1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system comprising at least one processor to implement a development environment, wherein the development environment comprises: a development interface component configured to receive input that facilitates creation of a simulation of an industrial process within the development environment; a configuration retrieval component configured to identify I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program; a connection pool component configured to select a generic I/O module profile corresponding to an I/O module type specified by the I/O module configuration data and to create a set of I/O connection definitions based on the generic I/O module profile and the I/O module configuration data; and an I/O kernel configured to exchange simulation data between the simulation and an I/O module instance of the industrial control program based on the I/O connection definitions.