstructuredFactoryImpl hides construction using apimachinery types.
 type KunstructuredFactoryImpl struct {
+	generatorMetaArgs *types.GeneratorMetaArgs
 }
 
 var _ ifc.KunstructuredFactory = &KunstructuredFactoryImpl{}
 
 // NewKunstructuredFactoryImpl returns a factory.
 func NewKunstructuredFactoryImpl() ifc.KunstructuredFactory {
-	return &KunstructuredFactoryImpl{}
+	return NewKunstructuredFactoryWithGeneratorArgs(
+		&types.GeneratorMetaArgs{})
+}
+
+// NewKunstructuredFactoryWithGeneratorArgs returns a factory.
+func NewKunstructuredFactoryWithGeneratorArgs(
+	gma *types.GeneratorMetaArgs) ifc.KunstructuredFactory {
+	return &KunstructuredFactoryImpl{gma}
 }
 
 // SliceFromBytes returns a slice of Kunstructured.
@@ -82,7 +90,10 @@ func (kf *KunstructuredFactoryImpl) MakeConfigMap(
 	ldr ifc.Loader,
 	options *types.GeneratorOptions,
 	args *types.ConfigMapArgs) (ifc.Kunstructured, error) {
-	o, err := configmapandsecret.NewFactory(ldr, options, plugin.NewRegistry(ldr)).MakeConfigMap(args)
+	o, err := configmapandsecret.NewFactory(
+		ldr, options,
+		plugin.NewConfiguredRegistry(
+			ldr, &kf.generatorMetaArgs.PluginConfig)).MakeConfigMap(args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -94,7 +105,10 @@ func (kf *KunstructuredFactoryImpl) MakeSecret(
 	ldr ifc.Loader,
 	options *types.GeneratorOptions,
 	args *types.SecretArgs) (ifc.Kunstructured, error) {
-	o, err := configmapandsecret.NewFactory(ldr, options, plugin.NewRegistry(ldr)).MakeSecret(args)
+	o, err := configmapandsecret.NewFactory(
+		ldr, options,
+		plugin.NewConfiguredRegistry(
+			ldr, &kf.generatorMetaArgs.PluginConfig)).MakeSecret(args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/goplugin.go b/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/goplugin.go
index 09351fa1a..4b67f9dd2 100644
--- a/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/goplugin.go
+++ b/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/goplugin.go
@@ -18,40 +18,66 @@ package plugin
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"plugin"
+
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
 var _ Factory = &goFactory{}
 
 const (
-	pluginDir = "kustomize/plugins/kvsource"
+	kvSourcesDir            = "kvSources"
+	EnableGoPluginsFlagName = "enable_alpha_goplugins_accept_panic_risk"
+	EnableGoPluginsFlagHelp = `
+Warning: the main program may panic and exit on an
+attempt to use a goplugin that was compiled under
+conditions differing from the those in effect when
+main was compiled. It's safest to use this flag in
+the context of a container image holding both the
+main and the goplugins it needs, all built on the
+same machine, with the same transitive libs and
+the same compiler version.
+`
+	errorFmt = `
+enable go plugins by specifying flag
+  --%s
+Place .so files in
+  %s
+%s
+`
 )
 
-func newGoFactory() *goFactory {
+func newGoFactory(c *types.PluginConfig) *goFactory {
 	return &goFactory{
+		config:  c,
 		plugins: make(map[string]KVSource),
 	}
 }
 
 type goFactory struct {
+	config  *types.PluginConfig
 	plugins map[string]KVSource
 }
 
-func configDir() string {
-	xdghome := os.Getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")
-	if len(xdghome) == 0 {
-		return os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.config")
-	}
-	return xdghome
-}
-
 func (p *goFactory) load(name string) (KVSource, error) {
 	if plug, ok := p.plugins[name]; ok {
 		return plug, nil
 	}
 
-	goPlugin, err := plugin.Open(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/kustomize-%s.so", configDir(), pluginDir, name))
+	dir := filepath.Join(
+		p.config.DirectoryPath,
+		kvSourcesDir)
+	if !p.config.GoEnabled {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			errorFmt,
+			EnableGoPluginsFlagName,
+			dir,
+			EnableGoPluginsFlagHelp)
+	}
+
+	goPlugin, err := plugin.Open(
+		filepath.Join(dir, name+".so"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/registry.go b/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/registry.go
index bf6c8ae0a..9e7447f29 100644
--- a/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/registry.go
+++ b/k8sdeps/kv/plugin/registry.go
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ package plugin
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
 // Registry holds all the plugin factories.
@@ -28,17 +30,36 @@ type Registry struct {
 	ldr       ifc.Loader
 }
 
-// NewRegistry returns a new Registry loaded with all the factories.
-func NewRegistry(ldr ifc.Loader) Registry {
+const (
+	PluginsDir = "plugins"
+)
+
+func DefaultPluginConfig() types.PluginConfig {
+	return types.PluginConfig{
+		GoEnabled: false,
+		DirectoryPath: filepath.Join(
+			pgmconfig.ConfigRoot(), PluginsDir),
+	}
+}
+
+// NewConfiguredRegistry returns a new Registry loaded
+// with all the factories and a custom PluginConfig.
+func NewConfiguredRegistry(
+	ldr ifc.Loader, pc *types.PluginConfig) Registry {
 	return Registry{
 		ldr: ldr,
 		factories: map[string]Factory{
-			"go":       newGoFactory(),
+			"go":       newGoFactory(pc),
 			"testonly": newTestonlyFactory(),
 		},
 	}
 }
 
+// NewRegistry returns a new Registry with default config.
+func NewRegistry(ldr ifc.Loader) Registry {
+	return NewConfiguredRegistry(ldr, &types.PluginConfig{})
+}
+
 // Load returns a plugin by type and name,
 func (r *Registry) Load(pluginType, name string) (KVSource, error) {
 	factory, exists := r.factories[pluginType]
diff --git a/kustomize.go b/kustomize.go
index e17481de9..584b559e8 100644
--- a/kustomize.go
+++ b/kustomize.go
@@ -19,12 +19,11 @@ package main
 import (
 	"os"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/commands"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	if err := commands.NewDefaultCommand(k8sdeps.NewFactory()).Execute(); err != nil {
+	if err := commands.NewDefaultCommand().Execute(); err != nil {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 	os.Exit(0)
diff --git a/pkg/commands/build/build.go b/pkg/commands/build/build.go
index e62747e32..1176f25b1 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/build/build.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/build/build.go
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc/transformer"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/loader"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/target"
 )
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func NewCmdBuild(
 
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:          "build [path]",
-		Short:        "Print current configuration per contents of " + constants.KustomizationFileNames[0],
+		Short:        "Print current configuration per contents of " + pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0],
 		Example:      examples,
 		SilenceUsage: true,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func NewCmdBuild(
 // Validate validates build command.
 func (o *Options) Validate(args []string) error {
 	if len(args) > 1 {
-		return errors.New("specify one path to " + constants.KustomizationFileNames[0])
+		return errors.New("specify one path to " + pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0])
 	}
 	if len(args) == 0 {
 		o.kustomizationPath = "./"
diff --git a/pkg/commands/build/build_test.go b/pkg/commands/build/build_test.go
index b06ccdea2..792d95aac 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/build/build_test.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/build/build_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ package build
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 )
 
 func TestNewOptionsToSilenceCodeInspectionError(t *testing.T) {
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func TestBuildValidate(t *testing.T) {
 		{"file", []string{"beans"}, "beans", ""},
 		{"path", []string{"a/b/c"}, "a/b/c", ""},
 		{"path", []string{"too", "many"},
-			"", "specify one path to " + constants.KustomizationFileNames[0]},
+			"", "specify one path to " + pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0]},
 	}
 	for _, mycase := range cases {
 		opts := Options{}
diff --git a/pkg/commands/commands.go b/pkg/commands/commands.go
index 3651ae6cf..5a4ff0d05 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/commands.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/commands.go
@@ -20,35 +20,57 @@ package commands
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"os"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kv/plugin"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/transformer"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/validator"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/commands/build"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/commands/edit"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/commands/misc"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/factory"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resource"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
 // NewDefaultCommand returns the default (aka root) command for kustomize command.
-func NewDefaultCommand(f *factory.KustFactory) *cobra.Command {
-	fsys := fs.MakeRealFS()
+func NewDefaultCommand() *cobra.Command {
+	fSys := fs.MakeRealFS()
 	stdOut := os.Stdout
 
 	c := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "kustomize",
-		Short: "kustomize manages declarative configuration of Kubernetes",
+		Use:   pgmconfig.PgmName,
+		Short: "Manages declarative configuration of Kubernetes",
 		Long: `
-kustomize manages declarative configuration of Kubernetes.
-
+Manages declarative configuration of Kubernetes.
 See https://sigs.k8s.io/kustomize
 `,
 	}
 
+	// Configuration for ConfigMap and Secret generators.
+	genMetaArgs := types.GeneratorMetaArgs{
+		PluginConfig: plugin.DefaultPluginConfig(),
+	}
+
+	c.Flags().BoolVar(
+		&genMetaArgs.PluginConfig.GoEnabled,
+		plugin.EnableGoPluginsFlagName,
+		false, plugin.EnableGoPluginsFlagHelp)
+	// Not advertising this alpha feature.
+	c.Flags().MarkHidden(plugin.EnableGoPluginsFlagName)
+
+	uf := kunstruct.NewKunstructuredFactoryWithGeneratorArgs(&genMetaArgs)
+
 	c.AddCommand(
-		// TODO: Make consistent API for newCmd* functions.
-		build.NewCmdBuild(stdOut, fsys, f.ResmapF, f.TransformerF),
-		edit.NewCmdEdit(fsys, f.ValidatorF, f.UnstructF),
-		misc.NewCmdConfig(fsys),
+		build.NewCmdBuild(
+			stdOut, fSys,
+			resmap.NewFactory(resource.NewFactory(uf)),
+			transformer.NewFactoryImpl()),
+		edit.NewCmdEdit(fSys, validator.NewKustValidator(), uf),
+		misc.NewCmdConfig(fSys),
 		misc.NewCmdVersion(stdOut),
 	)
 	c.PersistentFlags().AddGoFlagSet(flag.CommandLine)
diff --git a/pkg/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go b/pkg/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
index d9104f35d..b4e14f34e 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/commands/kustfile"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func newCmdAddAnnotation(fSys fs.FileSystem, v func(map[string]string) error) *c
 	o.mapValidator = v
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "annotation",
-		Short: "Adds one or more commonAnnotations to " + constants.KustomizationFileNames[0],
+		Short: "Adds one or more commonAnnotations to " + pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0],
 		Example: `
 		add annotation {annotationKey1:annotationValue1},{annotationKey2:annotationValue2}`,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func newCmdAddLabel(fSys fs.FileSystem, v func(map[string]string) error) *cobra.
 	o.mapValidator = v
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "label",
-		Short: "Adds one or more commonLabels to " + constants.KustomizationFileNames[0],
+		Short: "Adds one or more commonLabels to " + pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0],
 		Example: `
 		add label {labelKey1:labelValue1},{labelKey2:labelValue2}`,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
diff --git a/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile.go b/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile.go
index cf66745ec..42b93d789 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile.go
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func NewKustomizationFile(fSys fs.FileSystem) (*kustomizationFile, error) { // n
 func (mf *kustomizationFile) validate() error {
 	match := 0
 	var path []string
-	for _, kfilename := range constants.KustomizationFileNames {
+	for _, kfilename := range pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames {
 		if mf.fSys.Exists(kfilename) {
 			match += 1
 			path = append(path, kfilename)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (mf *kustomizationFile) validate() error {
 
 	switch match {
 	case 0:
-		return fmt.Errorf("Missing kustomization file '%s'.\n", constants.KustomizationFileNames[0])
+		return fmt.Errorf("Missing kustomization file '%s'.\n", pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0])
 	case 1:
 		mf.path = path[0]
 	default:
diff --git a/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile_test.go b/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile_test.go
index 79e3a5da3..0795986c3 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile_test.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/kustfile/kustomizationfile_test.go
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
 )
 
@@ -112,12 +112,12 @@ configMapGenerator:
   name: my-configmap
 `
 	fakeFS := fs.MakeFakeFS()
-	fakeFS.WriteFile(constants.KustomizationFileNames[1], []byte(kcontent))
+	fakeFS.WriteFile(pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[1], []byte(kcontent))
 	k, err := NewKustomizationFile(fakeFS)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected Error: %v", err)
 	}
-	if k.path != constants.KustomizationFileNames[1] {
+	if k.path != pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[1] {
 		t.Fatalf("Load incorrect file path %s", k.path)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/factory/factory.go b/pkg/factory/factory.go
deleted file mode 100644
index e71669a87..000000000
--- a/pkg/factory/factory.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
- Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-// Package factory provides factories for kustomize.
-package factory
-
-import (
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc/transformer"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resource"
-)
-
-// KustFactory provides different factories for kustomize
-type KustFactory struct {
-	ResmapF      *resmap.Factory
-	TransformerF transformer.Factory
-	ValidatorF   ifc.Validator
-	UnstructF    ifc.KunstructuredFactory
-}
-
-// NewKustFactory creats a KustFactory instance
-func NewKustFactory(u ifc.KunstructuredFactory, v ifc.Validator, t transformer.Factory) *KustFactory {
-	return &KustFactory{
-		ResmapF:      resmap.NewFactory(resource.NewFactory(u)),
-		TransformerF: t,
-		ValidatorF:   v,
-		UnstructF:    u,
-	}
-}
diff --git a/pkg/fs/fakefs.go b/pkg/fs/fakefs.go
index 59c0966b2..0f2a4eedf 100644
--- a/pkg/fs/fakefs.go
+++ b/pkg/fs/fakefs.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 )
 
 var _ FileSystem = &fakeFs{}
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (fs *fakeFs) ReadFile(name string) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 func (fs *fakeFs) ReadTestKustomization() ([]byte, error) {
-	return fs.ReadFile(constants.KustomizationFileNames[0])
+	return fs.ReadFile(pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0])
 }
 
 // WriteFile always succeeds and does nothing.
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func (fs *fakeFs) WriteTestKustomization() {
 
 // WriteTestKustomizationWith writes a standard test file.
 func (fs *fakeFs) WriteTestKustomizationWith(bytes []byte) {
-	fs.WriteFile(constants.KustomizationFileNames[0], bytes)
+	fs.WriteFile(pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0], bytes)
 }
 
 func (fs *fakeFs) pathMatch(path, pattern string) bool {
diff --git a/pkg/loader/fileloader_test.go b/pkg/loader/fileloader_test.go
index b8affe10e..68114f368 100644
--- a/pkg/loader/fileloader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/loader/fileloader_test.go
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/git"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/fs"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ func TestNewLoaderAtGitClone(t *testing.T) {
 	fSys.MkdirAll(coRoot)
 	fSys.MkdirAll(coRoot + "/" + pathInRepo)
 	fSys.WriteFile(
-		coRoot+"/"+pathInRepo+"/"+constants.KustomizationFileNames[0],
+		coRoot+"/"+pathInRepo+"/"+pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0],
 		[]byte(`
 whatever
 `))
diff --git a/pkg/pgmconfig/config.go b/pkg/pgmconfig/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d7a27422a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/pgmconfig/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+// Package commands holds the CLI glue mapping textual commands/args to method calls.
+package pgmconfig
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+)
+
+const (
+	XDG_CONFIG_HOME     = "XDG_CONFIG_HOME"
+	defaultConfigSubdir = ".config"
+)
+
+// Use https://github.com/kirsle/configdir instead?
+func ConfigRoot() string {
+	dir := os.Getenv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME)
+	if len(dir) == 0 {
+		dir = filepath.Join(
+			homeDir(), defaultConfigSubdir)
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(dir, PgmName)
+}
+
+func homeDir() string {
+	home := os.Getenv(homeEnv())
+	if len(home) > 0 {
+		return home
+	}
+	return "~"
+}
+
+func homeEnv() string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return "USERPROFILE"
+	}
+	return "HOME"
+}
diff --git a/pkg/pgmconfig/config_test.go b/pkg/pgmconfig/config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2833afea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/pgmconfig/config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package pgmconfig
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestConfigDirNoXdg(t *testing.T) {
+	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME)
+	if isSet {
+		os.Unsetenv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME)
+	}
+	s := ConfigRoot()
+	if isSet {
+		os.Setenv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME, xdg)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(
+		s,
+		rootedPath(defaultConfigSubdir, PgmName)) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected config dir: %s", s)
+	}
+}
+
+func rootedPath(elem ...string) string {
+	return string(filepath.Separator) + filepath.Join(elem...)
+}
+
+func TestConfigDirWithXdg(t *testing.T) {
+	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME)
+	os.Setenv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME, rootedPath("blah"))
+	s := ConfigRoot()
+	if isSet {
+		os.Setenv(XDG_CONFIG_HOME, xdg)
+	}
+	if s != rootedPath("blah", PgmName) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected config dir: %s", s)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/constants/constants.go b/pkg/pgmconfig/constants.go
similarity index 76%
rename from pkg/constants/constants.go
rename to pkg/pgmconfig/constants.go
index dd50230fb..008b69da9 100644
--- a/pkg/constants/constants.go
+++ b/pkg/pgmconfig/constants.go
@@ -15,14 +15,18 @@ limitations under the License.
 */
 
 // Package constants holds global constants for the kustomize tool.
-package constants
+package pgmconfig
 
-// KustomizationFileNames is a list of filenames that can be recognized and consumbed
-// by Kustomize.
-// In each directory, Kustomize searches for file with the name in this list.
-// Only one match is allowed.
+// KustomizationFileNames is a list of filenames
+// that kustomize recognizes.
+// To avoid ambiguity, a directory cannot contain
+// more than one match to this list.
 var KustomizationFileNames = []string{
 	"kustomization.yaml",
 	"kustomization.yml",
 	"Kustomization",
 }
+
+const (
+	PgmName = "kustomize"
+)
diff --git a/pkg/target/generatoroptions_test.go b/pkg/target/generatoroptions_test.go
index 4dbdbb588..fc1bd792e 100644
--- a/pkg/target/generatoroptions_test.go
+++ b/pkg/target/generatoroptions_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ limitations under the License.
 package target_test
 
 import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -69,3 +72,47 @@ metadata:
   name: shouldNotHaveHash
 `)
 }
+
+func TestGoPluginNotEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	th := NewKustTestHarness(t, "/app")
+	th.writeK("/app", `
+secretGenerator:
+- name: attemptGoPlugin
+  kvSources:
+  - name: foo
+    pluginType: go
+    args:
+    - someArg
+    - someOtherArg
+`)
+	_, err := th.makeKustTarget().MakeCustomizedResMap()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "enable go plugins by ") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected err: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGoPluginDoesNotExist(t *testing.T) {
+	th := NewKustTestHarnessWithPluginConfig(
+		t, "/app", types.PluginConfig{GoEnabled: true})
+	th.writeK("/app", `
+secretGenerator:
+- name: attemptGoPlugin
+  kvSources:
+  - name: foo
+    pluginType: go
+    args:
+    - someArg
+    - someOtherArg
+`)
+	_, err := th.makeKustTarget().MakeCustomizedResMap()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(),
+		filepath.Join("kvSources", "foo.so")) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected err: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/target/kusttarget.go b/pkg/target/kusttarget.go
index 5bbd2198c..6a6eb952b 100644
--- a/pkg/target/kusttarget.go
+++ b/pkg/target/kusttarget.go
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc/transformer"
 	interror "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/internal/error"
 	patchtransformer "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/patch/transformer"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resource"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/transformers"
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func commaOr(q []string) string {
 func loadKustFile(ldr ifc.Loader) ([]byte, error) {
 	var content []byte
 	match := 0
-	for _, kf := range constants.KustomizationFileNames {
+	for _, kf := range pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames {
 		c, err := ldr.Load(kf)
 		if err == nil {
 			match += 1
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func loadKustFile(ldr ifc.Loader) ([]byte, error) {
 	case 0:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
 			"unable to find one of %v in directory '%s'",
-			commaOr(quoted(constants.KustomizationFileNames)), ldr.Root())
+			commaOr(quoted(pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames)), ldr.Root())
 	case 1:
 		return content, nil
 	default:
diff --git a/pkg/target/kusttestharness_test.go b/pkg/target/kusttestharness_test.go
index 74cbab348..ea3b712bd 100644
--- a/pkg/target/kusttestharness_test.go
+++ b/pkg/target/kusttestharness_test.go
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ package target_test
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kv/plugin"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/k8sdeps/transformer"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/constants"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/internal/loadertest"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resource"
 	. "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/target"
@@ -42,10 +43,18 @@ type KustTestHarness struct {
 }
 
 func NewKustTestHarness(t *testing.T, path string) *KustTestHarness {
+	return NewKustTestHarnessWithPluginConfig(
+		t, path, plugin.DefaultPluginConfig())
+}
+
+func NewKustTestHarnessWithPluginConfig(
+	t *testing.T, path string,
+	config types.PluginConfig) *KustTestHarness {
 	return &KustTestHarness{
 		t: t,
 		rf: resmap.NewFactory(resource.NewFactory(
-			kunstruct.NewKunstructuredFactoryImpl())),
+			kunstruct.NewKunstructuredFactoryWithGeneratorArgs(
+				&types.GeneratorMetaArgs{PluginConfig: config}))),
 		ldr: loadertest.NewFakeLoader(path)}
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +75,7 @@ func (th *KustTestHarness) writeF(dir string, content string) {
 }
 
 func (th *KustTestHarness) writeK(dir string, content string) {
-	th.writeF(filepath.Join(dir, constants.KustomizationFileNames[0]), `
+	th.writeF(filepath.Join(dir, pgmconfig.KustomizationFileNames[0]), `
 apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
 kind: Kustomization
 `+content)
diff --git a/pkg/types/kustomization.go b/pkg/types/kustomization.go
index c92867422..39a08700d 100644
--- a/pkg/types/kustomization.go
+++ b/pkg/types/kustomization.go
@@ -194,6 +194,25 @@ type GeneratorArgs struct {
 	KVSources []KVSource `json:",inline,omitempty" yaml:",inline,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// GeneratorMetaArgs contains arguments common to generators
+// that come from somewhere other than a kustomization file.
+type GeneratorMetaArgs struct {
+	PluginConfig PluginConfig
+}
+
+// PluginConfig holds plugin configuration.
+type PluginConfig struct {
+	// DirectoryPath is an absolute path to a
+	// directory containing kustomize plugins.
+	// This directory may contain subdirectories
+	// further categorizing plugins.
+	DirectoryPath string
+
+	// GoEnabled is true if goplugins are enabled.
+	// See https://golang.org/pkg/plugin
+	GoEnabled bool
+}
+
 // ConfigMapArgs contains the metadata of how to generate a configmap.
 type ConfigMapArgs struct {
 	// GeneratorArgs for the configmap.