A system and method of interacting with a multi-agent distributed control system employing a plurality of controllers on which are programmed a plurality of agents in which the controllers are coupled by a network are disclosed. The method includes providing a computer program capable of operating a user interface, where the computer program is in communication with the agents via the network. The method further includes displaying agent-related information on the user interface by way of a plurality of windows, where within a first of the windows is further displayed a workflow among at least some of the agents, and within a second of the windows is further displayed at least one of a plurality of messages communicated among at least some of the agents, a work unit requested by at least one of the agents, and message content associated with at least one of the messages.