1. An extensible automation development system configured for allowing a custom automation object to be integrated into the system, the system comprising: a common browser configured for displaying data from the automation development system; a common object editor configured for editing data in the automation development system; a set of common commands to be performed by objects in the automation development system; for each of at least a subset of the common commands, an interface for performing the command; a set of common events to be responded to by objects in the automation development system; for each of at least a subset of the common events, an interface for responding to the event; an interface for adding a custom command to the automation development system, the custom command to be performed by a custom automation object; and an interface for adding a custom event to the automation development system, the custom event to be responded to by a custom automation object.