1. A system for configuring an optoelectronic sensor having a field of view, comprising: a digital electronic memory, having a plurality of software elements stored therein, wherein each software element performs an action; a plurality of connections, wherein each connection specifies that the action of a software element of the plurality of software elements depends on the action of at least one other software element of the plurality of software elements; a first software element whose action analyzes a region of interest within the field of view so as to produce a measure of evidence for a visible condition in the field of view, the first software element being one of the plurality of software elements; a second software element whose action makes a logic decision depending on the measure of evidence, the second software element being another of the plurality of software elements; a third software element whose action controls an output signal depending on the logic decision, the third software element being yet another of the plurality of software elements; a first connection that specifies that the second software element depends on the first software element, the first connection being one of the plurality of connections; a second connection that specifies that the third software element depends on the second software element, the second connection being another of the plurality of connections; and a human-machine interface comprising a display that shows using a ladder diagram of at least one of the plurality of software elements and at least one of the plurality of connections, the ladder diagram having rungs, wherein parts of a rung have at least one open contact representing the measure of evidence, and at least one icon representing the logic decision, wherein the open contact representing the measure of evidence precedes the icon representing the logic decision.