diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/check.c b/bin/xbps-bin/check.c
index b0036148..8cc046ec 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/check.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/check.c
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ check_pkg_integrity(const char *pkgname)
 				    "empty target object!\n", pkgname, file);
 				continue;
 			}
-			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, file);
+			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+			    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), file);
 			if (path == NULL)
 				abort();
 
@@ -168,8 +169,9 @@ check_pkg_integrity(const char *pkgname)
 			}
 
 			free(path);
-			if (strcmp(xhp->rootdir, "/") && strstr(buf, xhp->rootdir))
-				path = buf + strlen(xhp->rootdir);
+			if (!prop_string_equals_cstring(xhp->rootdir, "/") &&
+			    strstr(buf, prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir)))
+				path = buf + prop_string_size(xhp->rootdir);
 			else
 				path = buf;
 
@@ -201,7 +203,8 @@ check_pkg_integrity(const char *pkgname)
 
 		while ((obj = prop_object_iterator_next(iter))) {
 			prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "file", &file);
-			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, file);
+			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+			    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), file);
 			if (path == NULL) {
 				prop_object_iterator_release(iter);
 				abort();
@@ -250,7 +253,8 @@ check_pkg_integrity(const char *pkgname)
 
 		while ((obj = prop_object_iterator_next(iter))) {
 			prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "file", &file);
-			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, file);
+			path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+			    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), file);
 			if (path == NULL) {
 				prop_object_iterator_release(iter);
 				abort();
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/find-files.c b/bin/xbps-bin/find-files.c
index 7ef90f22..1a86a340 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/find-files.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/find-files.c
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ find_files_in_packages(const char *pattern)
 	unsigned int i, count;
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/metadata", xhp->rootdir,
-	    XBPS_META_PATH);
+	path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/metadata",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), XBPS_META_PATH);
 	if (path == NULL)
 		return -1;
 
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/main.c b/bin/xbps-bin/main.c
index f36357c6..c22f3731 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/main.c
@@ -285,10 +285,15 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		xhp->xbps_unpack_cb = unpack_progress_cb_verbose;
 	else
 		xhp->xbps_unpack_cb = unpack_progress_cb;
-	xhp->rootdir = rootdir;
-	xhp->cachedir = cachedir;
+
+	if (rootdir)
+		xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring(rootdir);
+	if (cachedir)
+		xhp->cachedir = prop_string_create_cstring(cachedir);
+	if (conffile)
+		xhp->conffile = prop_string_create_cstring(conffile);
+
 	xhp->flags = flags;
-	xhp->conffile = conffile;
 	xhp->install_reason_manual = install_manual;
 	xhp->install_reason_auto = install_auto;
 
diff --git a/bin/xbps-dgraph/main.c b/bin/xbps-dgraph/main.c
index 62ed079b..63d8eebd 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-dgraph/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-dgraph/main.c
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	prop_dictionary_t plistd, confd = NULL;
-	struct xbps_handle xh;
+	struct xbps_handle *xhp;
 	FILE *f = NULL;
 	char *outfile = NULL;
 	const char *conf_file = NULL, *rootdir = NULL;
@@ -484,9 +484,13 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		usage();
 
 	/* Initialize libxbps */
-	memset(&xh, 0, sizeof(xh));
-	xh.rootdir = rootdir;
-	xbps_init(&xh);
+	xhp = xbps_handle_alloc();
+	if (xhp == NULL)
+		die("failed to allocate resources");
+	if (rootdir)
+		xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring(rootdir);
+	if (xbps_init(xhp))
+		die("failed to initialize libxbps");
 
 	/*
 	 * Output file will be <pkgname>.dot if not specified.
diff --git a/bin/xbps-repo/main.c b/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
index 739751b2..b03099be 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
@@ -139,9 +139,12 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	xhp->xbps_transaction_err_cb = transaction_err_cb;
 	xhp->xbps_fetch_cb = fetch_file_progress_cb;
 	xhp->xfcd->cookie = &xfer;
-	xhp->rootdir = rootdir;
-	xhp->cachedir = cachedir;
-	xhp->conffile = conffile;
+	if (rootdir)
+		xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring(rootdir);
+	if (cachedir)
+		xhp->cachedir = prop_string_create_cstring(cachedir);
+	if (conffile)
+		xhp->conffile = prop_string_create_cstring(conffile);
 
 	if ((rv = xbps_init(xhp)) != 0) {
 		xbps_error_printf("xbps-repo: couldn't initialize library: %s\n",
diff --git a/bin/xbps-uhelper/main.c b/bin/xbps-uhelper/main.c
index 9384a123..e32b548e 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-uhelper/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-uhelper/main.c
@@ -156,8 +156,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	xhp->debug = debug;
 	xhp->xbps_fetch_cb = fetch_file_progress_cb;
 	xhp->xfcd->cookie = &xfer;
-	xhp->rootdir = rootdir;
-	xhp->conffile = conffile;
+	if (rootdir)
+		xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring(rootdir);
+	if (conffile)
+		xhp->conffile = prop_string_create_cstring(conffile);
 
 	if ((rv = xbps_init(xhp)) != 0) {
 		xbps_error_printf("xbps-uhelper: failed to "
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index b26b3c95..df9709a8 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ echo "INCLUDEDIR ?=	$INCLUDEDIR" >>$CONFIG_MK
 echo "LIBDIR ?=	$LIBDIR" >>$CONFIG_MK
 echo "MANDIR ?=	$MANDIR" >>$CONFIG_MK
 echo "SHAREDIR ?= $SHAREDIR" >>$CONFIG_MK
+
+ETCDIR="${ETCDIR}/xbps"
 echo "ETCDIR ?= $ETCDIR" >>$CONFIG_MK
 
 [ -z "$DEBUG" ] && DEBUG=no
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ if [ -n "$LDFLAGS" ]; then
 fi
 echo "CPPFLAGS = 	-I. -I\$(TOPDIR) -I\$(TOPDIR)/include" >>$CONFIG_MK
 echo "CPPFLAGS +=	-DHAVE_CONFIG_H" >>$CONFIG_MK
-echo "CPPFLAGS +=	-DXBPS_CONF_PATH=\\\"${ETCDIR}\\\"" >>$CONFIG_MK
+echo "CPPFLAGS +=	-DXBPS_SYSCONF_PATH=\\\"${ETCDIR}\\\"" >>$CONFIG_MK
 
 if [ -n "$DEBUG" -a "$DEBUG" != no -a "$DEBUG" != false ]; then
 	echo "Building with debugging symbols."
diff --git a/etc/Makefile b/etc/Makefile
index b3c69e61..f603b944 100644
--- a/etc/Makefile
+++ b/etc/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 -include ../config.mk
 
-CONF_FILE =	xbps-conf.plist
+CONF_FILE =	conf.plist repositories.plist
 
 .PHONY: all
 all:
diff --git a/etc/conf.plist b/etc/conf.plist
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd55fcd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/conf.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+<dict>
+	<!-- Default root directory, defaults to / -->
+	<key>root-directory</key>
+	<string>/</string>
+
+	<!-- Default cache directory to store downloaded binary packages.
+	     If string begins with '/' it will be treated as full path,
+	     otherwise it will be treated as relative to the root-directory. -->
+	<key>cache-directory</key>
+	<string>var/cache/xbps</string>
+
+	<!-- Default global limit of cached connections when fetching -->
+	<key>fetch-cache-connections</key>
+	<integer>10</integer>
+
+	<!-- Default per-host limit of cached connections when fetching -->
+	<key>fetch-cache-connections-per-host</key>
+	<integer>6</integer>
+
+	<!-- Default timeout limit for connections, in seconds. -->
+	<key>fetch-timeout-connection</key>
+	<integer>30</integer>
+</dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/etc/repositories.plist b/etc/repositories.plist
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..364a8f18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/repositories.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+<array>
+	<!-- You can specify here your list of repositories,
+	     the first repository that contains a package will
+	     be used for most targets in xbps-bin(8) and
+	     xbps-repo(8), with the exception for updating
+	     on which all repositories will be looked at and
+	     the newest version will be choosen.
+
+	     Optionally a non default HTTP port can also be
+	     specified like that:
+
+		http://foo.local:8080/xbps-repo
+
+	     The order matters, and the top-most matching a package
+	     pattern or name will be used.
+
+	     By default we use the official "public" repositories.
+	     you can add your own local repositories by specifying
+	     the path to the directory. -->
+	<string>http://xbps.nopcode.org/repos/current</string>
+</array>
+</plist>
diff --git a/etc/xbps-conf.plist b/etc/xbps-conf.plist
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d425275..00000000
--- a/etc/xbps-conf.plist
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
-<plist version="1.0">
-<dict>
-	<!-- Default root directory, defaults to / -->
-	<key>root-directory</key>
-	<string>/</string>
-
-	<!-- Default cache directory to store downloaded binary packages.
-	     If string begins with '/' it will be treated as full path,
-	     otherwise it will be treated as relative to the root-directory. -->
-	<key>cache-directory</key>
-	<string>var/cache/xbps</string>
-
-	<!-- Default global limit of cached connections when fetching -->
-	<key>fetch-cache-connections</key>
-	<integer>10</integer>
-
-	<!-- Default per-host limit of cached connections when fetching -->
-	<key>fetch-cache-connections-per-host</key>
-	<integer>6</integer>
-
-	<!-- Default timeout limit for connections, in seconds. -->
-	<key>fetch-timeout-connection</key>
-	<integer>30</integer>
-
-	<!-- Repository list -->
-	<key>repositories</key>
-	<array>
-		<!-- You can specify here your list of repositories,
-		     the first repository that contains a package will
-		     be used for most targets in xbps-bin(8) and
-		     xbps-repo(8), with the exception for updating
-		     on which all repositories will be looked at and
-		     the newest version will be choosen.
-
-		     Optionally a non default HTTP port can also be
-		     specified like that:
-
-			http://foo.local:8080/xbps-repo
-
-		     The order matters, and the top-most matching a package
-		     pattern or name will be used.
-
-		     By default we use the official "public" repositories.
-		     you can add your own local repositories by specifying
-		     the path to the directory. -->
-		<string>http://xbps.nopcode.org/repos/current</string>
-	</array>
-
-	<!-- Virtual packages -->
-	<key>virtual-packages</key>
-	<array>
-		<!-- This dictionary sets that we _always_ want
-		     the "dcron" package to be the default cron-daemon
-		     package, over other alternatives.
-
-		     Another option might be to change it to the
-		     "cronie" package, or any package that "provides"
-		     "cron-daemon-0". -->
-		<dict>
-			<key>virtual-pkgver</key>
-			<string>cron-daemon-0</string>
-			<key>target-pkgpattern</key>
-			<string>dcron>=0</string>
-		</dict>
-
-		<!-- Uncomment this dictionary to prefer the "xbps-devel"
-		     package (snapshot from mercurial repository) rather
-		     than the official stable version (don't do this if
-		     you are not a developer :-) -->
-
-		<!-- #### REMOVE THIS LINE TO ENABLE ####
-		<dict>
-			<key>virtual-pkgver</key>
-			<string>xbps-9999</string>
-			<key>target-pkgpattern</key>
-			<string>xbps-devel>=0</string>
-		</dict>
-		     #### REMOVE THIS LINE TO ENABLE #### -->
-	</array>
-</dict>
-</plist>
diff --git a/include/xbps_api.h b/include/xbps_api.h
index 05df0b8d..801fd653 100644
--- a/include/xbps_api.h
+++ b/include/xbps_api.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
  */
 #define XBPS_PKGINDEX_VERSION	"1.2"
 
-#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20111016-1"
+#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20111017"
 #define XBPS_VERSION		"0.10.0"
 
 /**
@@ -103,18 +103,32 @@
 #define XBPS_PKGINDEX		"pkg-index.plist"
 
 /**
- * @def XBPS_CONF_PATH
+ * @def XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH
  * Default configuration PATH to find XBPS_CONF_PLIST.
  */
-#ifndef XBPS_CONF_PATH
-#define XBPS_CONF_PATH		"/etc"
+#define XBPS_SYSDIR		"/xbps"
+#ifndef XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH
+#define XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH	"/etc" XBPS_SYSDIR
 #endif
 
 /**
  * @def XBPS_CONF_PLIST
  * Filename for the XBPS plist configuration file.
  */
-#define XBPS_CONF_PLIST		"xbps-conf.plist"
+#define XBPS_CONF_PLIST		"conf.plist"
+
+/**
+ * @def XBPS_CONF_REPOS_PLIST
+ * Filename for the XBPS repositories plist configuration file.
+ */
+#define XBPS_CONF_REPOS_PLIST	"repositories.plist"
+
+/**
+ * @def XBPS_VIRTUALPKGD_PATH
+ * Default directory to load virtualpkg plist files, by default set
+ * to XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH + "/" + XBPS_VIRTUALPKGD_PATH.
+ */
+#define XBPS_VIRTUALPKGD_PATH	"virtualpkg.d.wants"
 
 /**
  * @def XBPS_FLAG_VERBOSE
@@ -372,12 +386,16 @@ struct xbps_unpack_cb_data {
  */
 struct xbps_handle {
 	/**
-	 * @private conf_dictionary
-	 *
-	 * Internalized proplib dictionary from conffile member.
-	 * Used internally by xbps_init().
+	 * @private
 	 */
-	prop_dictionary_t conf_dictionary;
+	prop_dictionary_t virtualpkg_dictionary;
+	/**
+	 * @private repos_array
+	 *
+	 * Internalized proplib array from XBPS_CONF_REPOS_PLIST file.
+	 * Used internally by xbps_init(), do not use it.
+	 */
+	prop_array_t repos_array;
 	/**
 	 * @var regpkgdb_dictionary.
 	 *
@@ -435,6 +453,26 @@ struct xbps_handle {
 	 * as argument to the \a xbps_fetch_cb function callback.
 	 */
 	struct xbps_fetch_cb_data *xfcd;
+	/**
+	 * @var rootdir
+	 *
+	 * Root directory for all operations in XBPS. If NULL,
+	 * by default it's set to /.
+	 */
+	prop_string_t rootdir;
+	/**
+	 * @var cachedir
+	 *
+	 * Cache directory to store downloaded binary packages.
+	 * If NULL default value in \a XBPS_CACHE_PATH is used.
+	 */
+	prop_string_t cachedir;
+	/**
+	 * @var conffile
+	 *
+	 * Full path to the XBPS_CONF_PLIST configuration file.
+	 */
+	prop_string_t conffile;
 	/**
 	 * @private fetch_timeout
 	 *
@@ -453,32 +491,6 @@ struct xbps_handle {
 	 * - XBPS_FLAG_FORCE
 	 */
 	int flags;
-	/**
-	 * @var rootdir
-	 *
-	 * Root directory for all operations in XBPS. If NULL,
-	 * by default it's set to /.
-	 */
-	const char *rootdir;
-	/**
-	 * @var cachedir
-	 *
-	 * Cache directory to store downloaded binary packages.
-	 * If NULL default value in \a XBPS_CACHE_PATH is used.
-	 */
-	const char *cachedir;
-	/**
-	 * @private pstring_cachedir
-	 *
-	 * Used internally by xbps_init(), do not use it.
-	 */
-	prop_string_t pstring_cachedir;
-	/**
-	 * @var conffile
-	 *
-	 * Full path to the XBPS_CONF_PLIST configuration file.
-	 */
-	const char *conffile;
 	/**
 	 * @var debug
 	 *
diff --git a/lib/initend.c b/lib/initend.c
index 15269d51..2d58245b 100644
--- a/lib/initend.c
+++ b/lib/initend.c
@@ -42,9 +42,13 @@
 static bool debug;
 static struct xbps_handle *xhp;
 
+#define _CONFFILE	XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH "/" XBPS_CONF_PLIST
+#define _REPOFILE	XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH "/" XBPS_CONF_REPOS_PLIST
+
 int
 xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 {
+	prop_dictionary_t confd;
 	const char *conf_rootdir = NULL, *conf_cachedir = NULL;
 	uint16_t fetch_cache_conn = 0, fetch_cache_conn_host = 0;
 	int rv;
@@ -54,16 +58,19 @@ xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 	xhp = xh;
 	debug = xhp->debug;
 
-	/* If conffile not set, defaults to XBPS_CONF_PATH */
-	if (xhp->conffile == NULL)
-		xhp->conffile = XBPS_CONF_PATH "/" XBPS_CONF_PLIST;
-
+	/* If conffile not set, defaults to XBPS_SYSCONF_PATH */
+	if (prop_object_type(xhp->conffile) != PROP_TYPE_STRING)
+		xhp->conffile = prop_string_create_cstring(_CONFFILE);
+	/*
+	 * Internalize the XBPS_CONF_REPOS_PLIST array.
+	 */
+	xhp->repos_array = prop_array_internalize_from_file(_REPOFILE);
 	/*
 	 * Internalize the XBPS_CONF_PLIST dictionary.
 	 */
-	xhp->conf_dictionary =
-	    prop_dictionary_internalize_from_file(xhp->conffile);
-	if (xhp->conf_dictionary == NULL) {
+	confd = prop_dictionary_internalize_from_file(
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->conffile));
+	if (confd == NULL) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT) {
 			xbps_dbg_printf("%s: cannot internalize conf "
 			    "dictionary: %s\n", strerror(errno));
@@ -76,15 +83,15 @@ xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 		/*
 		 * Get defaults from configuration file.
 		 */
-		prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+		prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(confd,
 		    "root-directory", &conf_rootdir);
-		prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+		prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(confd,
 		    "cache-directory", &conf_cachedir);
-		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(confd,
 		    "fetch-cache-connections", &fetch_cache_conn);
-		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(confd,
 		    "fetch-cache-connections-per-host", &fetch_cache_conn_host);
-		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+		prop_dictionary_get_uint16(confd,
 		    "fetch-timeout-connection", &xhp->fetch_timeout);
 	}
 
@@ -92,33 +99,32 @@ xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 	 * Client supplied values in xbps_handle will be choosen over the
 	 * same values in configuration file. If not specified, use defaults.
 	 */
-	if (xhp->rootdir == NULL) {
+	if (prop_object_type(xhp->rootdir) != PROP_TYPE_STRING) {
 		if (conf_rootdir != NULL)
-			xhp->rootdir = conf_rootdir;
+			xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring(conf_rootdir);
 		else {
 			/* If rootdir not set, defaults to '/' */
-			xhp->rootdir = "/";
+			xhp->rootdir = prop_string_create_cstring("/");
 		}
 	}
-	if (xhp->cachedir == NULL) {
+	if (prop_object_type(xhp->cachedir) != PROP_TYPE_STRING) {
 		if (conf_cachedir != NULL) {
 			if (conf_cachedir[0] == '/') {
 				/* full path */
-				xhp->cachedir = conf_cachedir;
+				xhp->cachedir =
+				    prop_string_create_cstring(conf_cachedir);
 			} else {
 				/* relative to rootdir */
-				xhp->pstring_cachedir =
-				    prop_string_create_cstring(xhp->rootdir);
+				xhp->cachedir = prop_string_copy(xhp->rootdir);
 				prop_string_append_cstring(
-				    xhp->pstring_cachedir, "/");
+				    xhp->cachedir, "/");
 				prop_string_append_cstring(
-				    xhp->pstring_cachedir, conf_cachedir);
-				xhp->cachedir = prop_string_cstring_nocopy(
-				    xhp->pstring_cachedir);
+				    xhp->cachedir, conf_cachedir);
 			}
 		} else {
 			/* If cachedir not set, defaults to XBPS_CACHE_PATH */
-			xhp->cachedir = XBPS_CACHE_PATH;
+			xhp->cachedir =
+			    prop_string_create_cstring(XBPS_CACHE_PATH);
 		}
 	}
 	if (fetch_cache_conn == 0)
@@ -129,12 +135,16 @@ xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 	xbps_fetch_set_cache_connection(fetch_cache_conn,
 	    fetch_cache_conn_host);
 
-	xbps_dbg_printf("%s: rootdir: `%s' cachedir: `%s' conf: `%s'\n",
-	    __func__, xhp->rootdir, xhp->cachedir, xhp->conffile);
-	xbps_dbg_printf("%s: fetch_cache_conn: %zu fetch_cache_host: %zu\n",
-	    __func__, fetch_cache_conn, fetch_cache_conn_host);
-	xbps_dbg_printf("%s: fetch_timeout: %zu\n", __func__,
-	    xhp->fetch_timeout);
+	xbps_dbg_printf("rootdir: %s\n",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir));
+	xbps_dbg_printf("cachedir: %s\n",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->cachedir));
+	xbps_dbg_printf("conffile: %s\n",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->conffile));
+	xbps_dbg_printf("repofile: %s\n", _REPOFILE);
+	xbps_dbg_printf("fetch_cache_conn: %zu\n", fetch_cache_conn);
+	xbps_dbg_printf("fetch_cacche_conn_host: %zu\n", fetch_cache_conn_host);
+	xbps_dbg_printf("fetch_timeout: %zu\n", xhp->fetch_timeout);
 
 	/*
 	 * Initialize regpkgdb dictionary.
@@ -147,6 +157,12 @@ xbps_init(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 		       return rv;
 	       }
 	}
+	/* We don't need the confd dictionary internalized anymore */
+	if (prop_object_type(confd) == PROP_TYPE_DICTIONARY)
+		prop_object_release(confd);
+	/* We don't need the conffile string anymore */
+	if (prop_object_type(xh->conffile) == PROP_TYPE_STRING)
+		prop_object_release(xh->conffile);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -157,14 +173,13 @@ xbps_end(struct xbps_handle *xh)
 	xbps_regpkgdb_dictionary_release();
 	xbps_repository_pool_release();
 	xbps_fetch_unset_cache_connection();
+
 	if (xh == NULL)
 		return;
-
-	if (prop_object_type(xh->conf_dictionary) == PROP_TYPE_DICTIONARY)
-		prop_object_release(xh->conf_dictionary);
-	if (prop_object_type(xh->pstring_cachedir) == PROP_TYPE_STRING)
-		prop_object_release(xh->pstring_cachedir);
-
+	if (prop_object_type(xh->rootdir) == PROP_TYPE_STRING)
+		prop_object_release(xh->rootdir);
+	if (prop_object_type(xh->cachedir) == PROP_TYPE_STRING)
+		prop_object_release(xh->cachedir);
 	if (xh->xfcd != NULL)
 		free(xh->xfcd);
 	if (xh->xucd != NULL)
diff --git a/lib/package_configure.c b/lib/package_configure.c
index bf3620b2..6e39d48b 100644
--- a/lib/package_configure.c
+++ b/lib/package_configure.c
@@ -127,9 +127,10 @@ xbps_configure_pkg(const char *pkgname,
 		return ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
+	if (chdir(prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir)) == -1) {
 		xbps_dbg_printf("%s: [configure] chdir to '%s' returned %s\n",
-		    pkgname, xhp->rootdir, strerror(errno));
+		    pkgname, prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
+		    strerror(errno));
 		free(buf);
 		free(pkgver);
 		return EINVAL;
diff --git a/lib/package_purge.c b/lib/package_purge.c
index 8ac81f28..333028ff 100644
--- a/lib/package_purge.c
+++ b/lib/package_purge.c
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ xbps_purge_pkg(const char *pkgname, bool check_state)
 	/*
 	 * Execute the purge action in REMOVE script (if found).
 	 */
-	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
+	if (chdir(prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir)) == -1) {
 		rv = errno;
 		prop_object_release(dict);
 		xbps_error_printf("[purge] %s: cannot change to rootdir: %s.\n",
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@ xbps_purge_pkg(const char *pkgname, bool check_state)
 	/*
 	 * Remove metadata dir and unregister package.
 	 */
-	if ((rv = remove_pkg_metadata(pkgname, xhp->rootdir)) != 0) {
+	if ((rv = remove_pkg_metadata(pkgname,
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir))) != 0) {
 		xbps_error_printf("%s: couldn't remove metadata files: %s\n",
 		    pkgname, strerror(rv));
 		return rv;
diff --git a/lib/package_register.c b/lib/package_register.c
index b75c57ea..c90470eb 100644
--- a/lib/package_register.c
+++ b/lib/package_register.c
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ xbps_register_pkg(prop_dictionary_t pkgrd)
 	bool autoinst = false;
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s", xhp->rootdir,
+	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
 	    XBPS_META_PATH, XBPS_REGPKGDB);
 	if (plist == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
@@ -162,7 +163,8 @@ xbps_unregister_pkg(const char *pkgname)
 	assert(pkgname != NULL);
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s", xhp->rootdir,
+	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
 	    XBPS_META_PATH, XBPS_REGPKGDB);
 	if (plist == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
diff --git a/lib/package_remove.c b/lib/package_remove.c
index e6bf430b..7a5afe7e 100644
--- a/lib/package_remove.c
+++ b/lib/package_remove.c
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ xbps_remove_pkg_files(prop_dictionary_t dict, const char *key)
 
 	while ((obj = prop_object_iterator_next(iter))) {
 		prop_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "file", &file);
-		path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, file);
+		path = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+		    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), file);
 		if (path == NULL) {
 			rv = ENOMEM;
 			break;
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ xbps_remove_pkg(const char *pkgname, const char *version, bool update)
 	if (buf == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
 
-	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
+	if (chdir(prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir)) == -1) {
 		free(buf);
 		return EINVAL;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/package_requiredby.c b/lib/package_requiredby.c
index b87f758a..b0f99500 100644
--- a/lib/package_requiredby.c
+++ b/lib/package_requiredby.c
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ xbps_requiredby_pkg_remove(const char *pkgname)
 	assert(pkgname != NULL);
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s", xhp->rootdir,
+	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
 	    XBPS_META_PATH, XBPS_REGPKGDB);
 	if (plist == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
diff --git a/lib/package_state.c b/lib/package_state.c
index dcf60ead..5a7bd8cc 100644
--- a/lib/package_state.c
+++ b/lib/package_state.c
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ xbps_set_pkg_state_installed(const char *pkgname,
 	assert(pkgname != NULL);
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
 
-	metadir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH);
+	metadir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), XBPS_META_PATH);
 	if (metadir == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
 	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", metadir, XBPS_REGPKGDB);
diff --git a/lib/package_unpack.c b/lib/package_unpack.c
index c67021c4..55cf7bf5 100644
--- a/lib/package_unpack.c
+++ b/lib/package_unpack.c
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ unpack_archive(prop_dictionary_t pkg_repod,
 
 	preserve = update = false;
 
-	if (chdir(xhp->rootdir) == -1) {
+	if (chdir(prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir)) == -1) {
 		xbps_error_printf("cannot chdir to rootdir for "
 		    "`%s-%s': %s\n", pkgname, version, strerror(errno));
 		return errno;
diff --git a/lib/plist.c b/lib/plist.c
index e5efcfe6..90629b67 100644
--- a/lib/plist.c
+++ b/lib/plist.c
@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@ xbps_dictionary_from_metadata_plist(const char *pkgname,
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
 
 	plistf = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/metadata/%s/%s",
-	    xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH, pkgname, plist);
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
+	    XBPS_META_PATH, pkgname, plist);
 	if (plistf == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
@@ -209,7 +210,8 @@ xbps_dictionary_from_metadata_plist(const char *pkgname,
 		}
 		free(plistf);
 		plistf = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/metadata/%s/%s",
-		    xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH, pkgname, plist);
+		    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
+		    XBPS_META_PATH, pkgname, plist);
 		if (plistf == NULL)
 			return NULL;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/plist_find.c b/lib/plist_find.c
index 094f79ad..1e450658 100644
--- a/lib/plist_find.c
+++ b/lib/plist_find.c
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ find_virtualpkg_user_in_conf(const char *vpkg, bool bypattern)
 	char *vpkgname = NULL;
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	if (xhp->conf_dictionary == NULL)
+	if (xhp->virtualpkg_dictionary == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if ((iter = xbps_array_iter_from_dict(xhp->conf_dictionary,
+	if ((iter = xbps_array_iter_from_dict(xhp->virtualpkg_dictionary,
 	    "virtual-packages")) == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
diff --git a/lib/regpkgdb_dictionary.c b/lib/regpkgdb_dictionary.c
index c70eead3..8c2afab3 100644
--- a/lib/regpkgdb_dictionary.c
+++ b/lib/regpkgdb_dictionary.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ xbps_regpkgdb_dictionary_init(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 	if (regpkgdb_initialized)
 		return 0;
 
-	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s", xhp->rootdir,
+	plist = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
 	    XBPS_META_PATH, XBPS_REGPKGDB);
 	if (plist == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
diff --git a/lib/repository_pool.c b/lib/repository_pool.c
index 457246b7..e4cb2fe3 100644
--- a/lib/repository_pool.c
+++ b/lib/repository_pool.c
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ int HIDDEN
 xbps_repository_pool_init(void)
 {
 	struct xbps_handle *xhp;
-	prop_array_t array;
 	prop_object_t obj;
 	prop_object_iterator_t iter = NULL;
 	struct repository_pool *rpool;
@@ -84,20 +83,16 @@ xbps_repository_pool_init(void)
 	bool duprepo;
 
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
-	if (xhp->conf_dictionary == NULL)
+	if (xhp->repos_array == NULL)
 		return ENOTSUP;
 
 	if (repolist_initialized)
 		return 0;
 
-	array = prop_dictionary_get(xhp->conf_dictionary, "repositories");
-	if (array == NULL)
-		return errno;
-
-	if (prop_array_count(array) == 0)
+	if (prop_array_count(xhp->repos_array) == 0)
 		return ENOTSUP;
 
-	iter = prop_array_iterator(array);
+	iter = prop_array_iterator(xhp->repos_array);
 	if (iter == NULL) {
 		rv = errno;
 		goto out;
@@ -189,6 +184,7 @@ xbps_repository_pool_init(void)
 	}
 
 	repolist_initialized = true;
+	prop_object_release(xhp->repos_array);
 	xbps_dbg_printf("[rpool] initialized ok.\n");
 out:
 	if (iter)
diff --git a/lib/repository_sync_index.c b/lib/repository_sync_index.c
index c7f33f73..0a913953 100644
--- a/lib/repository_sync_index.c
+++ b/lib/repository_sync_index.c
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(const char *uri)
 	/*
 	 * Create metadir if necessary.
 	 */
-	metadir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH);
+	metadir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), XBPS_META_PATH);
 	if (metadir == NULL) {
 		rv = -1;
 		goto out;
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(const char *uri)
 	 * file.
 	 */
 	lrepodir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
-	    xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixedp);
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir), XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixedp);
 	if (lrepodir == NULL) {
 		rv = -1;
 		goto out;
diff --git a/lib/transaction_commit.c b/lib/transaction_commit.c
index 3a2d9a1a..5c0f91f7 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_commit.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_commit.c
@@ -137,9 +137,12 @@ download_binpkgs(struct xbps_handle *xhp, prop_object_iterator_t iter)
 		/*
 		 * Create cachedir.
 		 */
-		if (xbps_mkpath(xhp->cachedir, 0755) == -1) {
+		if (xbps_mkpath(prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->cachedir),
+		    0755) == -1) {
 			xbps_error_printf("xbps-bin: cannot mkdir cachedir "
-			    "`%s': %s.\n", xhp->cachedir, strerror(errno));
+			    "`%s': %s.\n",
+			    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->cachedir),
+			    strerror(errno));
 			free(binfile);
 			rv = errno;
 			break;
@@ -149,7 +152,8 @@ download_binpkgs(struct xbps_handle *xhp, prop_object_iterator_t iter)
 		/*
 		 * Fetch binary package.
 		 */
-		rv = xbps_fetch_file(binfile, xhp->cachedir, false, NULL);
+		rv = xbps_fetch_file(binfile,
+		    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->cachedir), false, NULL);
 		if (rv == -1) {
 			RUN_TRANS_ERR_CB(XBPS_TRANS_STATE_DOWNLOAD, pkgver, errno);
 			free(binfile);
diff --git a/lib/util.c b/lib/util.c
index dfe45667..7e7cb579 100644
--- a/lib/util.c
+++ b/lib/util.c
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ get_pkg_index_remote_plist(const char *uri)
 		return NULL;
 
 	repodir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s",
-	    xhp->rootdir, XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixed, XBPS_PKGINDEX);
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
+	    XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixed, XBPS_PKGINDEX);
 	if (repodir == NULL) {
 		free(uri_fixed);
 		return NULL;
@@ -261,7 +262,8 @@ xbps_path_from_repository_uri(prop_dictionary_t pkg_repod, const char *repoloc)
 	/*
 	 * First check if binpkg is available in cachedir.
 	 */
-	lbinpkg = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s", xhp->cachedir, filen);
+	lbinpkg = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s",
+	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->cachedir), filen);
 	if (lbinpkg == NULL)
 		return NULL;