1. An apparatus for the automated configuration of a software system, the apparatus comprising: an output device to provide a list of a plurality of user configuration documents to a user, each user configuration document having a different set of natural language configuration instructions; and a processing device operative to: receive at least one of the plurality of user configuration documents including the natural language configuration instructions; convert the instructions to system-level instructions; access the software system; and configure the software system in response to the system-level instructions.