1. A method for utilizing finite state machines in a computing system, the method comprising: initiating on a first agent at least one instance of a finite state machine specification comprising a plurality of suites and a plurality of transitions between the states; shifting the entire finite state machine instance from the first agent to a second agent, the first and second agents operating on at least one computing system; and using the finite state machine instance to cause the computing systems on which the agents are operating to run instances of user-defined routines.