Abstract: A software framework is provided for building a software-based intelligent agent. A configuration file may be written in the format of a configuration language to specify how an agent is constructed, for example by specifying a set of configuration elements and their parameters. To build the intelligent agent, the configuration file may be parsed to create an internal representation of how the agent is structured. This internal representation may be used by an agent builder to create a functional intelligent agent, e.g. one that is executable on a particular target platform. The built intelligent agent may allow its state to be retrieved, for example by the intelligent agent being capable of autonomously outputting a state file. The configuration file together with the description of the intelligent agent's state may allow a ‘stateful’ copy of the intelligent agent to be created.