System and method for automating generation of an automated sensor network

An application software generator automatically generates an application software unit. The application software generator includes an application composer that combines components extracted from a component repository with an application framework to generate the application software unit. Each component in the component repository includes a component shell, a component interface and a component core. The application framework includes configurable parameters that determine how the application software unit is generated and operates. The configurable parameters can be entered by a user using a graphical user interface. The user can be assisted using a wizard format. The application framework also provides connectivity between components so that they can pass messages to one another. The connectivity can be, for example, by a message bus or event registry and event dispatch. Components themselves can be automatically generated using the application software generator. Uses of the application software generator include creation of sensor/actuator networks and test script generation.