mask_export
mask_export is an extension from Nicole Cordes. With mask_export you can export the generated configuration from Mask into an extension. After exporting, you can deinstall and remove the extensions mask and mask_export.
So it's possible to change the TCA by hand, commit it to a versioningsystem and have less extensions on your live server. You can use Mask in the background (development server).
You are future proof, because you never will end in a dead end, because the exported configuration is almost compatible to all TYPO3 versions.
Further questions? Have a look at mask_export.