1. A method for upgrading a cluster computing system, the method comprising: identifying a first file and a second file, wherein the first file and the second file are configuration files for the cluster computing system, and wherein the second file comprises a first common portion and a first updated portion with respect to the first file; identifying a third file, wherein the third file is a configuration file for the cluster computing system, and wherein the third file comprises a second common portion and a second updated portion with respect to the first file; translating each of the first file, the second file, and the third file to separate respective abstract object trees; performing a series of abstract operations on the abstract object trees in order to generate a target abstract object tree, wherein said abstract operations are selected from the group consisting of: Add-To, Add-From, Minus, Intersect, Change-Priority, and Save-From; and translating the target abstract object tree to a target file, wherein the target file is a configuration file for the cluster computing system, and wherein the target file comprises the second common portion, the second updated portion, and the first updated portion, wherein the target file is generated automatically subsequent to performing said series of abstract operations.