1. A system for programming a plurality of agents onto a distributed control system being configured to control a plurality of controllable devices for performing a process, the system comprising: a terminal that displays a graphical user interface having a plurality of images including a first image showing a plurality of selectable templates and at least a first mechanism by which first user input signals can be received concerning the templates, wherein the templates include agent-type programming; and a second image showing a representation of the controllable devices and at least a second mechanism by which second user input signals can be received concerning associations between the templates and the representation; and a processing device that generates executable programming to be performed by the distributed control system based upon the templates and the associations, wherein the executable programming at least partly governs agent-type behavior of the distributed control system.