Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a multi-purpose configuration model. A computer program product for defining a configuration model for a configurable product includes instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to receive a first input, and define, based on the first input, a first version of a first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the first version including information that describes the configurable product. The computer program product includes instructions to receive a second input, and define, based on the second input, a second version of the first subcomponent to be used in the configuration model, the second version including information that describes the configurable product. The computer program product designates one of the first or second versions to be an active version, and designates the other to be an inactive version. The computer program product also includes instructions to define a first component based at least in part on the active version.