diff --git a/bob/ip/base/__init__.py b/bob/ip/base/__init__.py
index 36e52b7..49c228b 100644
--- a/bob/ip/base/__init__.py
+++ b/bob/ip/base/__init__.py
@@ -16,21 +16,8 @@
 def get_config():
   """Returns a string containing the configuration information.
   """
+  return bob.extension.get_config(__name__, version.externals, version.api)
 
-  import pkg_resources
-  from .version import externals
-
-  packages = pkg_resources.require(__name__)
-  this = packages[0]
-  deps = packages[1:]
-
-  retval =  "%s: %s (%s)\n" % (this.key, this.version, this.location)
-  retval += "  - c/c++ dependencies:\n"
-  for k in sorted(externals): retval += "    - %s: %s\n" % (k, externals[k])
-  retval += "  - python dependencies:\n"
-  for d in deps: retval += "    - %s: %s (%s)\n" % (d.key, d.version, d.location)
-
-  return retval.strip()
 
 # gets sphinx autodoc done right - don't remove it
 __all__ = [_ for _ in dir() if not _.startswith('_')]
diff --git a/bob/ip/base/version.cpp b/bob/ip/base/version.cpp
index 9be74ff..fe43051 100644
--- a/bob/ip/base/version.cpp
+++ b/bob/ip/base/version.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <bob.io.base/config.h>
 #include <bob.sp/config.h>
 #include <bob.math/config.h>
+#include <bob.ip.base/config.h>
 
 static int dict_set(PyObject* d, const char* key, const char* value) {
   PyObject* v = Py_BuildValue("s", value);
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ static PyObject* create_module (void) {
   auto m_ = make_safe(m); ///< protects against early returns
 
   /* register version numbers and constants */
+  if (PyModule_AddIntConstant(m, "api", BOB_IP_BASE_API_VERSION) < 0) return 0;
   if (PyModule_AddStringConstant(m, "module", BOB_EXT_MODULE_VERSION) < 0) return 0;
 
   PyObject* externals = build_version_dictionary();