In at least one embodiment, a method and a system for determining a set of plans that best match a set of preferences. The method may include receiving into a goal specification interface at least one goal to be accomplished by the set of plans; receiving into a preference engine a pattern that includes preferences; generating a planning problem by using the preference engine; generating a set of plans by at least one planner; and providing the set of plans for selection of one plan to deploy. In a further embodiment, the preferences may be an occurrence or non-occurrence of at least one component, an occurrence of one component over another component, an ordering between at least two components, an existence or non-existence of at least one tag in a final stream, an existence of one tag over another tag in the final stream.