diff --git a/docs/guides/upgrading.rst b/docs/guides/upgrading.rst
index e02f423d163..8b3b088fef8 100644
--- a/docs/guides/upgrading.rst
+++ b/docs/guides/upgrading.rst
@@ -224,14 +224,27 @@ Messages will no longer get the metadata 'msg' for newly created messages. This
 Removed Classes
 ---------------
 
+ - ``ElggInspector``
  - ``FilePluginFile``: replace with ``ElggFile`` (or load with ``get_entity()``)
 
 Removed keys available via ``elgg_get_config()``
 ------------------------------------------------
 
+ - ``allowed_ajax_views``
+ - ``dataroot_in_settings``
+ - ``externals``
+ - ``externals_map``
+ - ``i18n_loaded_from_cache``
+ - ``language_paths``
+ - ``pagesetupdone``
+ - ``registered_tag_metadata_names``
+ - ``simplecache_enabled_in_settings``
+ - ``translations``
+ - ``viewpath``
  - ``views``
+ - ``view_path``
  - ``viewtype``
- - ``viewpath``
+ - ``wordblacklist``
 
 Also note that plugins should not be accessing the global ``$CONFIG`` variable except for in ``settings.php``.
 
@@ -244,6 +257,7 @@ Removed Functions
  - ``get_db_link()``
  - ``load_plugins()``
  - ``mysql_*()``: Elgg :ref:`no longer uses ext/mysql<migrated-to-pdo>`
+ - ``remove_blacklist()``
  - ``set_template_handler()``
 
 Removed Plugin Hooks
diff --git a/docs/info/config.php b/docs/info/config.php
index 186c47b5c34..a5d8f615728 100644
--- a/docs/info/config.php
+++ b/docs/info/config.php
@@ -8,56 +8,6 @@
  * @subpackage Configuration
  */
 
-/**
- * Paths to scan for autoloading languages.
- *
- * Languages are automatically loaded for the site or
- * user's default language.  Plugins can extend or override strings.
- * language_paths is an array of paths to scan for PHP files matching
- * the default language.  The order of paths is determined by the plugin load order,
- * with later entries overriding earlier.  Language files within these paths are
- * named as the two-letter ISO 639-1 country codes for the language they represent.
- *
- * Language paths are stored as array keys in the format:
- * <code>
- * $CONFIG->language_paths[str $language_path] = true
- * </code>
- *
- * @link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1
- * @see register_language()
- * @global array $CONFIG->language_paths
- */
-$CONFIG->language_paths;
-
-
-/**
- * String translations for the current language.
- *
- * Elgg uses a key-based system for string internationalization, which
- * is accessed with {@link elgg_echo()}.
- *
- * Translations are stored as an array in the following format:
- * <code>
- * $CONFIG->translations[str $language_code][str $string_key] = str 'Translated Language String';
- * </code>
- *
- * @see register_translation()
- * @see elgg_echo()
- * @global array $CONFIG->translations
- */
-$CONFIG->translations;
-
-/**
- * An array of metadata names to be used as tags.
- *
- * Because tags are simply names of meatdata, This is used
- * in search to prevent data exposure by searching on
- * arbitrary metadata.
- *
- * @global array $CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names
- */
-$CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names;
-
 /**
  * The full path where Elgg is installed.
  *
@@ -65,13 +15,6 @@
  */
 $CONFIG->path;
 
-/**
- * The full path for core views.
- *
- * @global string $CONFIG->view_path
- */
-$CONFIG->view_path;
-
 /**
  * The full path where plugins are stored.
  *
@@ -235,13 +178,6 @@
  */
 $CONFIG->menu_items_custom_items;
 
-/**
- * A list of valid view types as discovered.
- *
- * @global array $CONFIG->view_types
- */
-$CONFIG->view_types;
-
 /**
  * A list of plugins and their load order
  *
@@ -278,14 +214,6 @@
  */
 $CONFIG->servicehandler;
 
-/**
- * A list of stop works for search.  Not currently used.
- *
- * @global array $CONFIG->wordblacklist
- * @todo currently unused.
- */
-$CONFIG->wordblacklist;
-
 /**
  * A list of menu contexts for menus registered with {@link add_menu()}.  Not currently used.
  *
@@ -336,4 +264,72 @@
  * 
  * @global string $CONFIG->exception_include
  */
-$CONFIG->exception_include = '';
\ No newline at end of file
+$CONFIG->exception_include = '';
+
+/**
+ * Paths to scan for autoloading languages.
+ *
+ * Languages are automatically loaded for the site or
+ * user's default language.  Plugins can extend or override strings.
+ * language_paths is an array of paths to scan for PHP files matching
+ * the default language.  The order of paths is determined by the plugin load order,
+ * with later entries overriding earlier.  Language files within these paths are
+ * named as the two-letter ISO 639-1 country codes for the language they represent.
+ *
+ * Language paths are stored as array keys in the format:
+ * <code>
+ * $_ELGG->language_paths[str $language_path] = true
+ * </code>
+ *
+ * @link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1
+ * @see register_language()
+ * @global array $_ELGG->language_paths
+ * @access private
+ */
+$_ELGG->language_paths;
+
+/**
+ * String translations for the current language.
+ *
+ * Elgg uses a key-based system for string internationalization, which
+ * is accessed with {@link elgg_echo()}.
+ *
+ * Translations are stored as an array in the following format:
+ * <code>
+ * $_ELGG->translations[str $language_code][str $string_key] = str 'Translated Language String';
+ * </code>
+ *
+ * @see register_translation()
+ * @see elgg_echo()
+ * @global array $_ELGG->translations
+ * @access private
+ */
+$_ELGG->translations;
+
+/**
+ * An array of metadata names to be used as tags.
+ *
+ * Because tags are simply names of meatdata, This is used
+ * in search to prevent data exposure by searching on
+ * arbitrary metadata.
+ *
+ * @global array $_ELGG->registered_tag_metadata_names
+ * @access private
+ */
+$_ELGG->registered_tag_metadata_names;
+
+/**
+ * The full path for core views.
+ *
+ * @global string $_ELGG->view_path
+ * @access private
+ */
+$_ELGG->view_path;
+
+/**
+ * A list of valid view types as discovered.
+ *
+ * @global array $_ELGG->view_types
+ * @access private
+ */
+$_ELGG->view_types;
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Application.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Application.php
index 5e1d5f12fa2..108b0ad3911 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Application.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Application.php
@@ -79,6 +79,18 @@ public function __construct(ServiceProvider $services = null) {
 			$START_MICROTIME = microtime(true);
 		}
 
+		/**
+		 * This was introduced in 2.0 in order to remove all internal non-API state from $CONFIG. This will
+		 * be a breaking change, but frees us to refactor in 2.x without fear of plugins depending on
+		 * $CONFIG.
+		 *
+		 * @access private
+		 */
+		global $_ELGG;
+		if (!isset($_ELGG)) {
+			$_ELGG = new \stdClass();
+		}
+
 		$this->engine_dir = dirname(dirname(__DIR__));
 		$this->install_dir = dirname($this->engine_dir);
 	}
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Application/CacheHandler.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Application/CacheHandler.php
index c8c2e811199..7abcc2e9f4c 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Application/CacheHandler.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Application/CacheHandler.php
@@ -311,13 +311,13 @@ protected function renderView($view, $viewtype) {
 		// disable error reporting so we don't cache problems
 		$this->config->set('debug', null);
 
-		// @todo elgg_view() checks if the page set is done (isset($CONFIG->pagesetupdone)) and
+		// @todo elgg_view() checks if the page set is done (isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone)) and
 		// triggers an event if it's not. Calling elgg_view() here breaks submenus
 		// (at least) because the page setup hook is called before any
 		// contexts can be correctly set (since this is called before page_handler()).
 		// To avoid this, lie about $CONFIG->pagehandlerdone to force
 		// the trigger correctly when the first view is actually being output.
-		$this->config->set('pagesetupdone', true);
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone = true;
 
 		return elgg_view($view);
 	}
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFiles.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFiles.php
index 7b6e4c63d27..eb67e180961 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFiles.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFiles.php
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public function register($type, $name, $url, $location, $priority = 500) {
 		// no negative priorities right now.
 		$priority = max((int)$priority, 0);
 	
-		$item = elgg_extract($name, $this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type]);
+		$item = elgg_extract($name, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type]);
 	
 		if ($item) {
 			// updating a registered item
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ public function register($type, $name, $url, $location, $priority = 500) {
 			$item->location = $location;
 	
 			// if loaded before registered, that means it hasn't been added to the list yet
-			if ($this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->contains($item)) {
-				$priority = $this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->move($item, $priority);
+			if ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->contains($item)) {
+				$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->move($item, $priority);
 			} else {
-				$priority = $this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->add($item, $priority);
+				$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->add($item, $priority);
 			}
 		} else {
 			$item = new \stdClass();
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ public function register($type, $name, $url, $location, $priority = 500) {
 			$item->url = $url;
 			$item->location = $location;
 	
-			$priority = $this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->add($item, $priority);
+			$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->add($item, $priority);
 		}
-	
-		$this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type][$name] = $item;
+
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type][$name] = $item;
 	
 		return $priority !== false;
 	}
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ public function unregister($type, $name) {
 		$this->bootstrap($type);
 	
 		$name = trim(strtolower($name));
-		$item = elgg_extract($name, $this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type]);
+		$item = elgg_extract($name, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type]);
 	
 		if ($item) {
-			unset($this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type][$name]);
-			return $this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->remove($item);
+			unset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type][$name]);
+			return $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->remove($item);
 		}
 	
 		return false;
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public function load($type, $name) {
 	
 		$name = trim(strtolower($name));
 	
-		$item = elgg_extract($name, $this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type]);
+		$item = elgg_extract($name, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type]);
 	
 		if ($item) {
 			// update a registered item
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ public function load($type, $name) {
 			$item->loaded = true;
 			$item->url = '';
 			$item->location = '';
-	
-			$this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->add($item);
-			$this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type][$name] = $item;
+
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->add($item);
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type][$name] = $item;
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -158,11 +158,11 @@ public function getLoadedFiles($type, $location) {
 		
 	
 		if (
-			isset($this->CONFIG->externals)
-			&& isset($this->CONFIG->externals[$type])
-			&& $this->CONFIG->externals[$type] instanceof \ElggPriorityList
+			isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals)
+			&& isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type])
+			&& $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type] instanceof \ElggPriorityList
 		) {
-			$items = $this->CONFIG->externals[$type]->getElements();
+			$items = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]->getElements();
 	
 			$items = array_filter($items, function($v) use ($location) {
 				return $v->loaded == true && $v->location == $location;
@@ -178,27 +178,27 @@ public function getLoadedFiles($type, $location) {
 	}
 	
 	/**
-	 * Bootstraps the externals data structure in $CONFIG.
+	 * Bootstraps the externals data structure in $_ELGG.
 	 *
 	 * @param string $type The type of external, js or css.
 	 * @return null
 	 */
 	protected function bootstrap($type) {
 
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->externals)) {
-			$this->CONFIG->externals = array();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals)) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals = array();
 		}
 	
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->externals[$type]) || !$this->CONFIG->externals[$type] instanceof \ElggPriorityList) {
-			$this->CONFIG->externals[$type] = new \ElggPriorityList();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type]) || !$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type] instanceof \ElggPriorityList) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals[$type] = new \ElggPriorityList();
 		}
 	
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->externals_map)) {
-			$this->CONFIG->externals_map = array();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map)) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map = array();
 		}
 	
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type])) {
-			$this->CONFIG->externals_map[$type] = array();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type])) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map[$type] = array();
 		}
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Cache/SystemCache.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Cache/SystemCache.php
index 6ce089267ca..d614936d1f0 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Cache/SystemCache.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Cache/SystemCache.php
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ function loadAll() {
 		if (!is_string($data)) {
 			return;
 		}
-		$this->CONFIG->view_types = unserialize($data);
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types = unserialize($data);
 
 		// Note: We don't need view_overrides for operation. Inspector can pull this from the cache
 	
@@ -164,16 +164,16 @@ function init() {
 
 		// cache system data if enabled and not loaded
 		if (!$this->CONFIG->system_cache_loaded) {
-			$this->save('view_types', serialize($this->CONFIG->view_types));
+			$this->save('view_types', serialize($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types));
 
 			_elgg_services()->views->cacheConfiguration($this);
 		}
 	
-		if (!$this->CONFIG->i18n_loaded_from_cache) {
+		if (!$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->i18n_loaded_from_cache) {
 
 			_elgg_services()->translator->reloadAllTranslations();
 
-			foreach ($this->CONFIG->translations as $lang => $map) {
+			foreach ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations as $lang => $map) {
 				$this->save("$lang.lang", serialize($map));
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Database/Plugins.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Database/Plugins.php
index 3eee010b9a8..d7b75ee7b2c 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Database/Plugins.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Database/Plugins.php
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ function load() {
 			$start_flags = $start_flags & ~ELGG_PLUGIN_REGISTER_VIEWS;
 		}
 	
-		if (elgg_get_config('i18n_loaded_from_cache')) {
+		if (!empty($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->i18n_loaded_from_cache)) {
 			$start_flags = $start_flags & ~ELGG_PLUGIN_REGISTER_LANGUAGES;
 		}
 	
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/I18n/Translator.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/I18n/Translator.php
index af2d1733b63..f0661d8fc62 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/I18n/Translator.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/I18n/Translator.php
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ function translate($message_key, $args = array(), $language = "") {
 			$args = array();
 		}
 	
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->translations)) {
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations)) {
 			// this means we probably had an exception before translations were initialized
 			$this->registerTranslations($this->defaultPath);
 		}
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function translate($message_key, $args = array(), $language = "") {
 			$language = $CURRENT_LANGUAGE;
 		}
 
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->translations[$language])) {
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language])) {
 			// The language being requested is not the same as the language of the
 			// logged in user, so we will have to load it separately. (Most likely
 			// we're sending a notification and the recipient is using a different
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ function translate($message_key, $args = array(), $language = "") {
 			_elgg_load_translations_for_language($language);
 		}
 
-		if (isset($this->CONFIG->translations[$language][$message_key])) {
-			$string = $this->CONFIG->translations[$language][$message_key];
-		} else if (isset($this->CONFIG->translations["en"][$message_key])) {
-			$string = $this->CONFIG->translations["en"][$message_key];
+		if (isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language][$message_key])) {
+			$string = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language][$message_key];
+		} else if (isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations["en"][$message_key])) {
+			$string = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations["en"][$message_key];
 			_elgg_services()->logger->notice(sprintf('Missing %s translation for "%s" language key', $language, $message_key));
 		} else {
 			$string = $message_key;
@@ -107,18 +107,18 @@ function translate($message_key, $args = array(), $language = "") {
 	 */
 	function addTranslation($country_code, $language_array) {
 		
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->translations)) {
-			$this->CONFIG->translations = array();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations)) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations = array();
 		}
 	
 		$country_code = strtolower($country_code);
 		$country_code = trim($country_code);
 		if (is_array($language_array) && $country_code != "") {
 			if (sizeof($language_array) > 0) { 
-				if (!isset($this->CONFIG->translations[$country_code])) {
-					$this->CONFIG->translations[$country_code] = $language_array;
+				if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$country_code])) {
+					$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$country_code] = $language_array;
 				} else {
-					$this->CONFIG->translations[$country_code] = $language_array + $this->CONFIG->translations[$country_code];
+					$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$country_code] = $language_array + $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$country_code];
 				}
 			}
 			return true;
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ function loadTranslations() {
 			}
 	
 			if ($loaded) {
-				$this->CONFIG->i18n_loaded_from_cache = true;
+				$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->i18n_loaded_from_cache = true;
 				// this is here to force 
-				$this->CONFIG->language_paths[$this->defaultPath] = true;
+				$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths[$this->defaultPath] = true;
 				return;
 			}
 		}
@@ -215,10 +215,10 @@ function registerTranslations($path, $load_all = false) {
 		$path = sanitise_filepath($path);
 	
 		// Make a note of this path just incase we need to register this language later
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->language_paths)) {
-			$this->CONFIG->language_paths = array();
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths)) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths = array();
 		}
-		$this->CONFIG->language_paths[$path] = true;
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths[$path] = true;
 	
 		// Get the current language based on site defaults and user preference
 		$current_language = $this->getCurrentLanguage();
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ function reloadAllTranslations() {
 			return;
 		}
 	
-		if ($this->CONFIG->i18n_loaded_from_cache) {
+		if ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->i18n_loaded_from_cache) {
 			$cache = elgg_get_system_cache();
 			$cache_dir = $cache->getVariable("cache_path");
 			$filenames = elgg_get_file_list($cache_dir, array(), array(), array(".lang"));
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ function reloadAllTranslations() {
 				}
 			}
 		} else {
-			foreach ($this->CONFIG->language_paths as $path => $dummy) {
+			foreach ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths as $path => $dummy) {
 				$this->registerTranslations($path, true);
 			}
 		}
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ function getInstalledTranslations() {
 		
 		$admin_logged_in = _elgg_services()->session->isAdminLoggedIn();
 	
-		foreach ($this->CONFIG->translations as $k => $v) {
+		foreach ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations as $k => $v) {
 			$installed[$k] = $this->translate($k, array(), $k);
 			if ($admin_logged_in && ($k != 'en')) {
 				$completeness = $this->getLanguageCompleteness($k);
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ function getLanguageCompleteness($language) {
 	
 		$language = sanitise_string($language);
 	
-		$en = count($this->CONFIG->translations['en']);
+		$en = count($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en']);
 	
 		$missing = $this->getMissingLanguageKeys($language);
 		if ($missing) {
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ function getLanguageCompleteness($language) {
 			$missing = 0;
 		}
 	
-		//$lang = count($this->CONFIG->translations[$language]);
+		//$lang = count($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language]);
 		$lang = $en - $missing;
 	
 		return round(($lang / $en) * 100, 2);
@@ -376,9 +376,9 @@ function getMissingLanguageKeys($language) {
 	
 		$missing = array();
 	
-		foreach ($this->CONFIG->translations['en'] as $k => $v) {
-			if ((!isset($this->CONFIG->translations[$language][$k]))
-			|| ($this->CONFIG->translations[$language][$k] == $this->CONFIG->translations['en'][$k])) {
+		foreach ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en'] as $k => $v) {
+			if ((!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language][$k]))
+			|| ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language][$k] == $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en'][$k])) {
 				$missing[] = $k;
 			}
 		}
@@ -404,16 +404,16 @@ function languageKeyExists($key, $language = 'en') {
 			return false;
 		}
 	
-		if (($language !== 'en') && !array_key_exists($language, $this->CONFIG->translations)) {
+		if (($language !== 'en') && !array_key_exists($language, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations)) {
 			// Ensure that all possible translations are loaded
 			$this->reloadAllTranslations();
 		}
 	
-		if (!array_key_exists($language, $this->CONFIG->translations)) {
+		if (!array_key_exists($language, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations)) {
 			return false;
 		}
 	
-		return array_key_exists($key, $this->CONFIG->translations[$language]);
+		return array_key_exists($key, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language]);
 	}
 	
 	/**
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/Logger.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/Logger.php
index caf3c07007d..88b2aa00bd6 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/Logger.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/Logger.php
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ protected function process($data, $display, $level) {
 		// Do not want to write to screen before page creation has started.
 		// This is not fool-proof but probably fixes 95% of the cases when logging
 		// results in data sent to the browser before the page is begun.
-		if ($this->config->getVolatile('pagesetupdone') === null) {
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone)) {
 			$display = false;
 		}
 
diff --git a/engine/classes/Elgg/ViewsService.php b/engine/classes/Elgg/ViewsService.php
index 38d2338761e..e2a398fb028 100644
--- a/engine/classes/Elgg/ViewsService.php
+++ b/engine/classes/Elgg/ViewsService.php
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ public function renderView($view, array $vars = array(), $bypass = false, $viewt
 		$view_orig = $view;
 
 		// Trigger the pagesetup event
-		if (!isset($this->CONFIG->pagesetupdone) && !empty($this->CONFIG->boot_complete)) {
-			$this->CONFIG->pagesetupdone = true;
+		if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone) && !empty($this->CONFIG->boot_complete)) {
+			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone = true;
 			_elgg_services()->events->trigger('pagesetup', 'system');
 		}
 
diff --git a/engine/classes/ElggInstaller.php b/engine/classes/ElggInstaller.php
index 3a1ccc56ab4..45001309244 100644
--- a/engine/classes/ElggInstaller.php
+++ b/engine/classes/ElggInstaller.php
@@ -444,8 +444,8 @@ protected function settings($submissionVars) {
 		// if Apache, we give user option of having Elgg create data directory
 		//if (ElggRewriteTester::guessWebServer() == 'apache') {
 		//	$formVars['dataroot']['type'] = 'combo';
-		//	$this->CONFIG->translations['en']['install:settings:help:dataroot'] =
-		//			$this->CONFIG->translations['en']['install:settings:help:dataroot:apache'];
+		//	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en']['install:settings:help:dataroot'] =
+		//			$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en']['install:settings:help:dataroot:apache'];
 		//}
 
 		if ($this->isAction) {
@@ -533,8 +533,8 @@ protected function admin($submissionVars) {
 		// bit of a hack to get the password help to show right number of characters
 		
 		$lang = _elgg_services()->translator->getCurrentLanguage();
-		$this->CONFIG->translations[$lang]['install:admin:help:password1'] =
-				sprintf($this->CONFIG->translations[$lang]['install:admin:help:password1'],
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$lang]['install:admin:help:password1'] =
+				sprintf($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$lang]['install:admin:help:password1'],
 				$this->CONFIG->min_password_length);
 
 		$formVars = $this->makeFormSticky($formVars, $submissionVars);
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ protected function bootstrapConfig() {
 		$this->CONFIG->wwwroot = $this->getBaseUrl();
 		$this->CONFIG->url = $this->CONFIG->wwwroot;
 		$this->CONFIG->path = "{$this->getElggRoot()}/";
-		$this->CONFIG->view_path =	$this->CONFIG->path . 'views/';
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_path =	$this->CONFIG->path . 'views/';
 		$this->CONFIG->pluginspath = $this->CONFIG->path . 'mod/';
 		$this->CONFIG->context = array();
 		$this->CONFIG->entity_types = array('group', 'object', 'site', 'user');
diff --git a/engine/lib/configuration.php b/engine/lib/configuration.php
index 30611bba6b1..ab6270d1c8e 100644
--- a/engine/lib/configuration.php
+++ b/engine/lib/configuration.php
@@ -316,7 +316,6 @@ function _elgg_load_application_config() {
 	$install_root = str_replace("\\", "/", dirname(dirname(dirname(__FILE__))));
 	$defaults = array(
 		'path' => "$install_root/",
-		'view_path' => "$install_root/views/",
 		'plugins_path' => "$install_root/mod/",
 		'language' => 'en',
 
@@ -330,6 +329,8 @@ function _elgg_load_application_config() {
 		}
 	}
 
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_path = "$install_root/views/";
+
 	// set cookie values for session and remember me
 	_elgg_configure_cookies($CONFIG);
 
@@ -340,16 +341,16 @@ function _elgg_load_application_config() {
 	// allow sites to set dataroot and simplecache_enabled in settings.php
 	if (isset($CONFIG->dataroot)) {
 		$CONFIG->dataroot = sanitise_filepath($CONFIG->dataroot);
-		$CONFIG->dataroot_in_settings = true;
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->dataroot_in_settings = true;
 	} else {
 		$dataroot = datalist_get('dataroot');
 		if (!empty($dataroot)) {
 			$CONFIG->dataroot = $dataroot;
 		}
-		$CONFIG->dataroot_in_settings = false;
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->dataroot_in_settings = false;
 	}
 	if (isset($CONFIG->simplecache_enabled)) {
-		$CONFIG->simplecache_enabled_in_settings = true;
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->simplecache_enabled_in_settings = true;
 	} else {
 		$simplecache_enabled = datalist_get('simplecache_enabled');
 		if ($simplecache_enabled !== false) {
@@ -357,7 +358,7 @@ function _elgg_load_application_config() {
 		} else {
 			$CONFIG->simplecache_enabled = 1;
 		}
-		$CONFIG->simplecache_enabled_in_settings = false;
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->simplecache_enabled_in_settings = false;
 	}
 
 	$system_cache_enabled = datalist_get('system_cache_enabled');
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ function _elgg_load_application_config() {
 	// needs to be set before system, init for links in html head
 	$CONFIG->lastcache = (int)datalist_get("simplecache_lastupdate");
 
-	$CONFIG->i18n_loaded_from_cache = false;
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->i18n_loaded_from_cache = false;
 
 	// this must be synced with the enum for the entities table
 	$CONFIG->entity_types = array('group', 'object', 'site', 'user');
diff --git a/engine/lib/deprecated-1.8.php b/engine/lib/deprecated-1.8.php
index 81ed4f37bdf..65a3f16d3c6 100644
--- a/engine/lib/deprecated-1.8.php
+++ b/engine/lib/deprecated-1.8.php
@@ -1462,31 +1462,6 @@ function filter_string($string) {
 	return $terms;
 }
 
-/**
- * Returns true if the word in $input is considered significant
- *
- * @deprecated 1.8 Don't use this.
- *
- * @param string $input A word
- *
- * @return true|false
- */
-function remove_blacklist($input) {
-	elgg_deprecated_notice('remove_blacklist() was deprecated!', 1.8);
-
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (!is_array($CONFIG->wordblacklist)) {
-		return $input;
-	}
-
-	if (strlen($input) < 3 || in_array($input, $CONFIG->wordblacklist)) {
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	return true;
-}
-
 /**
  * Gets the guid of the entity that owns the current page.
  *
diff --git a/engine/lib/deprecated-1.9.php b/engine/lib/deprecated-1.9.php
index 878406e5f15..35f1ffb4260 100644
--- a/engine/lib/deprecated-1.9.php
+++ b/engine/lib/deprecated-1.9.php
@@ -3045,7 +3045,7 @@ function elgg_view_tree($view_root, $viewtype = "") {
 	}
 
 	// Now examine core
-	$location = $CONFIG->view_path;
+	$location = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_path;
 	$viewtype = elgg_get_viewtype();
 	$root = $location . $viewtype . '/' . $view_root;
 
diff --git a/engine/lib/elgglib.php b/engine/lib/elgglib.php
index 92e1823cebe..0a16cf5fa5d 100644
--- a/engine/lib/elgglib.php
+++ b/engine/lib/elgglib.php
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ function _elgg_php_exception_handler($exception) {
 
 	// we don't want the 'pagesetup', 'system' event to fire
 	global $CONFIG;
-	$CONFIG->pagesetupdone = true;
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->pagesetupdone = true;
 
 	try {
 		// allow custom scripts to trigger on exception
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@ function _elgg_ajax_page_handler($segments) {
 			$view = 'forms/' . implode('/', array_slice($segments, 1));
 		}
 
-		$allowed_views = elgg_get_config('allowed_ajax_views');
+		$allowed_views = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views;
 		if (!array_key_exists($view, $allowed_views)) {
 			header('HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden');
 			exit;
@@ -1897,17 +1897,6 @@ function _elgg_init() {
 
 	// Trigger the shutdown:system event upon PHP shutdown.
 	register_shutdown_function('_elgg_shutdown_hook');
-	
-	// Sets a blacklist of words in the current language.
-	// This is a comma separated list in word:blacklist.
-	// @todo possibly deprecate
-	$CONFIG->wordblacklist = array();
-	$list = explode(',', elgg_echo('word:blacklist'));
-	if ($list) {
-		foreach ($list as $l) {
-			$CONFIG->wordblacklist[] = trim($l);
-		}
-	}
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/engine/lib/languages.php b/engine/lib/languages.php
index 2d6cd9be588..577b0fa3a4c 100644
--- a/engine/lib/languages.php
+++ b/engine/lib/languages.php
@@ -159,15 +159,13 @@ function register_translations($path, $load_all = false) {
  * @return bool success
  */
 function _elgg_register_translations_for_language($path, $language) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
 	$path = sanitise_filepath($path);
 
 	// Make a note of this path just in case we need to register this language later
-	if (!isset($CONFIG->language_paths)) {
-		$CONFIG->language_paths = array();
+	if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths = array();
 	}
-	$CONFIG->language_paths[$path] = true;
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->language_paths[$path] = true;
 
 	$language_file = "{$path}{$language}.php";
 
diff --git a/engine/lib/tags.php b/engine/lib/tags.php
index c43b1d6d4b5..40c150d5e83 100644
--- a/engine/lib/tags.php
+++ b/engine/lib/tags.php
@@ -208,14 +208,12 @@ function elgg_get_tags(array $options = array()) {
  * @since 1.7.0
  */
 function elgg_register_tag_metadata_name($name) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (!isset($CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names)) {
-		$CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names = array();
+	if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names = array();
 	}
 
-	if (!in_array($name, $CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names)) {
-		$CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names[] = $name;
+	if (!in_array($name, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names[] = $name;
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -228,9 +226,7 @@ function elgg_register_tag_metadata_name($name) {
  * @since 1.7.0
  */
 function elgg_get_registered_tag_metadata_names() {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	$names = (isset($CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names)) ? $CONFIG->registered_tag_metadata_names : array();
+	$names = (isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names)) ? $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->registered_tag_metadata_names : array();
 
 	return $names;
 }
diff --git a/engine/lib/views.php b/engine/lib/views.php
index 59a324e8e33..1e08c2f90a2 100644
--- a/engine/lib/views.php
+++ b/engine/lib/views.php
@@ -114,14 +114,12 @@ function elgg_get_viewtype() {
  * @return bool
  */
 function elgg_register_viewtype($viewtype) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (!isset($CONFIG->view_types) || !is_array($CONFIG->view_types)) {
-		$CONFIG->view_types = array();
+	if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types) || !is_array($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types = array();
 	}
 
-	if (!in_array($viewtype, $CONFIG->view_types)) {
-		$CONFIG->view_types[] = $viewtype;
+	if (!in_array($viewtype, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types[] = $viewtype;
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -136,13 +134,11 @@ function elgg_register_viewtype($viewtype) {
  * @since 1.9.0
  */
 function elgg_is_registered_viewtype($viewtype) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (!isset($CONFIG->view_types) || !is_array($CONFIG->view_types)) {
+	if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types) || !is_array($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	return in_array($viewtype, $CONFIG->view_types);
+	return in_array($viewtype, $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_types);
 }
 
 
@@ -229,13 +225,11 @@ function elgg_unregister_ajax_view($view) {
  * @since 1.9.0
  */
 function elgg_register_external_view($view, $cacheable = false) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (!isset($CONFIG->allowed_ajax_views)) {
-		$CONFIG->allowed_ajax_views = array();
+	if (!isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views)) {
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views = array();
 	}
 
-	$CONFIG->allowed_ajax_views[$view] = true;
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views[$view] = true;
 
 	if ($cacheable) {
 		_elgg_services()->views->registerCacheableView($view);
@@ -262,10 +256,8 @@ function _elgg_is_view_cacheable($view) {
  * @since 1.9.0
  */
 function elgg_unregister_external_view($view) {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
-	if (isset($CONFIG->allowed_ajax_views[$view])) {
-		unset($CONFIG->allowed_ajax_views[$view]);
+	if (isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views[$view])) {
+		unset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->allowed_ajax_views[$view]);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1620,7 +1612,7 @@ function elgg_views_boot() {
 	elgg_register_plugin_hook_handler('output:before', 'page', '_elgg_views_send_header_x_frame_options');
 
 	// @todo the cache is loaded in load_plugins() but we need to know viewtypes earlier
-	$view_path = $CONFIG->view_path;
+	$view_path = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->view_path;
 	$viewtype_dirs = scandir($view_path);
 	foreach ($viewtype_dirs as $viewtype) {
 		if (_elgg_is_valid_viewtype($viewtype) && is_dir($view_path . $viewtype)) {
diff --git a/engine/tests/ElggCoreHelpersTest.php b/engine/tests/ElggCoreHelpersTest.php
index 3341cefefc0..93bb80ba070 100644
--- a/engine/tests/ElggCoreHelpersTest.php
+++ b/engine/tests/ElggCoreHelpersTest.php
@@ -26,10 +26,8 @@ public function setUp() {
 	 * Called after each test method.
 	 */
 	public function tearDown() {
-
-		global $CONFIG;
-		unset($CONFIG->externals);
-		unset($CONFIG->externals_map);
+		unset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals);
+		unset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -221,20 +219,18 @@ public function testElggFormatElement() {
 	 * Test elgg_register_js()
 	 */
 	public function testElggRegisterJS() {
-		global $CONFIG;
-
 		// specify name
 		$result = elgg_register_js('key', 'http://test1.com', 'footer');
 		$this->assertTrue($result);
-		$this->assertTrue(isset($CONFIG->externals_map['js']['key']));
+		$this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['key']));
 
-		$item = $CONFIG->externals_map['js']['key'];
-		$this->assertTrue($CONFIG->externals['js']->contains($item));
+		$item = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['key'];
+		$this->assertTrue($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js']->contains($item));
 
-		$priority = $CONFIG->externals['js']->getPriority($item);
+		$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js']->getPriority($item);
 		$this->assertTrue($priority !== false);
 
-		$item = $CONFIG->externals['js']->getElement($priority);
+		$item = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js']->getElement($priority);
 		$this->assertIdentical('http://test1.com', $item->url);
 
 		// send a bad url
@@ -246,20 +242,18 @@ public function testElggRegisterJS() {
 	 * Test elgg_register_css()
 	 */
 	public function testElggRegisterCSS() {
-		global $CONFIG;
-		
 		// specify name
 		$result = elgg_register_css('key', 'http://test1.com');
 		$this->assertTrue($result);
-		$this->assertTrue(isset($CONFIG->externals_map['css']['key']));
+		$this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['css']['key']));
 
-		$item = $CONFIG->externals_map['css']['key'];
-		$this->assertTrue($CONFIG->externals['css']->contains($item));
+		$item = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['css']['key'];
+		$this->assertTrue($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['css']->contains($item));
 
-		$priority = $CONFIG->externals['css']->getPriority($item);
+		$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['css']->getPriority($item);
 		$this->assertTrue($priority !== false);
 
-		$item = $CONFIG->externals['css']->getElement($priority);
+		$item = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['css']->getElement($priority);
 		$this->assertIdentical('http://test1.com', $item->url);
 	}
 
@@ -267,8 +261,6 @@ public function testElggRegisterCSS() {
 	 * Test elgg_unregister_js()
 	 */
 	public function testElggUnregisterJS() {
-		global $CONFIG;
-
 		$base = trim(elgg_get_site_url(), "/");
 
 		$urls = array('id1' => "$base/urla", 'id2' => "$base/urlb", 'id3' => "$base/urlc");
@@ -280,9 +272,9 @@ public function testElggUnregisterJS() {
 		$result = elgg_unregister_js('id1');
 		$this->assertTrue($result);
 
-		$js = $CONFIG->externals['js'];
+		$js = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js'];
 		$elements = $js->getElements();
-		$this->assertFalse(isset($CONFIG->externals_map['js']['id1']));
+		$this->assertFalse(isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['id1']));
 		
 		foreach ($elements as $element) {
 			if (isset($element->name)) {
@@ -299,19 +291,19 @@ public function testElggUnregisterJS() {
 		$result = elgg_unregister_js('id2');
 		$elements = $js->getElements();
 
-		$this->assertFalse(isset($CONFIG->externals_map['js']['id2']));
+		$this->assertFalse(isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['id2']));
 		foreach ($elements as $element) {
 			if (isset($element->name)) {
 				$this->assertFalse($element->name == 'id2');
 			}
 		}
 
-		$this->assertTrue(isset($CONFIG->externals_map['js']['id3']));
+		$this->assertTrue(isset($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['id3']));
 
-		$priority = $CONFIG->externals['js']->getPriority($CONFIG->externals_map['js']['id3']);
+		$priority = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js']->getPriority($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map['js']['id3']);
 		$this->assertTrue($priority !== false);
 
-		$item = $CONFIG->externals['js']->getElement($priority);
+		$item = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals['js']->getElement($priority);
 		$this->assertIdentical($urls['id3'], $item->url);
 	}
 
diff --git a/engine/tests/phpunit/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFilesTest.php b/engine/tests/phpunit/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFilesTest.php
index d13f57369b6..7317b82258b 100644
--- a/engine/tests/phpunit/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFilesTest.php
+++ b/engine/tests/phpunit/Elgg/Assets/ExternalFilesTest.php
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ public function testPreservesInputConfigData() {
 
 		$list->add($obj1, 600);
 		$list->add($obj2, 300);
-		$config->externals = array(
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals = array(
 			'foo' => $list
 		);
-		$config->externals_map = array(
+		$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map = array(
 			'foo' => array(
 				'bar1' => $obj1,
 				'bar2' => $obj2,
diff --git a/engine/tests/phpunit/bootstrap.php b/engine/tests/phpunit/bootstrap.php
index 5e836f346d6..922876a29e2 100644
--- a/engine/tests/phpunit/bootstrap.php
+++ b/engine/tests/phpunit/bootstrap.php
@@ -34,12 +34,15 @@ function _elgg_testing_application(\Elgg\Application $app = null) {
 	'wwwroot' => 'http://localhost/',
 	'path' => __DIR__ . '/../../../',
 	'dataroot' => __DIR__ . '/test_files/dataroot/',
-	'view_path' => __DIR__ . '/../../../views/',
 	'site_guid' => 1,
 	'AutoloaderManager_skip_storage' => true,
 	'simplecache_enabled' => false,
 ];
 
+global $_ELGG;
+$_ELGG = (object)[
+	'view_path' => __DIR__ . '/../../../views/',
+];
 
 function _elgg_testing_config(\Elgg\Config $config = null) {
 	static $inst;
diff --git a/mod/developers/classes/ElggInspector.php b/mod/developers/classes/ElggInspector.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 1f5a4e8b60b..00000000000
--- a/mod/developers/classes/ElggInspector.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,303 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-/**
- * Inspect Elgg variables
- *
- */
-
-/**
- * @deprecated 1.11
- *
- * @access private
- */
-class ElggInspector {
-
-	/**
-	 * Constructor
-	 */
-	public function __construct() {
-		elgg_deprecated_notice(__CLASS__ . ' is deprecated and should not be used', '1.11');
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg event information
-	 *
-	 * returns [event,type] => array(handlers)
-	 */
-	public function getEvents() {
-		$tree = array();
-		$events = _elgg_services()->events->getAllHandlers();
-		foreach ($events as $event => $types) {
-			foreach ($types as $type => $priorities) {
-				foreach ($priorities as $priority => $handlers) {
-					$tree[$event . ',' . $type] = array_values($handlers);
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg plugin hooks information
-	 *
-	 * returns [hook,type] => array(handlers)
-	 */
-	public function getPluginHooks() {
-		$tree = array();
-		$hooks = _elgg_services()->hooks->getAllHandlers();
-		foreach ($hooks as $hook => $types) {
-			foreach ($types as $type => $priorities) {
-				foreach ($priorities as $priority => $handlers) {
-					$tree[$hook . ',' . $type] = array_values($handlers);
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg view information
-	 *
-	 * returns [view] => array(view location and extensions)
-	 */
-	public function getViews() {
-		global $CONFIG;
-
-		$coreViews = $this->recurseFileTree($CONFIG->view_path . "default/");
-
-		// remove base path and php extension
-		array_walk($coreViews, create_function('&$v,$k', 'global $CONFIG; $v = substr($v, strlen($CONFIG->view_path . "default/"), -4);'));
-
-		// setup views array before adding extensions and plugin views
-		$views = array();
-		foreach ($coreViews as $view) {
-			$views[$view] = array($CONFIG->view_path . "default/" . $view . ".php");
-		}
-
-		// add plugins and handle overrides
-		foreach ($CONFIG->views->locations['default'] as $view => $location) {
-			$views[$view] = array($location . $view . ".php");
-		}
-
-		// now extensions
-		foreach ($CONFIG->views->extensions as $view => $extensions) {
-			$view_list = array();
-			foreach ($extensions as $priority => $ext_view) {
-				if (isset($views[$ext_view])) {
-					$view_list[] = $views[$ext_view][0];
-				}
-			}
-			if (count($view_list) > 0) {
-				$views[$view] = $view_list;
-			}
-		}
-
-		ksort($views);
-
-		return $views;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg widget information
-	 *
-	 * returns [widget] => array(name, contexts)
-	 */
-	public function getWidgets() {
-		$tree = array();
-		foreach (_elgg_services()->widgets->getAllTypes() as $handler => $handler_obj) {
-			$tree[$handler] = array($handler_obj->name, implode(',', array_values($handler_obj->context)));
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg actions information
-	 *
-	 * returns [action] => array(file, access)
-	 */
-	public function getActions() {
-		$tree = array();
-		$access = array(
-			'public' => 'public',
-			'logged_in' => 'logged in only',
-			'admin' => 'admin only',
-		);
-		foreach (_elgg_services()->actions->getAllActions() as $action => $info) {
-			
-			$tree[$action] = array($info['file'], $access[$info['access']]);
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get simplecache information
-	 *
-	 * returns [views]
-	 */
-	public function getSimpleCache() {
-		global $CONFIG;
-
-		$tree = array();
-		foreach ($CONFIG->views->simplecache as $view => $foo) {
-			$tree[$view] = "";
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Get Elgg web services API methods
-	 *
-	 * returns [method] => array(function, parameters, call_method, api auth, user auth)
-	 */
-	public function getWebServices() {
-		global $API_METHODS;
-
-		$tree = array();
-		foreach ($API_METHODS as $method => $info) {
-			$params = implode(', ', array_keys($info['parameters']));
-			if (!$params) {
-				$params = 'none';
-			}
-			$tree[$method] = array(
-				$info['function'],
-				"params: $params",
-				$info['call_method'],
-				($info['require_api_auth']) ? 'API authentication required' : 'No API authentication required',
-			 	($info['require_user_auth']) ? 'User authentication required' : 'No user authentication required',
-			);
-		}
-
-		ksort($tree);
-
-		return $tree;
-	}
-	
-	/**
-	 * Get information about registered menus
-	 *
-	 * @returns array [menu name] => array(item name => array(text, href, section, parent))
-	 *
-	 */
-	public function getMenus() {
-		
-		$menus = elgg_get_config('menus');
-		
-		// get JIT menu items
-		// note that 'river' is absent from this list - hooks attempt to get object/subject entities cause problems
-		$jit_menus = array('annotation', 'entity', 'login', 'longtext', 'owner_block', 'user_hover', 'widget');
-		
-		// create generic ElggEntity, ElggAnnotation, ElggUser, ElggWidget
-		$annotation = new ElggAnnotation();
-		$annotation->id = 999;
-		$annotation->name = 'generic_comment';
-		$annotation->value = 'testvalue';
-		
-		$entity = new ElggObject();
-		$entity->guid = 999;
-		$entity->subtype = 'blog';
-		$entity->title = 'test entity';
-		$entity->access_id = ACCESS_PUBLIC;
-
-		$user = new ElggUser();
-		$user->guid = 999;
-		$user->name = "Test User";
-		$user->username = 'test_user';		
-		
-		$widget = new ElggWidget();
-		$widget->guid = 999;
-		$widget->title = 'test widget';
-		
-		// call plugin hooks
-		foreach ($jit_menus as $type) {
-			$params = array('entity' => $entity, 'annotation' => $annotation, 'user' => $user);
-			switch ($type){
-				case 'owner_block':
-				case 'user_hover':
-					$params['entity'] = $user;
-					break;
-				case 'widget':
-					// this does not work because you cannot set a guid on an entity
-					$params['entity'] = $widget;
-					break;
-				default:
-					break;
-			}
-			$menus[$type] = elgg_trigger_plugin_hook('register', 'menu:'.$type, $params, array());
-		}
-		
-		// put the menus in tree form for inspection
-		$tree = array();
-
-		foreach ($menus as $menu_name => $attributes) {
-			foreach ($attributes as $item) {
-				$name = $item->getName();
-				$text = htmlspecialchars($item->getText(), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8', false);
-				$href = $item->getHref();
-				if ($href === false) {
-					$href = 'not a link';
-				} elseif ($href === "") {
-					$href = 'not a direct link - possibly ajax';
-				}
-				$section = $item->getSection();
-				$parent = $item->getParentName();
-				if (!$parent) {
-					$parent = 'none';
-				}
-    
-				$tree[$menu_name][$name] = array(
-					"text: $text",
-					"href: $href",
-					"section: $section",
-					"parent: $parent",
-				);
-			}
-		}
-		
-		ksort($tree);
-		
-		return $tree;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Create array of all php files in directory and subdirectories
-	 *
-	 * @param $dir full path to directory to begin search
-	 * @return array of every php file in $dir or below in file tree
-	 */
-	protected function recurseFileTree($dir) {
-		$view_list = array();
-
-		$handle = opendir($dir);
-		while ($file = readdir($handle)) {
-			if ($file[0] == '.') {
-
-			} else if (is_dir($dir . $file)) {
-				$view_list = array_merge($view_list, $this->recurseFileTree($dir . $file. "/"));
-			} else {
-				$extension = strrchr(trim($file, "/"), '.');
-				if ($extension === ".php") {
-					$view_list[] = $dir . $file;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		closedir($handle);
-
-		return $view_list;
-	}
-
-}
diff --git a/mod/developers/start.php b/mod/developers/start.php
index 5957ffbc304..bae8bf3f876 100644
--- a/mod/developers/start.php
+++ b/mod/developers/start.php
@@ -113,11 +113,9 @@ function developers_setup_menu() {
  * Clear all the strings so the raw descriptor strings are displayed
  */
 function developers_clear_strings() {
-	global $CONFIG;
-
 	$language = get_language();
-	$CONFIG->translations[$language] = array();
-	$CONFIG->translations['en'] = array();
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations[$language] = array();
+	$GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations['en'] = array();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/mod/developers/views/default/admin/developers/settings.php b/mod/developers/views/default/admin/developers/settings.php
index 03a614f6724..e9ebdc0c164 100644
--- a/mod/developers/views/default/admin/developers/settings.php
+++ b/mod/developers/views/default/admin/developers/settings.php
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 		'type' => 'checkbox',
 		'value' => 1,
 		'checked' => elgg_get_config('simplecache_enabled') == 1,
-		'readonly' => elgg_get_config('simplecache_enabled_in_settings'),
+		'readonly' => $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->simplecache_enabled_in_settings,
 	),
 
 	'system_cache' => array(
diff --git a/mod/embed/start.php b/mod/embed/start.php
index 5694b5a3409..81fcd49d8a6 100644
--- a/mod/embed/start.php
+++ b/mod/embed/start.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function embed_longtext_menu($hook, $type, $items, $vars) {
 	// if loaded through ajax (like on /activity), pull in JS libs manually
 	// hack for #6422 because we haven't converted everything to amd yet
 	if (elgg_in_context('ajax')) {
-		$externals = elgg_get_config('externals_map');
+		$externals = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->externals_map;
 		$embed = elgg_extract('elgg.embed', $externals['js']);
 		$lightbox_js = elgg_extract('lightbox', $externals['js']);
 		$lightbox_css = elgg_extract('lightbox', $externals['css']);
diff --git a/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/caching.php b/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/caching.php
index d6bf52b38ca..b306524ef32 100644
--- a/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/caching.php
+++ b/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/caching.php
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@
 	'name' => 'simplecache_enabled',
 	'checked' => $is_simple_cache_on,
 );
-if (elgg_get_config('simplecache_enabled_in_settings')) {
+if ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->simplecache_enabled_in_settings) {
 	$params['class'] = 'elgg-state-disabled';
 	$params['label_class'] = 'elgg-state-disabled';
 }
 $simple_cache_input .= elgg_view("input/checkbox", $params);
 $simple_cache_warning = '';
 
-if (elgg_get_config('simplecache_enabled_in_settings')) {
+if ($GLOBALS['_ELGG']->simplecache_enabled_in_settings) {
 	$warning = elgg_echo('admin:settings:in_settings_file');
 	$simple_cache_warning .= "<span class=\"elgg-text-help\">$warning</span>";
 }
diff --git a/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/system.php b/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/system.php
index d15e9318f5c..e0102f75bac 100644
--- a/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/system.php
+++ b/views/default/forms/admin/site/advanced/system.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 			'name' => $field,
 			'value' => elgg_get_config($field)
 		];
-		if ($field == 'dataroot' && elgg_get_config('dataroot_in_settings')) {
+		if ($field == 'dataroot' && $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->dataroot_in_settings) {
 			$params['readonly'] = true;
 			$params['class'] = 'elgg-state-disabled';
 			$warning = elgg_echo('admin:settings:in_settings_file');
diff --git a/views/default/js/languages.php b/views/default/js/languages.php
index d0f3c76dab2..7e5b6c65e3b 100644
--- a/views/default/js/languages.php
+++ b/views/default/js/languages.php
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
 	$language = 'en';
 }
 
-$all_translations = elgg_get_config('translations');
+$all_translations = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations;
 $translations = $all_translations['en'];
 
 if ($language != 'en' && !isset($all_translations[$language])) {
 	// try to reload missing translations
 	reload_all_translations();
-	$all_translations = elgg_get_config('translations');
+	$all_translations = $GLOBALS['_ELGG']->translations;
 }
 
 if ($language != 'en' && isset($all_translations[$language])) {