Abstract: Configuring a computer-based application on one or more computer systems includes compiling a configuration source to generate a compiled configuration file. Compiling the configuration source may also include accessing an application definition that includes a property definition, where the property definition includes a name attribute and a type attribute. Compiling the configuration source may further include selecting a property source from the configuration source based on the property source having a name attribute that matches the name attribute of the property definition. The property source may also include a value, and a type check may be performed on that value based on the type attribute of the property definition. Thereafter, a configuration property may be recorded in the compiled configuration file, where the configuration property includes a name specified by the name attribute of the property definition and the value of the property source.