Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for connecting pipeline components such as data flow pipeline components. Pipeline components are wrapped in metadata components that include the component as well as abstracted metadata in the form of input and output metadata descriptors. A connector can arbitrate metadata differences between pipeline components based on the metadata descriptors, thereby preventing upstream modifications from invalidating or breaking components downstream. Native or plug-in heuristic and/or related components can provide the functionality necessary to resolve metadata differences.