diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 65176d8f..28c40c30 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4 ${ACLOCAL_FLAGS}
 
 SUBDIRS = extensions po
 
+EXTRA_DIST = lib/convenience.js
+
 DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = --enable-extensions=all
 
 include include.mk
diff --git a/extension.mk b/extension.mk
index b16f64f0..fc90c235 100644
--- a/extension.mk
+++ b/extension.mk
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 include $(top_srcdir)/include.mk
 
 dist_extension_DATA = extension.js stylesheet.css
-nodist_extension_DATA = metadata.json $(EXTRA_EXTENSION)
+nodist_extension_DATA = metadata.json $(top_srcdir)/lib/convenience.js $(EXTRA_EXTENSION)
 
 EXTRA_DIST = metadata.json.in
 
diff --git a/extensions/alternate-tab/extension.js b/extensions/alternate-tab/extension.js
index 68b27e94..1334912d 100644
--- a/extensions/alternate-tab/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/alternate-tab/extension.js
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ const Gettext = imports.gettext.domain('gnome-shell-extensions');
 const _ = Gettext.gettext;
 const N_ = function(e) { return e };
 
+let settings;
+
 const POPUP_DELAY_TIMEOUT = 150; // milliseconds
 
 const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = 'org.gnome.shell.extensions.alternate-tab';
@@ -328,9 +330,8 @@ AltTabSettingsDialog.prototype = {
     },
 
     setBehaviour: function(behaviour) {
-           this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: SETTINGS_SCHEMA });
-           this._settings.set_string(SETTINGS_BEHAVIOUR_KEY, behaviour);
-           this._settings.set_boolean(SETTINGS_FIRST_TIME_KEY, false);
+           settings.set_string(SETTINGS_BEHAVIOUR_KEY, behaviour);
+           settings.set_boolean(SETTINGS_FIRST_TIME_KEY, false);
     }
 };
 
@@ -595,13 +596,12 @@ WindowList.prototype = {
 };
 
 function init(metadata) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
+    settings = me.convenience.getSettings(metadata, 'alternate-tab');
 }
 
 function doAltTab(shellwm, binding, mask, window, backwards) {
-    let settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: SETTINGS_SCHEMA });
-
-
     if(settings.get_boolean(SETTINGS_FIRST_TIME_KEY)) {
         new AltTabSettingsDialog().open();
     } else {
diff --git a/extensions/alternate-tab/metadata.json.in b/extensions/alternate-tab/metadata.json.in
index 8aa86e35..d811b547 100644
--- a/extensions/alternate-tab/metadata.json.in
+++ b/extensions/alternate-tab/metadata.json.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 "name": "AlternateTab",
 "description": "A replacement for Alt-Tab, allows to cycle between windows and does not group by application",
 "original-authors": [  "jw@bargsten.org", "thomas.bouffon@gmail.com" ],
-"shell-version": [ "@shell_current@", "3.2" ],
+"shell-version": [ "@shell_current@" ],
 "localedir": "@LOCALEDIR@",
 "url": "@url@"
 }
diff --git a/extensions/alternative-status-menu/extension.js b/extensions/alternative-status-menu/extension.js
index 6746a036..68523c23 100644
--- a/extensions/alternative-status-menu/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/alternative-status-menu/extension.js
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ function createSubMenu() {
 
 // Put your extension initialization code here
 function init(metadata) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 function reset(statusMenu) {
diff --git a/extensions/auto-move-windows/extension.js b/extensions/auto-move-windows/extension.js
index fe5d7f97..4058b5c2 100644
--- a/extensions/auto-move-windows/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/auto-move-windows/extension.js
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@ const Main = imports.ui.main;
 const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = 'org.gnome.shell.extensions.auto-move-windows';
 const SETTINGS_KEY = 'application-list';
 
+let settings;
+
 function WindowMover() {
     this._init();
 }
 
 WindowMover.prototype = {
     _init: function() {
-        this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: SETTINGS_SCHEMA });
+        this._settings = settings;
         this._windowTracker = Shell.WindowTracker.get_default();
 
         let display = global.screen.get_display();
@@ -79,8 +81,10 @@ WindowMover.prototype = {
 let prevCheckWorkspaces;
 let winMover;
 
-function init(extensionMeta) {
-    // do nothing here
+function init(metadata) {
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
+    settings = me.convenience.getSettings(metadata, 'auto-move-windows');
 }
 
 function enable() {
@@ -159,4 +163,4 @@ function enable() {
 function disable() {
     Main._checkWorkspaces = prevCheckWorkspaces;
     winMover.destroy();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/extensions/auto-move-windows/metadata.json.in b/extensions/auto-move-windows/metadata.json.in
index c8aa6322..ed8c003a 100644
--- a/extensions/auto-move-windows/metadata.json.in
+++ b/extensions/auto-move-windows/metadata.json.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  "uuid": "@uuid@",
  "name": "Auto Move Windows",
  "description": "Move applications to specific workspaces when they create windows",
- "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@", "3.2" ],
+ "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@" ],
  "localedir": "@LOCALEDIR@",
  "original-authors": [ "alessandro.crismani@gmail.com", "thomas.bouffon@gmail.com" ],
  "url": "@url@"
diff --git a/extensions/dock/extension.js b/extensions/dock/extension.js
index 838d7b27..387d7845 100644
--- a/extensions/dock/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/dock/extension.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ const DOCK_HIDE_KEY = 'autohide';
 const DOCK_EFFECTHIDE_KEY = 'hide-effect';
 const DOCK_AUTOHIDE_ANIMATION_TIME_KEY = 'hide-effect-duration';
 
+let _me, _metadata;
 
 //hide
 //const autohide_animation_time = 0.3;
@@ -340,7 +341,7 @@ Dock.prototype = {
         this._favorites = [];
 
         // Load Settings
-        this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: DOCK_SETTINGS_SCHEMA });
+        this._settings = _me.convenience.getSettings(_metadata, 'dock');
         position = this._settings.get_enum(DOCK_POSITION_KEY);
         dockicon_size = this._settings.get_int(DOCK_SIZE_KEY);
         hideDock = hideable = this._settings.get_boolean(DOCK_HIDE_KEY);
@@ -934,8 +935,10 @@ DockIconMenu.prototype = {
     }
 }
 
-function init(extensionMeta) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', extensionMeta.localedir);
+function init(metadata) {
+    _metadata = metadata;
+    _me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    _me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 let dock;
diff --git a/extensions/dock/metadata.json.in b/extensions/dock/metadata.json.in
index 96237b49..dce4a882 100644
--- a/extensions/dock/metadata.json.in
+++ b/extensions/dock/metadata.json.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 "name": "Dock",
 "description": "A dock for the GNOME Shell -- displays favorite and running applications",
 "original-author": "tclaesson@gmail.com",
-"shell-version": [ "@shell_current@", "3.2" ],
+"shell-version": [ "@shell_current@" ],
 "localedir": "@LOCALEDIR@",
 "url": "@url@"
 }
diff --git a/extensions/drive-menu/extension.js b/extensions/drive-menu/extension.js
index c4551115..c37968ea 100644
--- a/extensions/drive-menu/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/drive-menu/extension.js
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ DriveMenu.prototype = {
 
 // Put your extension initialization code here
 function init(metadata) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 let _indicator;
diff --git a/extensions/example/extension.js b/extensions/example/extension.js
index ee591c9f..398f4eaf 100644
--- a/extensions/example/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/example/extension.js
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ function _showHello() {
 function init(metadata) {
     log ('Example extension initalized');
 
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 let signalId;
@@ -38,4 +39,4 @@ function disable() {
 	Main.panel.actor.disconnect(signalId);
 	signalId = 0;
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/extensions/native-window-placement/extension.js b/extensions/native-window-placement/extension.js
index 67bc34f1..0772ee4b 100644
--- a/extensions/native-window-placement/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/native-window-placement/extension.js
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ const WindowPlacementStrategy = {
     GRID: 1,
 };
 
+let _me, _metadata;
+
 // testing settings for natural window placement strategy:
 const WINDOW_PLACEMENT_NATURAL_FILLGAPS = true;                     // enlarge windows at the end to fill gaps         // not implemented yet
 const WINDOW_PLACEMENT_NATURAL_GRID_FALLBACK = true;                // fallback to grid mode if all windows have the same size and positions.     // not implemented yet
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@ function resetState() {
 function enable() {
     resetState();
 
-    let settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: 'org.gnome.shell.extensions.native-window-placement' });
+    let settings = _me.convenience.getSettings(_metadata, 'native-window-placement');
     let placementStrategy = settings.get_enum('strategy');
     let signalId = settings.connect('changed::strategy', function() {
         placementStrategy = settings.get_enum('strategy');
@@ -527,6 +529,7 @@ function disable() {
     resetState();
 }
 
-function init() {
-    /* do nothing */
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+function init(metadata) {
+    _metadata = metadata;
+    _me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+}
diff --git a/extensions/native-window-placement/metadata.json.in b/extensions/native-window-placement/metadata.json.in
index d6c7424c..237ffb5d 100644
--- a/extensions/native-window-placement/metadata.json.in
+++ b/extensions/native-window-placement/metadata.json.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  "uuid": "@uuid@",
  "name": "Native Window Placement",
  "description": "Arrange windows in overview in a more native way",
- "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@", "3.2" ],
+ "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@" ],
  "localedir": "@LOCALEDIR@",
  "url": "@url@",
  "original-authors": [ "wepmaschda@gmx.de" ]
diff --git a/extensions/places-menu/extension.js b/extensions/places-menu/extension.js
index 17bfe736..7e551a15 100644
--- a/extensions/places-menu/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/places-menu/extension.js
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ PlacesMenu.prototype = {
 
 
 function init(metadata) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 let _indicator;
diff --git a/extensions/user-theme/extension.js b/extensions/user-theme/extension.js
index 38f77da4..70eb17b6 100644
--- a/extensions/user-theme/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/user-theme/extension.js
@@ -10,15 +10,16 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = 'org.gnome.shell.extensions.user-theme';
 const SETTINGS_KEY = 'name';
 
 function ThemeManager() {
-    this._init();
+    this._init.apply(this, arguments);
 }
 
 ThemeManager.prototype = {
-    _init: function() {
+    _init: function(metadata) {
+        let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+        this._settings = me.convenience.getSettings(metadata, 'user-theme');
     },
 
     enable: function() {
-        this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema: SETTINGS_SCHEMA });
         this._changedId = this._settings.connect('changed::'+SETTINGS_KEY, Lang.bind(this, this._changeTheme));
         this._changeTheme();
     },
@@ -68,5 +69,5 @@ ThemeManager.prototype = {
 
 
 function init(metadata) {
-    return new ThemeManager();
+    return new ThemeManager(metadata);
 }
diff --git a/extensions/user-theme/metadata.json.in b/extensions/user-theme/metadata.json.in
index 8fbe3413..e71533e2 100644
--- a/extensions/user-theme/metadata.json.in
+++ b/extensions/user-theme/metadata.json.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  "uuid": "@uuid@",
  "name": "User Themes",
  "description": "Load shell themes from user directory",
- "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@", "3.2" ],
+ "shell-version": [ "@shell_current@" ],
  "localedir": "@LOCALEDIR@",
  "original-authors": [ "john.stowers@gmail.com" ],
  "url": "@url@"
diff --git a/extensions/xrandr-indicator/extension.js b/extensions/xrandr-indicator/extension.js
index 979e549d..344f7bf8 100644
--- a/extensions/xrandr-indicator/extension.js
+++ b/extensions/xrandr-indicator/extension.js
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ Indicator.prototype = {
 
 
 function init(metadata) {
-    imports.gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', metadata.localedir);
+    let me = imports.ui.extensionSystem.extensions[metadata.uuid];
+    me.convenience.initTranslations(metadata);
 }
 
 let _indicator;
@@ -149,4 +150,4 @@ function enable() {
 
 function disable() {
     _indicator.destroy();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/convenience.js b/lib/convenience.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..49de6206
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/convenience.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+const Gettext = imports.gettext;
+const Gio = imports.gi.Gio;
+
+function initTranslations(metadata) {
+    let localeDir = metadata.dir.get_child('locale').get_path();
+    Gettext.bindtextdomain('gnome-shell-extensions', localeDir);
+}
+
+function getSettings(metadata, extension_id) {
+    let schemaDir = metadata.dir.get_child('schemas').get_path();
+    let schemaSource = Gio.SettingsSchemaSource.new_from_directory(schemaDir,
+								  Gio.SettingsSchemaSource.get_default(),
+								  false);
+    let schema = schemaSource.lookup('org.gnome.shell.extensions.' + extension_id, false);
+    return new Gio.Settings({ settings_schema: schema });
+}
+								  
diff --git a/local-install.sh b/local-install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..2a3ef0df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local-install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+extensionbase=~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions
+
+for i in zip-files/*; do
+    zip_file=`pwd`/$i;
+    uuid=`basename $i | sed -e "s/.shell-extension.zip//"`;
+    if [ -d $extensionbase/$uuid ]; then
+	rm -fR $extensionbase/$uuid;
+    fi
+    mkdir $extensionbase/$uuid;
+    (cd $extensionbase/$uuid;
+	unzip -q $zip_file;
+    );
+done