A palette is displayed containing icons representing available system components for use in a solution. Associated with the icons are partially defined behavioral models, implementation logic, and user-modifiable parameters and options in a markup language format. Instances of the configurable behavioral models are instantiated through selection by a user. A design area of the display shows icons for the instances, where they are placed and arranged by the user, including connection logic and user-input model interface and behavioral logic parameters. The models are configured according to the parameters by modifying the associated markup language. A system solution behavioral model is automatically created in a modeling language comprising a collection of the interconnected and fully defined component behavioral model instances, allowing simulation of operation of the system solution.