1. A method, in a configuration system, for enabling users to create and use a collection of template rules to generate custom product-configuration rules, the method comprising: enabling a user to submit one or more example rules for a rule pattern; in response to a user submitting one or more example rules for a rule pattern, identifying any variables in the example rules; enabling a user to select which of the identified variables will be customizable in instances of the rule pattern; creating the rule pattern from the submitted example rules, wherein, for each submitted example rule, the rule pattern includes a corresponding template rule and wherein the selected variables are customizable fields in the template rules; adding the rule pattern to a rule pattern library, wherein a user is able to select the rule pattern as a basis for creating custom configuration rules for a product; in response to a user selecting the rule pattern from the library, generating a user interface in which the customizable fields for each template rule in the rule pattern are displayed and a user is able to enter values for the customizable fields; and generating configuration rules for a product from the template rules and the values entered by the user for the customizable fields.