diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
index 8bd36e1f3f..155c8c4ca4 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ def workspace_info(args):
             color.cprint(f"    {template}")
 
     # Print workspace variables information
-    workspace_vars = ws.get_workspace_vars()
+    workspace_vars = ramble.config.get(namespace.variables)
 
     ws.software_environments = ramble.software_environments.SoftwareEnvironments(ws)
     software_environments = ws.software_environments
@@ -1140,7 +1140,7 @@ def workspace_info(args):
         if not all_utilities:
             color.cprint("    None")
         else:
-            ws_utilities = ws.get_workspace_utilities() or {}
+            ws_utilities = ramble.config.get(namespace.utilities) or {}
             for utility_name, confs in sorted(all_utilities.items()):
                 color.cprint(color.nested_1(f"    {utility_name}:"))
 
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/experiment_set.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/experiment_set.py
index af059cc521..15efce6784 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/experiment_set.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/experiment_set.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from functools import partial
 from typing import Set
 
+import ramble.config
 import ramble.context
 import ramble.error
 import ramble.expander
@@ -63,15 +64,17 @@ def __init__(self, workspace):
         # Set all workspace variables as base variables.
         workspace_context = ramble.context.Context()
         workspace_context.context_name = workspace.name
-        workspace_context.variables = workspace.get_workspace_vars()
-        workspace_context.env_variables = workspace.get_workspace_env_vars()
-        workspace_context.formatted_executables = workspace.get_workspace_formatted_executables()
-        workspace_context.internals = workspace.get_workspace_internals()
-        workspace_context.modifiers = workspace.get_workspace_modifiers()
-        workspace_context.zips = workspace.get_workspace_zips()
-        workspace_context.variants = workspace.get_workspace_variants()
-        workspace_context.success_criteria = workspace.get_workspace_success_criteria()
-        workspace_context.tables = workspace.get_workspace_tables()
+        workspace_context.variables = ramble.config.get(namespace.variables)
+        workspace_context.env_variables = ramble.config.get(namespace.env_var)
+        workspace_context.formatted_executables = ramble.config.get(
+            namespace.formatted_executables
+        )
+        workspace_context.internals = ramble.config.get(namespace.internals)
+        workspace_context.modifiers = ramble.config.get(namespace.modifiers)
+        workspace_context.zips = ramble.config.get(namespace.zips)
+        workspace_context.variants = ramble.config.get(namespace.variants)
+        workspace_context.success_criteria = ramble.config.get(namespace.success)
+        workspace_context.tables = ramble.config.get(namespace.tables)
 
         try:
             self.keywords.check_reserved_keys(workspace_context.variables)
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/pipeline.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/pipeline.py
index bdd8335bdc..7fe0186e32 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/pipeline.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/pipeline.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import ramble.util.hashing
 import ramble.util.path
 import ramble.workspace
+from ramble.namespace import namespace
 from ramble.util import json_util
 from ramble.util.colors import cprint
 from ramble.util.file_util import create_symlink
@@ -783,7 +784,7 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         super().__init__(workspace, filters)
 
-        workspace_expander = ramble.expander.Expander(workspace.get_workspace_vars(), None)
+        workspace_expander = ramble.expander.Expander(ramble.config.get(namespace.variables), None)
 
         self.action_string = "Pushing deployment of"
         self.create_tar = create_tar
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/software_environments.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/software_environments.py
index 4fa7d35ef2..0106039bab 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/software_environments.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/software_environments.py
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 # option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 # except according to those terms.
 
+import copy
 from collections import defaultdict
 from typing import DefaultDict, Dict, List, Set
 
+import ramble.config
 import ramble.error
 import ramble.util.colors as color
 from ramble.expander import Expander
@@ -714,7 +716,7 @@ def __init__(self, workspace):
         """
 
         self._workspace = workspace
-        self._software_dict = workspace.get_software_dict().copy()
+        self._software_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.software))
         self._environment_templates = {}
         self._external_env_templates = {}
         self._package_templates = {}
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
index 0729b5d0b0..ddc2b7c86a 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
@@ -1648,21 +1648,21 @@ def write_config(ws_path, config):
     with fs.working_dir(config_path):
         write_config(ws_path, test_config)
 
-        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path) as ws:
-            software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path):
+            software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
             print(f"software_dict before = {software_dict}")
 
         workspace("concretize", global_args=workspace_flags)
 
-        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path) as ws:
-            software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path):
+            software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
             assert namespace.environments in software_dict
 
         write_config(ws_path, test_config)
 
         workspace("concretize", global_args=workspace_flags)
-        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path) as ws:
-            software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        with ramble.workspace.Workspace(ws_path):
+            software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
             assert namespace.environments in software_dict
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/end_to_end/concretize_with_different_package_managers.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/end_to_end/concretize_with_different_package_managers.py
index 5896cd9179..54db50f17d 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/end_to_end/concretize_with_different_package_managers.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/end_to_end/concretize_with_different_package_managers.py
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+import ramble.config
 import ramble.workspace
 from ramble.main import RambleCommand
+from ramble.namespace import namespace
 
 # everything here uses the mock_workspace_path
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.usefixtures("mutable_config", "mutable_mock_workspace_path")
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ def test_concretize_with_different_package_managers(
 
         workspace("concretize", global_args=["-w", workspace_name])
 
-        sw_dict = ws1.get_software_dict()
+        sw_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         assert "wrfv4" in sw_dict["environments"]
         assert "wrfv4" in sw_dict["packages"]
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/software_environment.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/software_environment.py
index 881333da4b..2bfcd43d21 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/software_environment.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/software_environment.py
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+import ramble.config
 import ramble.expander
 import ramble.software_environments
 import ramble.workspace
 from ramble.main import RambleCommand
+from ramble.namespace import namespace
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.usefixtures(
     "mutable_config",
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ def test_basic_software_environment(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1"}
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ def test_software_environments_no_packages(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path)
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["environments"] = {"basic-{env_test}": {"packages": [""]}}
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ def test_software_environments_no_rendered_packages(request, mutable_mock_worksp
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["environments"] = {"basic-{env_test}": {"packages": ["{var_pkg_name}"]}}
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ def test_template_software_environments(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic-{pkg_test}"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1"}
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ def test_multi_template_software_environments(request, mutable_mock_workspace_pa
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic1-{pkg_test}"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1"}
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ def test_undefined_package_errors(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic-{pkg_test}"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@{pkg_ver}"}
@@ -244,7 +246,7 @@ def test_invalid_packages_error(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic-{pkg_test}"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@{pkg_ver}"}
@@ -290,7 +292,7 @@ def test_invalid_environment_error(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic1-{pkg_test}"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1"}
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ def test_undefined_compiler_errors(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1", "compiler": "foo_comp"}
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ def test_compiler_in_environment_warns(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path, cap
     assert ws_name in workspace("list")
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
 
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["test_comp"] = {"pkg_spec": "comp@2.1"}
@@ -391,7 +393,7 @@ def test_is_used_property(request, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
     workspace("create", ws_name)
 
     with ramble.workspace.read(ws_name) as ws:
-        software_dict = ws.get_software_dict()
+        software_dict = ramble.config.get(namespace.software)
         software_dict["packages"] = {}
         software_dict["packages"]["basic"] = {"pkg_spec": "basic@1.1"}
         software_dict["environments"] = {"basic": {"packages": ["basic"]}}
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/workspace.py
index 67008c77e6..0aae8fa6e4 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/workspace.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-import ramble
+import ramble.config
+from ramble.namespace import namespace
 from ramble.workspace import TEMPLATE_EXTENSION, workspace
 
 # everything here uses the mock_workspace_path
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ def test_add_experiments_with_zips(make_workspace_from_config):
         zips=["my_zip=[var1,var2]"],
     )
     ws._re_read()
-    app_config = ws.get_applications()
+    app_config = ramble.config.get(namespace.application)
     exp_config = app_config["basic"]["workloads"]["test_wl"]["experiments"]["test_exp"]
     assert "zips" in exp_config
     assert exp_config["zips"]["my_zip"] == ["var1", "var2"]
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
index 56a764ee9b..784cdb2700 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ def all_applications(self):
         logger.debug(f" With ws dict: {ws_dict}")
 
         # Iterate over applications in ramble.yaml first
-        app_dict = ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.application)
+        app_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.application))
 
         for application, contents in app_dict.items():
             app_name, _, maybe_version = application.partition("@")
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ def manage_environments(
         if package_list and external_path is not None:
             logger.die("Can only manage environments with one of package_list or external_path")
 
-        software_dict = self.get_software_dict().copy()
+        software_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.software))
 
         if namespace.environments in software_dict:
             environments = software_dict[namespace.environments]
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ def manage_packages(
             overwrite (bool): Whether colliding definitions should be overwritten
         """
 
-        software_dict = self.get_software_dict().copy()
+        software_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.software))
 
         if namespace.packages in software_dict:
             packages = software_dict[namespace.packages]
@@ -1277,8 +1277,8 @@ def process_definitions(definitions, def_type="variable"):
 
         edited = False
 
-        workspace_vars = self.get_workspace_vars()
-        apps_dict = self.get_applications().copy()
+        workspace_vars = ramble.config.get(namespace.variables)
+        apps_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.application))
 
         app_inst = ramble.repository.get(application)
 
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ def concretize(self, force=False, quiet=False):
 
 
         """
-        full_software_dict = self.get_software_dict()
+        full_software_dict = copy.deepcopy(ramble.config.get(namespace.software))
 
         if (
             namespace.packages not in full_software_dict
@@ -2019,8 +2019,8 @@ def _remove_scoped_variables(scope_name: str, used_variables: Set):
 
     def simplify_software(self):
         # First drop unused experiment templates from app dict so environments aren't rendered
-        app_dict = ramble.config.config.get_config(
-            namespace.application, scope=self.ws_file_config_scope_name()
+        app_dict = copy.deepcopy(
+            ramble.config.get(namespace.application, scope=self.ws_file_config_scope_name())
         )
 
         # Build experiment sets to determine which templates never get used
@@ -2063,8 +2063,8 @@ def simplify_software(self):
         package_dict = None
         environments_dict = None
 
-        software_dict = ramble.config.config.get_config(
-            namespace.software, scope=self.ws_file_config_scope_name()
+        software_dict = copy.deepcopy(
+            ramble.config.get(namespace.software, scope=self.ws_file_config_scope_name())
         )
 
         if namespace.packages in software_dict:
@@ -2693,60 +2693,6 @@ def _get_workspace_dict(self):
     def _get_application_dict_config(self, key):
         return self.application_configs[key]["yaml"] if key in self.application_configs else None
 
-    def get_workspace_vars(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace variables"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.variables)
-
-    def get_workspace_env_vars(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace environment variables"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.env_var)
-
-    def get_workspace_formatted_executables(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace formatted executables"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.formatted_executables)
-
-    def get_workspace_internals(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace internals"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.internals)
-
-    def get_workspace_modifiers(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace modifiers"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.modifiers)
-
-    def get_workspace_zips(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace zips"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.zips)
-
-    def get_workspace_variants(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace variants"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.variants)
-
-    def get_workspace_success_criteria(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace success_criteria"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.success)
-
-    def get_software_dict(self):
-        """Return the software dictionary for this workspace"""
-        software_dict = ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.software)
-        return software_dict
-
-    def get_workspace_tables(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace tables"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.tables)
-
-    def get_workspace_utilities(self):
-        """Return a dict of workspace utilities"""
-        return ramble.config.config.get_config(namespace.utilities)
-
-    def get_applications(self):
-        """Get the dictionary of applications"""
-        logger.debug("Getting app dict.")
-        logger.debug(f" {self._get_workspace_dict()}")
-        workspace_dict = self._get_workspace_dict()
-        if namespace.application not in workspace_dict[namespace.ramble]:
-            workspace_dict[namespace.ramble][namespace.application] = syaml.syaml_dict()
-        return workspace_dict[namespace.ramble][namespace.application]
-
     def read_transaction(self):
         """Get a read lock context manager for use in a `with` block."""
         return lk.ReadTransaction(self.txlock, acquire=self._re_read)
diff --git a/var/ramble/repos/builtin/workflow_managers/google-batch/test/google_batch.py b/var/ramble/repos/builtin/workflow_managers/google-batch/test/google_batch.py
index edd179b399..0b7721fe1e 100644
--- a/var/ramble/repos/builtin/workflow_managers/google-batch/test/google_batch.py
+++ b/var/ramble/repos/builtin/workflow_managers/google-batch/test/google_batch.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def test_google_batch_workflow_default(request):
     ws._re_read()
 
     # Remove batch submit definition
-    ws_vars = ws.get_workspace_vars()
+    ws_vars = ramble.config.get(namespace.variables)
     if "batch_submit" in ws_vars:
         del ws_vars["batch_submit"]
     ramble.config.config.update_config(