diff --git a/CalamaresAddModuleSubdirectory.cmake b/CalamaresAddModuleSubdirectory.cmake
index 37b10eb1d..f313905af 100644
--- a/CalamaresAddModuleSubdirectory.cmake
+++ b/CalamaresAddModuleSubdirectory.cmake
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ function( calamares_add_module_subdirectory )
     if( EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/CMakeLists.txt" )
         add_subdirectory( ${SUBDIRECTORY} )
     # ...otherwise, we look for a module.conf.
-    elseif( EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/module.conf" )
+    elseif( EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/module.desc" )
         set( MODULES_DIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/calamares/modules )
         set( MODULE_DESTINATION ${MODULES_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY} )
+        set( MODULE_CONFIG_FILE ${SUBDIRECTORY}.conf )
 
         # We glob all the files inside the subdirectory, and we make sure they are
         # synced with the bindir structure and installed.
@@ -17,8 +18,14 @@ function( calamares_add_module_subdirectory )
         foreach( MODULE_FILE ${MODULE_FILES} )
             if( NOT IS_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE} )
                 configure_file( ${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE} ${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE} COPYONLY )
-                install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE}
-                         DESTINATION ${MODULE_DESTINATION} )
+
+                if( "${MODULE_FILE}" STREQUAL "${MODULE_CONFIG_FILE}" )
+                    install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE}
+                             DESTINATION share/calamares/modules )
+                else()
+                    install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${SUBDIRECTORY}/${MODULE_FILE}
+                             DESTINATION ${MODULE_DESTINATION} )
+                endif()
             endif()
         endforeach()
 
diff --git a/CalamaresAddPlugin.cmake b/CalamaresAddPlugin.cmake
index 5570f403b..a2848cb71 100644
--- a/CalamaresAddPlugin.cmake
+++ b/CalamaresAddPlugin.cmake
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ function( calamares_add_plugin )
     # parse arguments ( name needs to be saved before passing ARGN into the macro )
     set( NAME ${ARGV0} )
     set( options NO_INSTALL SHARED_LIB )
-    set( oneValueArgs NAME TYPE EXPORT_MACRO CONFIG_FILE )
+    set( oneValueArgs NAME TYPE EXPORT_MACRO )
     set( multiValueArgs SOURCES UI LINK_LIBRARIES COMPILE_DEFINITIONS )
     cmake_parse_arguments( PLUGIN "${options}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" ${ARGN} )
     set( PLUGIN_NAME ${NAME} )
     set( PLUGIN_DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/calamares/modules/${PLUGIN_NAME} )
+    set( PLUGIN_DESC_FILE module.desc )
+    set( PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE ${NAME}.conf )
     set( CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}" )
     set( CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}" )
     set( CMAKE_ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}" )
@@ -62,7 +64,13 @@ function( calamares_add_plugin )
 
     calamares_add_library( ${calamares_add_library_args} )
 
-    configure_file( ${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE} ${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE} COPYONLY )
-    install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE}
+    configure_file( ${PLUGIN_DESC_FILE} ${PLUGIN_DESC_FILE} COPYONLY )
+    install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${PLUGIN_DESC_FILE}
              DESTINATION ${PLUGIN_DESTINATION} )
+
+    if( EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE}" )
+        configure_file( ${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE} ${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE} COPYONLY )
+        install( FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${PLUGIN_CONFIG_FILE}
+                 DESTINATION share/calamares/modules )
+    endif()
 endfunction()
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/Settings.cpp b/src/libcalamaresui/Settings.cpp
index d988702b7..9a07a61e2 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/Settings.cpp
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/Settings.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ Settings::Settings( bool debugMode, QObject* parent )
     : QObject( parent )
     , m_debug( debugMode )
 {
-    QFileInfo settingsFile( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( "settings.conf" ) );
+    QFileInfo settingsFile( "/etc/calamares/settings.conf" );
+    if ( !settingsFile.exists() || !settingsFile.isReadable() )
+        settingsFile = QFileInfo( CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath( "settings.conf" ) );
+
     if ( debugMode )
     {
         QFileInfo localFile( QDir( QDir::currentPath() ).absoluteFilePath( "settings.conf" ) );
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
index b2d86b253..9443e7871 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
 
 #include "ProcessJobModule.h"
 #include "ViewModule.h"
+#include "utils/CalamaresUtils.h"
 #include "utils/YamlUtils.h"
 #include "utils/Logger.h"
+#include "Settings.h"
 #include "CalamaresConfig.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_PYTHON
@@ -36,30 +38,18 @@
 #include <QString>
 
 
-// Example module.conf
+// Example module.desc
 /*
 ---
 type:      "view"      #job or view
 name:      "foo"      #the module name. must be unique and same as the parent directory
 interface: "qtplugin" #can be: qtplugin, python, process, ...
-requires:  []         #list of module names that must also be loaded before this one
 */
 
 void
 operator>>( const YAML::Node& node, Calamares::Module* m )
 {
     m->m_name = QString::fromStdString( node[ "name" ].as< std::string >() );
-
-    if ( node[ "requires" ] && node[ "requires" ].IsSequence() )
-    {
-        node[ "requires" ] >> m->m_requiredModules;
-    }
-
-    // Module-specific configuration
-    if ( node[ "configuration" ] && node[ "configuration" ].IsMap() )
-    {
-        m->m_configurationMap = CalamaresUtils::yamlMapToVariant( node[ "configuration" ] ).toMap();
-    }
 }
 
 namespace Calamares
@@ -69,21 +59,22 @@ Module::~Module()
 {}
 
 Module*
-Module::fromConfigFile( const QString& path )
+Module::fromDescriptorFile( const QString& path )
 {
     Module* m = nullptr;
-    QFile metadataFile( path );
-    if ( metadataFile.exists() && metadataFile.open( QFile::ReadOnly | QFile::Text ) )
+    QFile descriptorFile( path );
+    if ( descriptorFile.exists() && descriptorFile.open( QFile::ReadOnly | QFile::Text ) )
     {
-        QByteArray ba = metadataFile.readAll();
-        cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "module metadata file: " << ba;
+        QByteArray ba = descriptorFile.readAll();
+        cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "module descriptor file"
+                 << path << ":\n" << ba;
 
         try
         {
             YAML::Node doc = YAML::Load( ba.constData() );
             if ( !doc.IsMap() )
             {
-                cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "bad module metadata format"
+                cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "bad module descriptor format"
                          << path;
                 return nullptr;
             }
@@ -91,7 +82,7 @@ Module::fromConfigFile( const QString& path )
             if ( !doc[ "type" ] ||
                  !doc[ "interface" ] )
             {
-                cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "bad module metadata format"
+                cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "bad module descriptor format"
                          << path;
                 return nullptr;
             }
@@ -127,6 +118,8 @@ Module::fromConfigFile( const QString& path )
             QFileInfo mfi( path );
             m->m_directory = mfi.absoluteDir().absolutePath();
 
+            m->loadConfigurationFile();
+
             m->initFrom( doc );
             return m;
         }
@@ -141,6 +134,50 @@ Module::fromConfigFile( const QString& path )
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+
+void
+Module::loadConfigurationFile() //throws YAML::Exception
+{
+    QStringList configFilesByPriority;
+    configFilesByPriority.append(
+        QString( "/etc/calamares/modules/%1.conf" ).arg( m_name ) );
+    configFilesByPriority.append(
+        CalamaresUtils::appDataDir().absoluteFilePath(
+            QString( "modules/%1.conf" ).arg( m_name ) ) );
+
+    if ( Settings::instance()->debugMode() )
+    {
+        configFilesByPriority.append(
+            QDir( QDir::currentPath() ).absoluteFilePath(
+                QString( "src/modules/%1/%1.conf" ).arg( m_name ) ) );
+    }
+
+    foreach ( const QString& path, configFilesByPriority )
+    {
+        QFile configFile( path );
+        if ( configFile.exists() && configFile.open( QFile::ReadOnly | QFile::Text ) )
+        {
+            QByteArray ba = configFile.readAll();
+            cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "module configuration file"
+                     << path << ":\n" << ba;
+
+            YAML::Node doc = YAML::Load( ba.constData() );
+            if ( !doc.IsMap() )
+            {
+                cDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "bad module configuration format"
+                         << path;
+                return;
+            }
+
+            m_configurationMap = CalamaresUtils::yamlMapToVariant( doc ).toMap();
+            return;
+        }
+        else
+            continue;
+    }
+}
+
+
 QString
 Module::name() const
 {
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.h b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.h
index fddfcf81c..3c5f79f85 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.h
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/Module.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public:
     };
     virtual ~Module();
 
-    static Module* fromConfigFile( const QString& path );
+    static Module* fromDescriptorFile( const QString& path );
 
     virtual QString name() const;
     virtual QStringList requiredModules() const;
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ protected:
     QVariantMap m_configurationMap;
 
 private:
+    void loadConfigurationFile(); //throws YAML::Exception
     QString m_name;
     Type m_type;
     Interface m_interface;
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.cpp b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.cpp
index 7dc3f3c6a..81bce490b 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.cpp
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QTimer>
 
-#define MODULE_CONFIG_FILENAME "module.conf"
+#define MODULE_CONFIG_FILENAME "module.desc"
 
 namespace Calamares
 {
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ ModuleManager::loadModules( Phase phase )
                 continue;
             }
 
-            recursiveLoad( moduleName );
+            doLoad( moduleName );
         }
         emit modulesLoaded( phase );
         // Loading sequence:
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ ModuleManager::doInit()
     // might (should) contain Calamares modules of any type/interface.
     // For each modules search path (directory), it is expected that each module
     // lives in its own subdirectory. This subdirectory must have the same name as
-    // the module name, and must contain a settings file named module.conf.
+    // the module name, and must contain a settings file named module.desc.
     // If at any time the module loading procedure finds something unexpected, it
     // silently skips to the next module or search path. --Teo 6/2014
     foreach ( const QString& path, m_paths )
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ ModuleManager::doInit()
                         continue;
                     }
 
-                    Module* moduleInfo = Module::fromConfigFile( metadataFileInfo.absoluteFilePath() );
+                    Module* moduleInfo = Module::fromDescriptorFile( metadataFileInfo.absoluteFilePath() );
 
                     if ( moduleInfo &&
                          ( moduleInfo->name() == currentDir.dirName() ) &&
@@ -170,16 +170,9 @@ ModuleManager::doInit()
 
 
 void
-ModuleManager::recursiveLoad( const QString& moduleName )
+ModuleManager::doLoad( const QString& moduleName )
 {
     Module* thisModule = m_availableModules.value( moduleName );
-    foreach ( const QString& module, thisModule->requiredModules() )
-    {
-        if ( !m_availableModules.value( module )->isLoaded() )
-        {
-            recursiveLoad( module );
-        }
-    }
     thisModule->loadSelf();
     cDebug() << ( thisModule->isLoaded() ? "SUCCESS" : "FAILURE" );
 }
diff --git a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.h b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.h
index 89e27b5ba..77ab0a67b 100644
--- a/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.h
+++ b/src/libcalamaresui/modulesystem/ModuleManager.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ private slots:
     void doInit();
 
 private:
-    void recursiveLoad( const QString& moduleName );
+    void doLoad( const QString& moduleName );
     void checkDependencies();
 
     QMap< QString, Module* > m_availableModules;
diff --git a/src/modules/README.md b/src/modules/README.md
index b9a669912..60eaec82d 100644
--- a/src/modules/README.md
+++ b/src/modules/README.md
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ Calamares modules are plugins that provide features like installer pages, batch
 
 Currently the only way to write a module which exposes one or more installer pages (viewmodule) is through a Qt plugin. Viewmodules should implement `Calamares::ViewStep`. They can also implement `Calamares::Job` to provide jobs.
 
-To add a Qt plugin module, put it in a subdirectory and make sure it has a `module.conf` and a `CMakeLists.txt` with a `calamares_add_plugin` call. It will be picked up automatically by our CMake magic.
+To add a Qt plugin module, put it in a subdirectory and make sure it has a `module.desc` and a `CMakeLists.txt` with a `calamares_add_plugin` call. It will be picked up automatically by our CMake magic.
 
 
 ### Python and process jobmodules
 
 Batch jobs for Calamares can be written as Python scripts or as generic commands (shell scripts, external programs, etc.).
-To add a Python or process jobmodule, put it in a subdirectory and make sure it has a `module.conf`. It will be picked up automatically by our CMake magic. `CMakeLists.txt` is not used for Python and process jobmodules.
+To add a Python or process jobmodule, put it in a subdirectory and make sure it has a `module.desc`. It will be picked up automatically by our CMake magic. `CMakeLists.txt` is not used for Python and process jobmodules.
 
 All code in Python job modules must obey PEP8, the only exception are `libcalamares.globalstorage` keys, which should always be camelCaseWithLowerCaseInitial.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/dummyprocess/module.conf b/src/modules/dummyprocess/module.desc
similarity index 93%
rename from src/modules/dummyprocess/module.conf
rename to src/modules/dummyprocess/module.desc
index ac0b4ba50..9c534a30f 100644
--- a/src/modules/dummyprocess/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/dummyprocess/module.desc
@@ -4,6 +4,5 @@
 type:       "job"
 name:       "dummyprocess"
 interface:  "process"
-requires:   []
 command:    "/bin/sh -c \"touch ~/calamares-dummyprocess\""
 timeout:    5
diff --git a/src/modules/dummypython/dummypython.conf b/src/modules/dummypython/dummypython.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc985089a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/dummypython/dummypython.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+syntax: "YAML map of anything"
+example:
+    whats_this: "module-specific configuration"
+    from_where: "dummypython.conf"
+a_list:
+    - "item1"
+    - "item2"
+    - "item3"
+    - "item4"
+a_list_of_maps:
+    - name: "an Item"
+      contents:
+        - "an element"
+        - "another element"
+    - name: "another item"
+      contents:
+        - "not much"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/dummypython/module.conf b/src/modules/dummypython/module.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index f0df13c68..000000000
--- a/src/modules/dummypython/module.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-# Module metadata file for dummy process jobmodule
-# Syntax is YAML 1.2
----
-type:       "job"
-name:       "dummypython"
-interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
-script:     "main.py"   #assumed relative to the current directory
-configuration:
-    syntax: "YAML map of anything"
-    example:
-        whats_this: "module-specific configuration"
-        from_where: "module.conf"
-    a_list:
-        - "item1"
-        - "item2"
-        - "item3"
-        - "item4"
-    a_list_of_maps:
-        - name: "an Item"
-          contents:
-            - "an element"
-            - "another element"
-        - name: "another item"
-          contents:
-            - "not much"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/dummypython/module.desc b/src/modules/dummypython/module.desc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d24bf39bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/dummypython/module.desc
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Module metadata file for dummy process jobmodule
+# Syntax is YAML 1.2
+---
+type:       "job"
+name:       "dummypython"
+interface:  "python"
+script:     "main.py"   #assumed relative to the current directory
diff --git a/src/modules/fstab/fstab.conf b/src/modules/fstab/fstab.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7dbf52975
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/fstab/fstab.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+mountOptions:
+    default: defaults,noatime
+    btrfs: defaults,noatime,space_cache,autodefrag
+ssdExtraMountOptions:
+    ext4: discard
+    jfs: discard
+    xfs: discard
+    swap: discard
+    btrfs: discard,compress=lzo
diff --git a/src/modules/fstab/module.conf b/src/modules/fstab/module.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index ccae25853..000000000
--- a/src/modules/fstab/module.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-type:       "job"
-name:       "fstab"
-interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
-script:     "main.py"
-configuration:
-    mountOptions:
-        default: defaults,noatime
-        btrfs: defaults,noatime,space_cache,autodefrag
-    ssdExtraMountOptions:
-        ext4: discard
-        jfs: discard
-        xfs: discard
-        swap: discard
-        btrfs: discard,compress=lzo
diff --git a/src/modules/fstab/module.desc b/src/modules/fstab/module.desc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bbd416606
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/fstab/module.desc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type:       "job"
+name:       "fstab"
+interface:  "python"
+script:     "main.py"
diff --git a/src/modules/greeting/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/greeting/CMakeLists.txt
index 4b804da72..cffeefb82 100644
--- a/src/modules/greeting/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/greeting/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ include_directories( ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/src/libcalamaresui )
 calamares_add_plugin( greeting
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         GreetingViewStep.cpp
         GreetingPage.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/greeting/module.conf b/src/modules/greeting/module.desc
similarity index 56%
rename from src/modules/greeting/module.conf
rename to src/modules/greeting/module.desc
index 6f10f5e66..dfa43ddbb 100644
--- a/src/modules/greeting/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/greeting/module.desc
@@ -4,7 +4,4 @@
 type:      "view"     #core or view
 name:      "greeting" #the module name. must be unique and same as the parent directory
 interface: "qtplugin" #can be: qtplugin, python, process, ...
-requires:  []         #list of module names that must also be loaded. only applies to
-                      #binary plugins! these are actual link-time dependencies, not
-                      #conceptual dependencies for the setup procedure
 load:      "libcalamares_viewmodule_greeting.so"
diff --git a/src/modules/grub/module.conf b/src/modules/grub/module.desc
similarity index 72%
rename from src/modules/grub/module.conf
rename to src/modules/grub/module.desc
index 01fa2025e..aff70df5a 100644
--- a/src/modules/grub/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/grub/module.desc
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
+---
 type:       "job"
 name:       "grub"
 interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
 script:     "main.py"
-configuration:
diff --git a/src/modules/initcpio/initcpio.conf b/src/modules/initcpio/initcpio.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21f5704cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/initcpio/initcpio.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+---
+kernel: linux312
diff --git a/src/modules/initcpio/module.conf b/src/modules/initcpio/module.desc
similarity index 62%
rename from src/modules/initcpio/module.conf
rename to src/modules/initcpio/module.desc
index baeee3501..f84fc43a8 100644
--- a/src/modules/initcpio/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/initcpio/module.desc
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
+---
 type:       "job"
 name:       "initcpio"
 interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
 script:     "main.py"
-configuration:
-    kernel: linux312
diff --git a/src/modules/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
index de450133f..fdfc6695e 100644
--- a/src/modules/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ include_directories( ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/src/libcalamaresui )
 calamares_add_plugin( keyboard
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         KeyboardViewStep.cpp
         KeyboardPage.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/keyboard/module.conf b/src/modules/keyboard/module.desc
similarity index 92%
rename from src/modules/keyboard/module.conf
rename to src/modules/keyboard/module.desc
index e1699d029..391db19fc 100644
--- a/src/modules/keyboard/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/keyboard/module.desc
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 type:      "view"
 name:      "keyboard"
 interface: "qtplugin"
-requires:  []
 load:      "libcalamares_viewmodule_keyboard.so"
diff --git a/src/modules/locale/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/locale/CMakeLists.txt
index 309f53d8b..a84baf4f9 100644
--- a/src/modules/locale/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/locale/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ include_directories( ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/src/libcalamaresui )
 calamares_add_plugin( locale
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         LocaleViewStep.cpp
         LocalePage.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/locale/locale.conf b/src/modules/locale/locale.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..795ceb27b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/locale/locale.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+region:     "Europe"
+zone:       "London"
diff --git a/src/modules/locale/module.conf b/src/modules/locale/module.desc
similarity index 72%
rename from src/modules/locale/module.conf
rename to src/modules/locale/module.desc
index 08484990d..d69fb5a1e 100644
--- a/src/modules/locale/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/locale/module.desc
@@ -4,8 +4,4 @@
 type:           "view"
 name:           "locale"
 interface:      "qtplugin"
-requires:       []
 load:           "libcalamares_viewmodule_locale.so"
-configuration:
-    region:		"Europe"
-    zone:		"London"
diff --git a/src/modules/mount/module.conf b/src/modules/mount/module.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index a6e53a5d8..000000000
--- a/src/modules/mount/module.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-type:       "job"
-name:       "mount"
-interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
-script:     "main.py"
-configuration:
-    extraMounts:
-        - device: proc
-          fs: proc
-          mountPoint: /proc
-        - device: sys
-          fs: sysfs
-          mountPoint: /sys
-        - device: /dev
-          mountPoint: /dev
-          options: bind
diff --git a/src/modules/mount/module.desc b/src/modules/mount/module.desc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13e411716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/mount/module.desc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type:       "job"
+name:       "mount"
+interface:  "python"
+script:     "main.py"
diff --git a/src/modules/mount/mount.conf b/src/modules/mount/mount.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e917ed84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/mount/mount.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+extraMounts:
+    - device: proc
+      fs: proc
+      mountPoint: /proc
+    - device: sys
+      fs: sysfs
+      mountPoint: /sys
+    - device: /dev
+      mountPoint: /dev
+      options: bind
diff --git a/src/modules/partition/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/partition/CMakeLists.txt
index 4e96e039e..4a5eb5f3d 100644
--- a/src/modules/partition/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/partition/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ include_directories( ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/src/libcalamaresui )
 calamares_add_plugin( partition
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         BootLoaderModel.cpp
         CreatePartitionDialog.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/partition/module.conf b/src/modules/partition/module.desc
similarity index 56%
rename from src/modules/partition/module.conf
rename to src/modules/partition/module.desc
index 584475d4c..ba459e948 100644
--- a/src/modules/partition/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/partition/module.desc
@@ -4,7 +4,4 @@
 type:      "view"     #core or view
 name:      "partition" #the module name. must be unique and same as the parent directory
 interface: "qtplugin" #can be: qtplugin, python, process, ...
-requires:  []         #list of module names that must also be loaded. only applies to
-                      #binary plugins! these are actual link-time dependencies, not
-                      #conceptual dependencies for the setup procedure
 load:      "libcalamares_viewmodule_partition.so"
diff --git a/src/modules/summary/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/summary/CMakeLists.txt
index 763828fbd..c1b208aec 100644
--- a/src/modules/summary/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/summary/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ include_directories( ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/src/libcalamaresui )
 calamares_add_plugin( summary
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         SummaryViewStep.cpp
         SummaryPage.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/summary/module.conf b/src/modules/summary/module.desc
similarity index 92%
rename from src/modules/summary/module.conf
rename to src/modules/summary/module.desc
index a531988bb..fcd8c6f86 100644
--- a/src/modules/summary/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/summary/module.desc
@@ -4,5 +4,4 @@
 type:      "view"
 name:      "summary"
 interface: "qtplugin"
-requires:  []
 load:      "libcalamares_viewmodule_summary.so"
diff --git a/src/modules/testmodule.py b/src/modules/testmodule.py
index 9c0b75781..1e52a8e0e 100755
--- a/src/modules/testmodule.py
+++ b/src/modules/testmodule.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def main():
 
     print("Testing module in: " + args.moduledir)
 
-    confpath = os.path.join(args.moduledir, "module.conf")
+    confpath = os.path.join(args.moduledir, "module.desc")
     with open(confpath) as f:
         doc = yaml.load(f)
 
diff --git a/src/modules/umount/module.conf b/src/modules/umount/module.desc
similarity index 73%
rename from src/modules/umount/module.conf
rename to src/modules/umount/module.desc
index 64168b3e6..a1ead1228 100644
--- a/src/modules/umount/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/umount/module.desc
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
+---
 type:       "job"
 name:       "umount"
 interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
 script:     "main.py"
-configuration:
diff --git a/src/modules/unsquashfs/module.conf b/src/modules/unsquashfs/module.desc
similarity index 56%
rename from src/modules/unsquashfs/module.conf
rename to src/modules/unsquashfs/module.desc
index db7da1f5b..fc07d7b25 100644
--- a/src/modules/unsquashfs/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/unsquashfs/module.desc
@@ -3,9 +3,4 @@
 type:       "job"
 name:       "unsquashfs"
 interface:  "python"
-requires:   []
 script:     "main.py"   #assumed relative to the current directory
-configuration:
-    unpack:
-        -   source: "/path/to/squashfs/image.sqfs"
-            destination: ""
diff --git a/src/modules/unsquashfs/unsquashfs.conf b/src/modules/unsquashfs/unsquashfs.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea5c62d94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/unsquashfs/unsquashfs.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+unpack:
+    -   source: "/path/to/squashfs/image.sqfs"
+        destination: ""
diff --git a/src/modules/users/CMakeLists.txt b/src/modules/users/CMakeLists.txt
index 9772279c7..4905ccf94 100644
--- a/src/modules/users/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/modules/users/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ find_package( Crypt )
 calamares_add_plugin( users
     TYPE viewmodule
     EXPORT_MACRO PLUGINDLLEXPORT_PRO
-    CONFIG_FILE module.conf
     SOURCES
         CreateUserJob.cpp
         SetPasswordJob.cpp
diff --git a/src/modules/users/module.conf b/src/modules/users/module.desc
similarity index 55%
rename from src/modules/users/module.conf
rename to src/modules/users/module.desc
index d20511811..fd7b21b58 100644
--- a/src/modules/users/module.conf
+++ b/src/modules/users/module.desc
@@ -4,7 +4,4 @@
 type:      "view"     #core or view
 name:      "users"    #the module name. must be unique and same as the parent directory
 interface: "qtplugin" #can be: qtplugin, python, process, ...
-requires:  []         #list of module names that must also be loaded. only applies to
-                      #binary plugins! these are actual link-time dependencies, not
-                      #conceptual dependencies for the setup procedure
 load:      "libcalamares_viewmodule_users.so"