diff --git a/lib/teracy-dev.rb b/lib/teracy-dev.rb
index 0fc73c9d..bf6a7256 100644
--- a/lib/teracy-dev.rb
+++ b/lib/teracy-dev.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 require_relative 'teracy-dev/logging'
 require_relative 'teracy-dev/loader'
+require_relative 'teracy-dev/extension/manager'
 
 
 # define public APIs here
@@ -24,6 +25,19 @@ def self.register_configurator(configurator)
     @@loader.configManager.register(configurator)
   end
 
+  # find the extension lookup_path by its name
+  def self.extension_lookup_path(extension_name)
+    extensions = @@loader.settings['teracy-dev']['extensions'] ||= []
+    extensions.each do |ext|
+      manifest = Extension::Manager.manifest(ext)
+      if manifest['name'] == extension_name
+        return ext['path']['lookup']
+      end
+    end
+    # extension_name not found
+    return nil
+  end
+
   @@loader.start
 
 end
diff --git a/lib/teracy-dev/extension/manager.rb b/lib/teracy-dev/extension/manager.rb
index f894c4af..87e730e6 100644
--- a/lib/teracy-dev/extension/manager.rb
+++ b/lib/teracy-dev/extension/manager.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 module TeracyDev
   module Extension
     class Manager
+
+      def self.manifest(extension)
+        lookup_path = File.join(TeracyDev::BASE_DIR, extension['path']['lookup'] || 'extensions')
+        path = File.join(lookup_path, extension['path']['extension'])
+        manifest_path = File.join(path, 'manifest.yaml')
+        return YAML.load(File.new(manifest_path))
+      end
+
       def initialize
         @logger = Logging.logger_for(self.class.name)
       end
@@ -50,31 +58,23 @@ def sync(extension)
 
       def validate(extension)
         return if extension['enabled'] != true
-        lookup_path = File.join(TeracyDev::BASE_DIR, extension['path']['lookup'] || 'extensions')
-        path = File.join(lookup_path, extension['path']['extension'])
-        manifest_path = File.join(path, 'manifest.yaml')
+        manifest = Manager.manifest(extension)
 
-        if File.exist? manifest_path
-          manifest = Util.load_yaml_file(manifest_path)
-          if !Util.exist?(manifest['name']) or !Util.exist?(manifest['version'])
-            @logger.error("The extension manifest's name and version must be defined: #{manifest}, #{extension}")
-            abort
-          end
-          # check the version requirement
-          if !Util.require_version_valid?(manifest['version'], extension['require_version'])
-            @logger.error("`#{extension['require_version']}` is required, but current `#{manifest['version']}`: #{extension}")
-            @logger.error("The current extension version must be updated to satisfy the requirements above")
-            abort
-          end
+        if !Util.exist?(manifest['name']) or !Util.exist?(manifest['version'])
+          @logger.error("The extension manifest's name and version must be defined: #{manifest}, #{extension}")
+          abort
+        end
+        # check the version requirement
+        if !Util.require_version_valid?(manifest['version'], extension['require_version'])
+          @logger.error("`#{extension['require_version']}` is required, but current `#{manifest['version']}`: #{extension}")
+          @logger.error("The current extension version must be updated to satisfy the requirements above")
+          abort
+        end
 
-          # check if teracy-dev version satisfies the manifest['target'] if specified
-          if Util.exist?(manifest['target']) and !Util.require_version_valid?(TeracyDev::VERSION, manifest['target'])
-            @logger.error("teracy-dev's current version: #{TeracyDev::VERSION}")
-            @logger.error("this extension requires teracy-dev version: #{manifest['target']} (#{extension})")
-            abort
-          end
-        else
-          @logger.error("#{manifest_path} must exist for this extension: #{extension}")
+        # check if teracy-dev version satisfies the manifest['target'] if specified
+        if Util.exist?(manifest['target']) and !Util.require_version_valid?(TeracyDev::VERSION, manifest['target'])
+          @logger.error("teracy-dev's current version: #{TeracyDev::VERSION}")
+          @logger.error("this extension requires teracy-dev version: #{manifest['target']} (#{extension})")
           abort
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/teracy-dev/loader.rb b/lib/teracy-dev/loader.rb
index 2318c04b..860516e5 100644
--- a/lib/teracy-dev/loader.rb
+++ b/lib/teracy-dev/loader.rb
@@ -8,12 +8,11 @@
 require_relative 'config/manager'
 require_relative 'settings/manager'
 
-
 module TeracyDev
   class Loader
     @@instance = nil
 
-    attr_reader :processorsManager, :configManager
+    attr_reader :processorsManager, :configManager, :settings
 
     def initialize
       if !!@@instance
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ def start
       @processorsManager = Processors::Manager.new
       @configManager = Config::Manager.new
       init_system
-      settings = build_settings().freeze
+      @settings = build_settings().freeze
       require_teracy_dev_version(settings['teracy-dev']['require_version'])
       configure_vagrant(settings)
     end