Abstract: A system for integrating data among heterogeneous source applications and destination applications including a knowledge repository containing temporary data storage for storing data from the source applications during processing for population in the destination applications, a library of data elements each providing a discrete data manipulation friction, configuration data storage for storing user-provided information describing the integration environment, and a plurality of add-on modules or cartridges which each include a plurality of predefined instruction sets defining chains of data elements to perform interface functions corresponding to a particular destination application. The underlying interface communication and processing functions are performed by an active component (or engine) according to the configuration data and the module instruction sets.