An improved system and method are disclosed for creating a configuration for a platform instance using a development environment that has a graphical user interface (GUI). The method includes creating a service to be run by the platform instance and providing a graphical representation of a block library containing available blocks that are available for use by the service. Input is received via the GUI identifying at least some of the available blocks as selected blocks, where the selected blocks are to be run by the service. Input is received via the GUI arranging the selected blocks into an order of execution. The development environment generates and stores at least one configuration file containing the order of execution for use by the platform instance.