diff --git a/pkg/plugins/execplugin.go b/pkg/plugins/execplugin.go
index 1fd2d1bff..bf46c0925 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/execplugin.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/execplugin.go
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	ArgsOneLiner = "argsOneLiner"
-	ArgsFromFile = "argsFromFile"
 	idAnnotation = "kustomize.config.k8s.io/id"
 )
 
@@ -75,30 +73,26 @@ func (p *ExecPlugin) isAvailable() bool {
 }
 
 func (p *ExecPlugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) error {
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, config []byte) error {
 	p.rf = rf
 	p.ldr = ldr
-
-	var err error
-	p.cfg, err = yaml.Marshal(k)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = p.processOptionalArgsFields(k)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	p.cfg = config
+	return p.processOptionalArgsFields()
 }
 
-func (p *ExecPlugin) processOptionalArgsFields(k ifc.Kunstructured) error {
-	args, err := k.GetFieldValue(ArgsOneLiner)
-	if err == nil && args != "" {
-		p.args = strings.Split(args, " ")
+type argsConfig struct {
+	ArgsOneLiner string `json:"argsOneLiner,omitempty" yaml:"argsOneLiner,omitempty"`
+	ArgsFromFile string `json:"argsFromFile,omitempty" yaml:"argsFromFile,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (p *ExecPlugin) processOptionalArgsFields() error {
+	var c argsConfig
+	yaml.Unmarshal(p.cfg, &c)
+	if c.ArgsOneLiner != "" {
+		p.args = strings.Split(c.ArgsOneLiner, " ")
 	}
-	fileName, err := k.GetFieldValue(ArgsFromFile)
-	if err == nil && fileName != "" {
-		content, err := p.ldr.Load(fileName)
+	if c.ArgsFromFile != "" {
+		content, err := p.ldr.Load(c.ArgsFromFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/execplugin_test.go b/pkg/plugins/execplugin_test.go
index a2f2d294a..9651ffc05 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/execplugin_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/execplugin_test.go
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ func TestExecPluginConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			"metadata": map[string]interface{}{
 				"name": "some-random-name",
 			},
-			ArgsOneLiner: "one two",
-			ArgsFromFile: "sed-input.txt",
+			"argsOneLiner": "one two",
+			"argsFromFile": "sed-input.txt",
 		})
 
 	ldr.AddFile("/app/sed-input.txt", []byte(`
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ s/$BAR/bar/g
 		plugin.DefaultPluginConfig().DirectoryPath,
 		pluginConfig.Id())
 
-	p.Config(ldr, rf, pluginConfig)
+	yaml, err := pluginConfig.AsYAML()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected err: %v", err)
+	}
+	p.Config(ldr, rf, yaml)
 
 	expected := "/kustomize/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/SedTransformer"
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(p.name, expected) {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/loader.go b/pkg/plugins/loader.go
index e5dfe5905..42ea16061 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/loader.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/loader.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Configurable interface {
-	Config(ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) error
+	Config(ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, config []byte) error
 }
 
 type Loader struct {
@@ -114,7 +114,11 @@ func (l *Loader) loadAndConfigurePlugin(
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
-	err = c.Config(ldr, l.rf, res)
+	yaml, err := res.AsYAML()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "marshalling yaml from res %s", res.Id())
+	}
+	err = c.Config(ldr, l.rf, yaml)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(
 			err, "plugin %s fails configuration", res.Id())
diff --git a/pkg/resmap/factory_test.go b/pkg/resmap/factory_test.go
index dc74412f8..6fbcffff6 100644
--- a/pkg/resmap/factory_test.go
+++ b/pkg/resmap/factory_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package resmap_test
 
 import (
 	"encoding/base64"
-	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -124,7 +123,6 @@ metadata:
 			}),
 	}
 	m, err := rmF.NewResMapFromBytes(encoded)
-	fmt.Printf("%v\n", m)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/resource/resource.go b/pkg/resource/resource.go
index 697959cbf..919268040 100644
--- a/pkg/resource/resource.go
+++ b/pkg/resource/resource.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resid"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 )
 
 // Resource is map representation of a Kubernetes API resource object
@@ -56,6 +57,16 @@ func (r *Resource) DeepCopy() *Resource {
 	return rc
 }
 
+// AsYAML returns the resource in Yaml form.
+// Easier to read than JSON.
+func (r *Resource) AsYAML() ([]byte, error) {
+	json, err := r.MarshalJSON()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return yaml.JSONToYAML(json)
+}
+
 // Behavior returns the behavior for the resource.
 func (r *Resource) Behavior() types.GenerationBehavior {
 	return r.options.Behavior()
diff --git a/pkg/resource/resource_test.go b/pkg/resource/resource_test.go
index 57fd0d6ff..427f4e3f0 100644
--- a/pkg/resource/resource_test.go
+++ b/pkg/resource/resource_test.go
@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ var testDeployment = factory.FromMap(
 
 const deploymentAsString = `{"apiVersion":"apps/v1","kind":"Deployment","metadata":{"name":"pooh"}}`
 
+func TestAsYAML(t *testing.T) {
+	expected := `apiVersion: apps/v1
+kind: Deployment
+metadata:
+  name: pooh
+`
+	yaml, err := testDeployment.AsYAML()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(yaml) != expected {
+		t.Fatalf("--- expected\n%s\n--- got\n%s\n", expected, string(yaml))
+	}
+}
+
 func TestResourceString(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		in *Resource
diff --git a/pkg/target/generatorplugin_test.go b/pkg/target/generatorplugin_test.go
index a0e5565b8..094e0c32f 100644
--- a/pkg/target/generatorplugin_test.go
+++ b/pkg/target/generatorplugin_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ apiVersion: someteam.example.com/v1
 kind: ServiceGenerator
 metadata:
   name: myServiceGenerator
-service: my-service
+name: my-service
 port: "12345"
 `)
 }
@@ -74,12 +74,13 @@ func writeSecretGeneratorConfig(th *kusttest_test.KustTestHarness, root string)
 apiVersion: builtin
 kind: SecretGenerator
 metadata:
-  name: mySecret
+  name: mySecGen
+name: mySecret
 behavior: merge
-envFiles:
+envs:
 - a.env
 - b.env
-valueFiles:
+files:
 - longsecret.txt
 literals:
 - FRUIT=apple
diff --git a/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator.go b/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator.go
index afb5cf9f6..c3c316b07 100644
--- a/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator.go
+++ b/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator.go
@@ -22,27 +22,31 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 )
 
 type plugin struct {
 	ldr     ifc.Loader
 	rf      *resmap.Factory
-	options types.GeneratorOptions
-	args    types.ConfigMapArgs
+	types.GeneratorOptions
+	types.ConfigMapArgs
 }
 
 var KustomizePlugin plugin
 
 func (p *plugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) (err error) {
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, config []byte) (err error) {
+	p.GeneratorOptions = types.GeneratorOptions{}
+	p.ConfigMapArgs = types.ConfigMapArgs{}
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(config, p)
 	p.ldr = ldr
 	p.rf = rf
-	p.args.GeneratorArgs, err = resmap.GeneratorArgsFromKunstruct(k)
 	return
 }
 
 func (p *plugin) Generate() (resmap.ResMap, error) {
 	argsList := make([]types.ConfigMapArgs, 1)
-	argsList[0] = p.args
-	return p.rf.NewResMapFromConfigMapArgs(p.ldr, &p.options, argsList)
+	argsList[0] = p.ConfigMapArgs
+	return p.rf.NewResMapFromConfigMapArgs(
+		p.ldr, &p.GeneratorOptions, argsList)
 }
diff --git a/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator_test.go b/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator_test.go
index 7790368f5..17f8f70a4 100644
--- a/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator_test.go
+++ b/plugin/builtin/ConfigMapGenerator_test.go
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ COLOR=red
 apiVersion: builtin
 kind: ConfigMapGenerator
 metadata:
-  name: myMap
-envFiles:
+  name: myMapGen
+name: myMap
+envs:
 - devops.env
 - uxteam.env
 literals:
diff --git a/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator.go b/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator.go
index e789b7271..aacbb4d02 100644
--- a/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator.go
+++ b/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator.go
@@ -22,34 +22,31 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 )
 
 type plugin struct {
-	ldr     ifc.Loader
-	rf      *resmap.Factory
-	options types.GeneratorOptions
-	args    types.SecretArgs
+	ldr ifc.Loader
+	rf  *resmap.Factory
+	types.GeneratorOptions
+	types.SecretArgs
 }
 
 var KustomizePlugin plugin
 
 func (p *plugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) (err error) {
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, config []byte) (err error) {
+	p.GeneratorOptions = types.GeneratorOptions{}
+	p.SecretArgs = types.SecretArgs{}
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(config, p)
 	p.ldr = ldr
 	p.rf = rf
-	p.args.GeneratorArgs, err = resmap.GeneratorArgsFromKunstruct(k)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	p.args.Type, err = k.GetFieldValue("type")
-	if !resmap.IsAcceptableError(err) {
-		return
-	}
-	return nil
+	return
 }
 
 func (p *plugin) Generate() (resmap.ResMap, error) {
 	argsList := make([]types.SecretArgs, 1)
-	argsList[0] = p.args
-	return p.rf.NewResMapFromSecretArgs(p.ldr, &p.options, argsList)
+	argsList[0] = p.SecretArgs
+	return p.rf.NewResMapFromSecretArgs(
+		p.ldr, &p.GeneratorOptions, argsList)
 }
diff --git a/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator_test.go b/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator_test.go
index cd108989d..9e7ecf714 100644
--- a/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator_test.go
+++ b/plugin/builtin/SecretGenerator_test.go
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ consectetur adipiscing elit.
 apiVersion: builtin
 kind: SecretGenerator
 metadata:
-  name: mySecret
+  name: exampleSecGen
+name: mySecret
+namespace: whatever
 behavior: merge
-envFiles:
+envs:
 - a.env
 - b.env
-valueFiles:
+files:
 - obscure=longsecret.txt
 literals:
 - FRUIT=apple
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ data:
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
   name: mySecret
+  namespace: whatever
 type: Opaque
 `)
 }
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/DatePrefixer.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/DatePrefixer.go
index 88d3e3493..8f9ba6812 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/DatePrefixer.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/DatePrefixer.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ type plugin struct{}
 var KustomizePlugin plugin
 
 func (p *plugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) error {
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, c []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/ServiceGenerator.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/ServiceGenerator.go
index 9137a2146..489075948 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/ServiceGenerator.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/ServiceGenerator.go
@@ -26,22 +26,23 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resource"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 )
 
 type plugin struct {
-	ServiceName string
-	Port        string
+	Name string `json:"name,omitempty" yaml:"name,omitempty"`
+	Port string `json:"port,omitempty" yaml:"port,omitempty"`
 }
 
 var KustomizePlugin plugin
 
-var manifest = `
+const tmpl = `
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: Service
 metadata:
   labels:
     app: dev
-  name: {{.ServiceName}}
+  name: {{.Name}}
 spec:
   ports:
   - port: {{.Port}}
@@ -50,23 +51,13 @@ spec:
 `
 
 func (p *plugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) error {
-	var err error
-	p.ServiceName, err = k.GetFieldValue("service")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	p.Port, err = k.GetFieldValue("port")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, config []byte) error {
+	return yaml.Unmarshal(config, p)
 }
 
 func (p *plugin) Generate() (resmap.ResMap, error) {
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-
-	temp := template.Must(template.New("manifest").Parse(manifest))
+	temp := template.Must(template.New("tmpl").Parse(tmpl))
 	err := temp.Execute(&buf, p)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/StringPrefixer.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/StringPrefixer.go
index 6f3dac2fd..db8049b4e 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/StringPrefixer.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/StringPrefixer.go
@@ -16,44 +16,34 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-// Assuming GOPATH is something like
-//   ~/gopath
-// and this source file is located at
-//   $GOPATH/src/sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/plugins/StringPrefixer.go,
-// build it like this:
-//   dir=$GOPATH/src/sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/plugins
-//   go build -buildmode plugin -tags=plugin \
-//     -o $dir/StringPrefixer.so $dir/StringPrefixer.go
-
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/ifc"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/transformers"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/pkg/transformers/config"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
 )
 
 type plugin struct {
-	prefix string
+	Metadata metaData `json:"metadata,omitempty" yaml:"metadata,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type metaData struct {
+	Name string `json:"name,omitempty" yaml:"name,omitempty"`
 }
 
 var KustomizePlugin plugin
 
 func (p *plugin) Config(
-	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, k ifc.Kunstructured) error {
-	name := k.GetName()
-	if name == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("name cannot be empty")
-	}
-	p.prefix = name + "-"
-	return nil
+	ldr ifc.Loader, rf *resmap.Factory, c []byte) error {
+	return yaml.Unmarshal(c, p)
 }
 
 func (p *plugin) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
 	tr, err := transformers.NewNamePrefixSuffixTransformer(
-		p.prefix, "",
+		p.Metadata.Name + "-", "",
 		config.MakeDefaultConfig().NamePrefix)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err