diff --git a/api/krusty/options.go b/api/krusty/options.go
index f7377ffaa..ebea73ff1 100644
--- a/api/krusty/options.go
+++ b/api/krusty/options.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 package krusty
 
 import (
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/types"
 )
 
@@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ func MakeDefaultOptions() *Options {
 		DoLegacyResourceSort: true,
 		LoadRestrictions:     rootOnly,
 		DoPrune:              false,
-		PluginConfig:         config.DefaultPluginConfig(),
+		PluginConfig:         pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/api/pgmconfig/doc.go b/api/pgmconfig/doc.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de3b59a46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/pgmconfig/doc.go
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+// Package pgmconfig provides configuration methods and constants
+// for the kustomize API.
+package pgmconfig
diff --git a/api/pgmconfig/pgmconfig.go b/api/pgmconfig/pgmconfig.go
index 5612efdcc..4adf47ced 100644
--- a/api/pgmconfig/pgmconfig.go
+++ b/api/pgmconfig/pgmconfig.go
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ const (
 	// An environment variable to consult for kustomization
 	// configuration data.  See:
 	// https://specifications.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html
-	XdgConfigHome = "XDG_CONFIG_HOME"
+	XdgConfigHomeEnv = "XDG_CONFIG_HOME"
 
-	// Use this when XdgConfigHome not defined.
-	DefaultConfigSubdir = ".config"
+	// Use this when XdgConfigHomeEnv not defined.
+	XdgConfigHomeEnvDefault = ".config"
 
-	// Program name, for help, finding the XDG_CONFIG_DIR, etc.
+	// A program name, for use in help, finding the XDG_CONFIG_DIR, etc.
 	ProgramName = "kustomize"
 )
diff --git a/api/plugins/config/config.go b/api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig.go
similarity index 81%
rename from api/plugins/config/config.go
rename to api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig.go
index df1cb8d2e..fd7f211b0 100644
--- a/api/plugins/config/config.go
+++ b/api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig.go
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-// Package config provides configuration methods and constants
-// for general plugins.
-package config
+package pgmconfig
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
@@ -12,22 +10,23 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/types"
 )
 
 const (
-	// Used with Go plugins.
+	// Symbol that must be used inside Go plugins.
 	PluginSymbol = "KustomizePlugin"
 
 	// Location of builtins.
 	BuiltinPluginPackage = "builtin"
 
-	// ApiVersion of builtins.
+	// The value of kubernetes ApiVersion to use in configuration
+	// files for builtin plugins.
+	// The value for non-builtins can be anything.
 	BuiltinPluginApiVersion = BuiltinPluginPackage
 
 	// Domain from which kustomize code is imported, for locating
-	// plugin source code under $GOPATH.
+	// plugin source code under $GOPATH when GOPATH is defined.
 	DomainName = "sigs.k8s.io"
 
 	// Name of directory housing all plugins.
@@ -73,12 +72,12 @@ func AddFlagEnablePlugins(set *pflag.FlagSet, v *bool) {
 
 // Use https://github.com/kirsle/configdir instead?
 func configRoot() string {
-	dir := os.Getenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
+	dir := os.Getenv(XdgConfigHomeEnv)
 	if len(dir) == 0 {
 		dir = filepath.Join(
-			HomeDir(), pgmconfig.DefaultConfigSubdir)
+			HomeDir(), XdgConfigHomeEnvDefault)
 	}
-	return filepath.Join(dir, pgmconfig.ProgramName)
+	return filepath.Join(dir, ProgramName)
 }
 
 func HomeDir() string {
diff --git a/api/plugins/config/config_test.go b/api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig_test.go
similarity index 53%
rename from api/plugins/config/config_test.go
rename to api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig_test.go
index ecaa3413e..c132b07df 100644
--- a/api/plugins/config/config_test.go
+++ b/api/pgmconfig/pluginconfig_test.go
@@ -1,29 +1,27 @@
 // Copyright 2019 The Kubernetes Authors.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-package config
+package pgmconfig
 
 import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 )
 
 func TestConfigDirNoXdg(t *testing.T) {
-	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
+	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(XdgConfigHomeEnv)
 	if isSet {
-		os.Unsetenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
+		os.Unsetenv(XdgConfigHomeEnv)
 	}
 	s := configRoot()
 	if isSet {
-		os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome, xdg)
+		os.Setenv(XdgConfigHomeEnv, xdg)
 	}
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(
 		s,
-		rootedPath(pgmconfig.DefaultConfigSubdir, pgmconfig.ProgramName)) {
+		rootedPath(XdgConfigHomeEnvDefault, ProgramName)) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected config dir: %s", s)
 	}
 }
@@ -33,13 +31,13 @@ func rootedPath(elem ...string) string {
 }
 
 func TestConfigDirWithXdg(t *testing.T) {
-	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
-	os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome, rootedPath("blah"))
+	xdg, isSet := os.LookupEnv(XdgConfigHomeEnv)
+	os.Setenv(XdgConfigHomeEnv, rootedPath("blah"))
 	s := configRoot()
 	if isSet {
-		os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome, xdg)
+		os.Setenv(XdgConfigHomeEnv, xdg)
 	}
-	if s != rootedPath("blah", pgmconfig.ProgramName) {
+	if s != rootedPath("blah", ProgramName) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected config dir: %s", s)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/api/plugins/compiler/compiler.go b/api/plugins/compiler/compiler.go
index 2e14859ea..858548bf7 100644
--- a/api/plugins/compiler/compiler.go
+++ b/api/plugins/compiler/compiler.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
 )
 
 // Compiler creates Go plugin object files.
@@ -36,20 +35,20 @@ func DefaultSrcRoot() (string, error) {
 
 	root = filepath.Join(
 		os.Getenv("GOPATH"), "src",
-		config.DomainName, pgmconfig.ProgramName, config.PluginRoot)
+		pgmconfig.DomainName, pgmconfig.ProgramName, pgmconfig.PluginRoot)
 	if FileExists(root) {
 		return root, nil
 	}
 	nope = append(nope, root)
 
-	root = config.DefaultPluginConfig().DirectoryPath
+	root = pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig().DirectoryPath
 	if FileExists(root) {
 		return root, nil
 	}
 	nope = append(nope, root)
 
 	root = filepath.Join(
-		config.HomeDir(), pgmconfig.ProgramName, config.PluginRoot)
+		pgmconfig.HomeDir(), pgmconfig.ProgramName, pgmconfig.PluginRoot)
 	if FileExists(root) {
 		return root, nil
 	}
diff --git a/api/plugins/execplugin/execplugin_test.go b/api/plugins/execplugin/execplugin_test.go
index 890f278ca..1efd78923 100644
--- a/api/plugins/execplugin/execplugin_test.go
+++ b/api/plugins/execplugin/execplugin_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/loadertest"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	. "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/execplugin"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/loader"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ s/$BAR/bar/g
 
 	p, err := NewExecPlugin(
 		loader.AbsolutePluginPath(
-			config.DefaultPluginConfig(),
+			pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig(),
 			pluginConfig.OrgId()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err.Error())
diff --git a/api/plugins/loader/loader.go b/api/plugins/loader/loader.go
index dd0467920..7fb214618 100644
--- a/api/plugins/loader/loader.go
+++ b/api/plugins/loader/loader.go
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/ifc"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/builtinhelpers"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/execplugin"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resid"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func (l *Loader) absolutePluginPath(id resid.ResId) string {
 func isBuiltinPlugin(res *resource.Resource) bool {
 	// TODO: the special string should appear in Group, not Version.
 	return res.GetGvk().Group == "" &&
-		res.GetGvk().Version == config.BuiltinPluginApiVersion
+		res.GetGvk().Version == pgmconfig.BuiltinPluginApiVersion
 }
 
 func (l *Loader) loadAndConfigurePlugin(
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (l *Loader) loadAndConfigurePlugin(
 	} else if l.pc.Enabled {
 		c, err = l.loadPlugin(res.OrgId())
 	} else {
-		err = config.NotEnabledErr(res.OrgId().Kind)
+		err = pgmconfig.NotEnabledErr(res.OrgId().Kind)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ func (l *Loader) loadGoPlugin(id resid.ResId) (resmap.Configurable, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "plugin %s fails to load", absPath)
 	}
-	symbol, err := p.Lookup(config.PluginSymbol)
+	symbol, err := p.Lookup(pgmconfig.PluginSymbol)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(
 			err, "plugin %s doesn't have symbol %s",
-			regId, config.PluginSymbol)
+			regId, pgmconfig.PluginSymbol)
 	}
 	c, ok := symbol.(resmap.Configurable)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/api/plugins/loader/loader_test.go b/api/plugins/loader/loader_test.go
index f5b7bd010..e44a82135 100644
--- a/api/plugins/loader/loader_test.go
+++ b/api/plugins/loader/loader_test.go
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ import (
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/internal/loadertest"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	. "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/loader"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resource"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/valtest"
+	kusttest_test "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
+	valtest_test "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/valtest"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func TestLoader(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ldr := loadertest.NewFakeLoader("/foo")
 
-	pLdr := NewLoader(config.ActivePluginConfig(), rmF)
+	pLdr := NewLoader(pgmconfig.ActivePluginConfig(), rmF)
 	if pLdr == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expect non-nil loader")
 	}
diff --git a/api/target/baseandoverlaysmall_test.go b/api/target/baseandoverlaysmall_test.go
index f3cbc6167..25c2e89e7 100644
--- a/api/target/baseandoverlaysmall_test.go
+++ b/api/target/baseandoverlaysmall_test.go
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/loader"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
+	kusttest_test "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
 )
 
 func TestOrderPreserved(t *testing.T) {
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ spec:
 func TestSharedPatchDisAllowed(t *testing.T) {
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessFull(
 		t, "/app/overlay",
-		loader.RestrictionRootOnly, config.DefaultPluginConfig())
+		loader.RestrictionRootOnly, pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig())
 	writeSmallBase(th)
 	th.WriteK("/app/overlay", `
 commonLabels:
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ spec:
 func TestSharedPatchAllowed(t *testing.T) {
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessFull(
 		t, "/app/overlay",
-		loader.RestrictionNone, config.DefaultPluginConfig())
+		loader.RestrictionNone, pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig())
 	writeSmallBase(th)
 	th.WriteK("/app/overlay", `
 commonLabels:
diff --git a/api/target/plugindir_test.go b/api/target/plugindir_test.go
index a61c8108a..dc49e7af3 100644
--- a/api/target/plugindir_test.go
+++ b/api/target/plugindir_test.go
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/k8sdeps/kunstruct"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/k8sdeps/transformer"
 	fLdr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/loader"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	pLdr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/loader"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resource"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/target"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/valtest"
+	kusttest_test "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/kusttest"
+	valtest_test "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/testutils/valtest"
 )
 
 func TestPluginDir(t *testing.T) {
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ metadata:
 	rf := resmap.NewFactory(resource.NewFactory(
 		kunstruct.NewKunstructuredFactoryImpl()), nil)
 
-	pl := pLdr.NewLoader(config.ActivePluginConfig(), rf)
+	pl := pLdr.NewLoader(pgmconfig.ActivePluginConfig(), rf)
 	tg, err := target.NewKustTarget(
 		ldr, valtest_test.MakeFakeValidator(), rf, transformer.NewFactoryImpl(), pl)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/api/testutils/kusttest/kusttestharness.go b/api/testutils/kusttest/kusttestharness.go
index cfe822121..27aba3f53 100644
--- a/api/testutils/kusttest/kusttestharness.go
+++ b/api/testutils/kusttest/kusttestharness.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	fLdr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/loader"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/builtinconfig/consts"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
 	pLdr "sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/loader"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resource"
@@ -37,17 +36,17 @@ type KustTestHarness struct {
 
 func NewKustTestHarness(t *testing.T, path string) *KustTestHarness {
 	return NewKustTestHarnessFull(
-		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionRootOnly, config.DefaultPluginConfig())
+		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionRootOnly, pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig())
 }
 
 func NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t *testing.T, path string) *KustTestHarness {
 	return NewKustTestHarnessFull(
-		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionRootOnly, config.ActivePluginConfig())
+		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionRootOnly, pgmconfig.ActivePluginConfig())
 }
 
 func NewKustTestHarnessNoLoadRestrictor(t *testing.T, path string) *KustTestHarness {
 	return NewKustTestHarnessFull(
-		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionNone, config.DefaultPluginConfig())
+		t, path, fLdr.RestrictionNone, pgmconfig.DefaultPluginConfig())
 }
 
 func NewKustTestHarnessFull(
diff --git a/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go b/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
index 30178e9eb..62bbcd8ef 100644
--- a/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
+++ b/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/compiler"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
 )
 
 // PluginTestEnv manages the plugin test environment.
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ func (x *PluginTestEnv) makeCompiler() *compiler.Compiler {
 	//    $objRoot
 	// so set things up accordingly.
 	objRoot := filepath.Join(
-		x.workDir, pgmconfig.ProgramName, config.PluginRoot)
+		x.workDir, pgmconfig.ProgramName, pgmconfig.PluginRoot)
 	err := os.MkdirAll(objRoot, os.ModePerm)
 	if err != nil {
 		x.t.Error(err)
@@ -100,14 +99,14 @@ func (x *PluginTestEnv) removeWorkDir() {
 }
 
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) setEnv() {
-	x.oldXdg, x.wasSet = os.LookupEnv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
-	os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome, x.workDir)
+	x.oldXdg, x.wasSet = os.LookupEnv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv)
+	os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv, x.workDir)
 }
 
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) resetEnv() {
 	if x.wasSet {
-		os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome, x.oldXdg)
+		os.Setenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv, x.oldXdg)
 	} else {
-		os.Unsetenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHome)
+		os.Unsetenv(pgmconfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/kustomize/internal/commands/build/build.go b/kustomize/internal/commands/build/build.go
index d51708a25..d8c185abc 100644
--- a/kustomize/internal/commands/build/build.go
+++ b/kustomize/internal/commands/build/build.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/filesys"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/krusty"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/pgmconfig"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/plugins/config"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resmap"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/api/resource"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ func NewCmdBuild(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 		"output", "o", "",
 		"If specified, write the build output to this path.")
 	krusty.AddFlagLoadRestrictor(cmd.Flags())
-	config.AddFlagEnablePlugins(
+	pgmconfig.AddFlagEnablePlugins(
 		cmd.Flags(), &o.pluginsEnabled)
 	addFlagReorderOutput(cmd.Flags())
 	cmd.AddCommand(NewCmdBuildPrune(out))