diff --git a/wlauto/commands/run.py b/wlauto/commands/run.py
index 9eb43f92..12038b1e 100644
--- a/wlauto/commands/run.py
+++ b/wlauto/commands/run.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from wlauto.core.configuration import RunConfiguration
 from wlauto.core.configuration.parsers import AgendaParser, ConfigParser
 from wlauto.core.execution import Executor
 from wlauto.core.output import init_wa_output
+from wlauto.core.version import get_wa_version
 from wlauto.exceptions import NotFoundError, ConfigError
 from wlauto.utils.log import add_log_file
 from wlauto.utils.types import toggle_set
@@ -74,23 +75,26 @@ class RunCommand(Command):
                                  This option may be specified multiple times.
                                  """)
 
-    def execute(self, state, args):
-        output = self.set_up_output_directory(state, args)
+    def execute(self, config, args):
+        output = self.set_up_output_directory(config, args)
         add_log_file(output.logfile)
 
+        self.logger.debug('Version: {}'.format(get_wa_version()))
+        self.logger.debug('Command Line: {}'.format(' '.join(sys.argv)))
+
         disabled_instruments = toggle_set(["~{}".format(i) 
                                            for i in args.instruments_to_disable])
-        state.jobs_config.disable_instruments(disabled_instruments)
-        state.jobs_config.only_run_ids(args.only_run_ids)
+        config.jobs_config.disable_instruments(disabled_instruments)
+        config.jobs_config.only_run_ids(args.only_run_ids)
 
         parser = AgendaParser()
         if os.path.isfile(args.agenda):
-            parser.load_from_path(state, args.agenda)
+            parser.load_from_path(config, args.agenda)
         else:
             try:
                 pluginloader.get_plugin_class(args.agenda, kind='workload')
                 agenda = {'workloads': [{'name': args.agenda}]}
-                parser.load(state, agenda, 'CMDLINE_ARGS')
+                parser.load(config, agenda, 'CMDLINE_ARGS')
             except NotFoundError:
                 msg = 'Agenda file "{}" does not exist, and there no workload '\
                       'with that name.\nYou can get a list of available '\
@@ -98,16 +102,16 @@ class RunCommand(Command):
                 raise ConfigError(msg.format(args.agenda))
 
         executor = Executor()
-        executor.execute(state, output)
+        executor.execute(config, output)
 
-    def set_up_output_directory(self, state, args):
+    def set_up_output_directory(self, config, args):
         if args.output_directory:
             output_directory = args.output_directory
         else:
             output_directory = settings.default_output_directory
         self.logger.debug('Using output directory: {}'.format(output_directory))
         try:
-            return init_wa_output(output_directory, state, args.force)
+            return init_wa_output(output_directory, config, args.force)
         except RuntimeError as e:
             if  'path exists' in str(e):
                 msg = 'Output directory "{}" exists.\nPlease specify another '\
diff --git a/wlauto/core/command.py b/wlauto/core/command.py
index 4cbf424e..4b2a7d93 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/command.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/command.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Command(Plugin):
         """
         Execute this command.
 
-        :state: An initialized ``WAState`` that contains the current state of
+        :state: An initialized ``ConfigManager`` that contains the current state of
                 WA exeuction up to that point (processed configuraition, loaded
                 plugins, etc).
         :args: An ``argparse.Namespace`` containing command line arguments (as returned by
diff --git a/wlauto/core/configuration/configuration.py b/wlauto/core/configuration/configuration.py
index 3e7ec323..0fb6b5cf 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/configuration/configuration.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/configuration/configuration.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import re
 from copy import copy
 from collections import OrderedDict, defaultdict
 
-from wlauto.exceptions import ConfigError
+from wlauto.exceptions import ConfigError, NotFoundError
 from wlauto.utils.misc import (get_article, merge_config_values)
 from wlauto.utils.types import (identifier, integer, boolean,
                                 list_of_strings, toggle_set,
@@ -489,6 +489,15 @@ class CpuFreqParameters(object):
 #####################
 
 
+def _to_pod(cfg_point, value):
+    if is_pod(value):
+        return value
+    if hasattr(cfg_point.kind, 'to_pod'):
+        return value.to_pod()
+    msg = '{} value "{}" is not serializable'
+    raise ValueError(msg.format(cfg_point.name, value))
+
+
 class Configuration(object):
 
     config_points = []
@@ -498,16 +507,17 @@ class Configuration(object):
     configuration = {cp.name: cp for cp in config_points}
 
     @classmethod
-    # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-    def from_pod(cls, pod, plugin_cache):
+    def from_pod(cls, pod):
         instance = cls()
-        for name, cfg_point in cls.configuration.iteritems():
+        for cfg_point in cls.config_points:
             if name in pod:
-                cfg_point.set_value(instance, pod.pop(name))
+                value = pod.pop(name)
+                if hasattr(cfg_point.kind, 'from_pod'):
+                    value = cfg_point.kind.from_pod(value)
+                cfg_point.set_value(instance, value)
         if pod:
             msg = 'Invalid entry(ies) for "{}": "{}"'
-            raise ConfigError(msg.format(cls.name, '", "'.join(pod.keys())))
-        instance.validate()
+            raise ValueError(msg.format(cls.name, '", "'.join(pod.keys())))
         return instance
 
     def __init__(self):
@@ -531,17 +541,17 @@ class Configuration(object):
 
     def to_pod(self):
         pod = {}
-        for cfg_point_name in self.configuration.iterkeys():
-            value = getattr(self, cfg_point_name, None)
+        for cfg_point in self.configuration.itervalues():
+            value = getattr(self, cfg_point.name, None)
             if value is not None:
-                pod[cfg_point_name] = value
+                pod[cfg_point.name] = _to_pod(cfg_point, value)
         return pod
 
 
 # This configuration for the core WA framework
-class WAConfiguration(Configuration):
+class MetaConfiguration(Configuration):
 
-    name = "WA Configuration"
+    name = "Meta Configuration"
 
     plugin_packages = [
         'wlauto.commands',
@@ -617,7 +627,7 @@ class WAConfiguration(Configuration):
         return os.path.join(self.user_directory, 'config.yaml')
 
     def __init__(self, environ):
-        super(WAConfiguration, self).__init__()
+        super(MetaConfiguration, self).__init__()
         user_directory = environ.pop('WA_USER_DIRECTORY', '')
         if user_directory:
             self.set('user_directory', user_directory)
@@ -748,39 +758,30 @@ class RunConfiguration(Configuration):
         selected device.
         """
         # pylint: disable=no-member
-        self.device_config = plugin_cache.get_plugin_config(self.device_config,
+        if self.device is None:
+            msg = 'Attemting to merge device config with unspecified device'
+            raise RuntimeError(msg)
+        self.device_config = plugin_cache.get_plugin_config(self.device,
                                                             generic_name="device_config")
 
     def to_pod(self):
         pod = super(RunConfiguration, self).to_pod()
-        pod['device_config'] = self.device_config
+        pod['device_config'] = dict(self.device_config or {})
         return pod
 
-    # pylint: disable=no-member
     @classmethod
-    def from_pod(cls, pod, plugin_cache):
-        try:
-            device_config = obj_dict(values=pod.pop("device_config"), not_in_dict=['name'])
-        except KeyError as e:
-            msg = 'No value specified for mandatory parameter "{}".'
-            raise ConfigError(msg.format(e.args[0]))
+    def from_pod(cls, pod):
+        meta_pod = {}
+        for cfg_point in cls.meta_data:
+            meta_pod[cfg_point.name] = pod.pop(cfg_point.name, None)
 
-        instance = super(RunConfiguration, cls).from_pod(pod, plugin_cache)
+        instance = super(RunConfiguration, cls).from_pod(pod)
+        for cfg_point in cls.meta_data:
+            cfg_point.set_value(instance, meta_pod[cfg_point.name])
 
-        device_config.name = "device_config"
-        cfg_points = plugin_cache.get_plugin_parameters(instance.device)
-        for entry_name in device_config.iterkeys():
-            if entry_name not in cfg_points.iterkeys():
-                msg = 'Invalid entry "{}" for device "{}".'
-                raise ConfigError(msg.format(entry_name, instance.device, cls.name))
-            else:
-                cfg_points[entry_name].validate(device_config)
-
-        instance.device_config = device_config
         return instance
 
 
-# This is the configuration for WA jobs
 class JobSpec(Configuration):
 
     name = "Job Spec"
@@ -795,6 +796,23 @@ class JobSpec(Configuration):
                            description='''
                            The name of the workload to run.
                            '''),
+        ConfigurationPoint('workload_parameters', kind=obj_dict,
+                           aliases=["params", "workload_params"],
+                           description='''
+                           Parameter to be passed to the workload
+                           '''),
+        ConfigurationPoint('runtime_parameters', kind=obj_dict,
+                           aliases=["runtime_params"],
+                           description='''
+                           Runtime parameters to be set prior to running
+                           the workload.
+                           '''),
+        ConfigurationPoint('boot_parameters', kind=obj_dict,
+                           aliases=["boot_params"],
+                           description='''
+                           Parameters to be used when rebooting the target
+                           prior to running the workload.
+                           '''),
         ConfigurationPoint('label', kind=str,
                            description='''
                            Similar to IDs but do not have the uniqueness restriction.
@@ -823,14 +841,23 @@ class JobSpec(Configuration):
     ]
     configuration = {cp.name: cp for cp in config_points}
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_pod(cls, pod):
+        job_id = pod.pop('id')
+        instance = super(JobSpec, cls).from_pod(pod)
+        instance['id'] = job_id
+        return instance
+
     def __init__(self):
         super(JobSpec, self).__init__()
         self.to_merge = defaultdict(OrderedDict)
         self._sources = []
         self.id = None
-        self.workload_parameters = None
-        self.runtime_parameters = None
-        self.boot_parameters = None
+
+    def to_pod(self):
+        pod = super(JobSpec, self).to_pod()
+        pod['id'] = self.id
+        return pod
 
     def update_config(self, source, check_mandatory=True):
         self._sources.append(source)
@@ -848,7 +875,6 @@ class JobSpec(Configuration):
                     msg = 'Error in {}:\n\t{}'
                     raise ConfigError(msg.format(source.name, e.message))
 
-
     def merge_workload_parameters(self, plugin_cache):
         # merge global generic and specific config
         workload_params = plugin_cache.get_plugin_config(self.workload_name,
@@ -876,7 +902,10 @@ class JobSpec(Configuration):
 
         # Order global runtime parameters
         runtime_parameters = OrderedDict()
-        global_runtime_params = plugin_cache.get_plugin_config("runtime_parameters")
+        try:
+            global_runtime_params = plugin_cache.get_plugin_config("runtime_parameters")
+        except NotFoundError:
+            global_runtime_params = {}
         for source in plugin_cache.sources:
             runtime_parameters[source] = global_runtime_params[source]
 
@@ -890,27 +919,6 @@ class JobSpec(Configuration):
     def finalize(self):
         self.id = "-".join([source.config['id'] for source in self._sources[1:]])  # ignore first id, "global"
 
-    def to_pod(self):
-        pod = super(JobSpec, self).to_pod()
-        pod['workload_parameters'] = self.workload_parameters
-        pod['runtime_parameters'] = self.runtime_parameters
-        pod['boot_parameters'] = self.boot_parameters
-        return pod
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_pod(cls, pod, plugin_cache):
-        try:
-            workload_parameters = pod['workload_parameters']
-            runtime_parameters = pod['runtime_parameters']
-            boot_parameters = pod['boot_parameters']
-        except KeyError as e:
-            msg = 'No value specified for mandatory parameter "{}}".'
-            raise ConfigError(msg.format(e.args[0]))
-
-        instance = super(JobSpec, cls).from_pod(pod, plugin_cache)
-
-        # TODO: validate parameters and construct the rest of the instance
-
 
 # This is used to construct the list of Jobs WA will run
 class JobGenerator(object):
@@ -970,6 +978,7 @@ class JobGenerator(object):
         self.ids_to_run = ids
 
     def generate_job_specs(self, target_manager):
+        specs = []
         for leaf in self.root_node.leaves():
             workload_entries = leaf.workload_entries
             sections = [leaf]
@@ -978,18 +987,23 @@ class JobGenerator(object):
                 sections.insert(0, ancestor)
 
             for workload_entry in workload_entries:
-                job_spec = create_job_spec(workload_entry, sections, target_manager)
-                for job_id in self.ids_to_run:
-                    if job_id in job_spec.id:
-                        break
-                else:
-                    continue
+                job_spec = create_job_spec(workload_entry, sections, 
+                                           target_manager, self.plugin_cache,
+                                           self.disabled_instruments)
+                if self.ids_to_run:
+                    for job_id in self.ids_to_run:
+                        if job_id in job_spec.id:
+                            break
+                    else:
+                        continue
                 self.update_enabled_instruments(job_spec.instrumentation.values())
-                yield  job_spec
+                specs.append(job_spec)
+        return specs
 
 
 
-def create_job_spec(workload_entry, sections, target_manager):
+def create_job_spec(workload_entry, sections, target_manager, plugin_cache,
+                    disabled_instruments):
     job_spec = JobSpec()
 
     # PHASE 2.1: Merge general job spec configuration
@@ -998,18 +1012,17 @@ def create_job_spec(workload_entry, sections, target_manager):
     job_spec.update_config(workload_entry, check_mandatory=False)
 
     # PHASE 2.2: Merge global, section and workload entry "workload_parameters"
-    job_spec.merge_workload_parameters(self.plugin_cache)
-    target_manager.static_runtime_parameter_validation(job_spec.runtime_parameters)
+    job_spec.merge_workload_parameters(plugin_cache)
 
     # TODO: PHASE 2.3: Validate device runtime/boot paramerers
-    job_spec.merge_runtime_parameters(self.plugin_cache, target_manager)
+    job_spec.merge_runtime_parameters(plugin_cache, target_manager)
     target_manager.validate_runtime_parameters(job_spec.runtime_parameters)
 
     # PHASE 2.4: Disable globally disabled instrumentation
-    job_spec.set("instrumentation", self.disabled_instruments)
+    job_spec.set("instrumentation", disabled_instruments)
     job_spec.finalize()
 
     return job_spec
 
 
-settings = WAConfiguration(os.environ)
+settings = MetaConfiguration(os.environ)
diff --git a/wlauto/core/configuration/default.py b/wlauto/core/configuration/default.py
index 0d520ca9..5145a6b4 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/configuration/default.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/configuration/default.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import WAConfiguration, RunConfiguration
+from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import MetaConfiguration, RunConfiguration
 from wlauto.core.configuration.plugin_cache import PluginCache
 from wlauto.utils.serializer import yaml
 from wlauto.utils.doc import strip_inlined_text
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def _format_instruments(output):
 
 def generate_default_config(path):
     with open(path, 'w') as output:
-        for param in WAConfiguration.config_points + RunConfiguration.config_points:
+        for param in MetaConfiguration.config_points + RunConfiguration.config_points:
             entry = {param.name: param.default}
             comment = _format_yaml_comment(param)
             output.writelines(comment)
diff --git a/wlauto/core/state.py b/wlauto/core/configuration/manager.py
similarity index 54%
rename from wlauto/core/state.py
rename to wlauto/core/configuration/manager.py
index 9071aa93..ef41be9f 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/state.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/configuration/manager.py
@@ -1,10 +1,29 @@
-from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import (RunConfiguration,
+from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import (MetaConfiguration,
+                                                     RunConfiguration,
                                                      JobGenerator, settings)
 from wlauto.core.configuration.parsers import ConfigParser
 from wlauto.core.configuration.plugin_cache import PluginCache
 
 
-class WAState(object):
+class CombinedConfig(object):
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_pod(pod):
+        instance = CombinedConfig()
+        instance.settings = MetaConfiguration.from_pod(pod.get('setttings', {}))
+        instance.run_config = RunConfiguration.from_pod(pod.get('run_config', {}))
+        return instance
+
+    def __init__(self, settings=None, run_config=None):
+        self.settings = settings
+        self.run_config = run_config
+
+    def to_pod(self):
+        return {'settings': self.settings.to_pod(),
+                'run_config': self.run_config.to_pod()}
+
+
+class ConfigManager(object):
     """
     Represents run-time state of WA. Mostly used as a container for loaded 
     configuration and discovered plugins.
@@ -20,6 +39,8 @@ class WAState(object):
         self.jobs_config = JobGenerator(self.plugin_cache)
         self.loaded_config_sources = []
         self._config_parser = ConfigParser()
+        self._job_specs = []
+        self.jobs = []
 
     def load_config_file(self, filepath):
         self._config_parser.load_from_path(self, filepath)
@@ -29,4 +50,7 @@ class WAState(object):
         self._config_parser.load(self, values, source)
         self.loaded_config_sources.append(source)
 
+    def finalize(self):
+        self.run_config.merge_device_config(self.plugin_cache)
+        return CombinedConfig(self.settings, self.run_config)
 
diff --git a/wlauto/core/device_manager.py b/wlauto/core/device_manager.py
index 3e8d9296..ca0c3a68 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/device_manager.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/device_manager.py
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ class TargetInfo(object):
         instance.os_version = pod['os_version']
         instance.abi = pod['abi']
         instance.is_rooted = pod['is_rooted']
-        instance.kernel_version = KernelVersion(pod['kernel_version'])
+        instance.kernel_version = KernelVersion(pod['kernel_release'], 
+                                                pod['kernel_version'])
         instance.kernel_config = KernelConfig(pod['kernel_config'])
 
         if pod["target"] == "AndroidTarget":
@@ -69,15 +70,16 @@ class TargetInfo(object):
 
     def to_pod(self):
         pod = {}
-        pod['target'] = self.target.__class__.__name__
+        pod['target'] = self.target
         pod['abi'] = self.abi
-        pod['cpuinfo'] = self.cpuinfo.text
+        pod['cpuinfo'] = self.cpuinfo.sections
         pod['os'] = self.os
         pod['os_version'] = self.os_version
         pod['abi'] = self.abi
         pod['is_rooted'] = self.is_rooted
+        pod['kernel_release'] = self.kernel_version.release
         pod['kernel_version'] = self.kernel_version.version
-        pod['kernel_config'] = self.kernel_config.text
+        pod['kernel_config'] = dict(self.kernel_config.iteritems())
 
         if self.target == "AndroidTarget":
             pod['screen_resolution'] = self.screen_resolution
diff --git a/wlauto/core/entry_point.py b/wlauto/core/entry_point.py
index d58f1cc8..d3dea0f0 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/entry_point.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/entry_point.py
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ import warnings
 from wlauto.core import pluginloader
 from wlauto.core.command import init_argument_parser
 from wlauto.core.configuration import settings
+from wlauto.core.configuration.manager import ConfigManager
 from wlauto.core.host import init_user_directory
-from wlauto.core.state import WAState
 from wlauto.exceptions import WAError, DevlibError, ConfigError
 from wlauto.utils.doc import format_body
 from wlauto.utils.log import init_logging
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def load_commands(subparsers):
 
 
 def main():
-    state = WAState()
+    config = ConfigManager()
 
     if not os.path.exists(settings.user_directory):
         init_user_directory()
@@ -68,16 +68,16 @@ def main():
 
         settings.set("verbosity", args.verbose)
 
-        state.load_config_file(settings.user_config_file)
+        config.load_config_file(settings.user_config_file)
         for config_file in args.config:
             if not os.path.exists(config_file):
                 raise ConfigError("Config file {} not found".format(config_file))
-            state.load_config_file(config_file)
+            config.load_config_file(config_file)
 
         init_logging(settings.verbosity)
 
         command = commands[args.command]
-        sys.exit(command.execute(state, args))
+        sys.exit(command.execute(config, args))
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         logging.info('Got CTRL-C. Aborting.')
diff --git a/wlauto/core/execution.py b/wlauto/core/execution.py
index 30477984..95d67602 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/execution.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/execution.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import wlauto.core.signal as signal
 from wlauto.core import instrumentation
 from wlauto.core import pluginloader
 from wlauto.core.configuration import settings
+from wlauto.core.device_manager import TargetInfo
 from wlauto.core.plugin import Artifact
 from wlauto.core.resolver import ResourceResolver
 from wlauto.core.result import ResultManager, IterationResult, RunResult
@@ -213,6 +214,30 @@ def _check_artifact_path(path, rootpath):
     return full_path
 
 
+
+class FakeTargetManager(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, name, config):
+        self.device_name = name
+        self.device_config = config
+
+        from devlib import LocalLinuxTarget
+        self.target = LocalLinuxTarget({'unrooted': True})
+        
+    def get_target_info(self):
+        return TargetInfo(self.target)
+
+    def validate_runtime_parameters(self, params):
+        pass
+
+    def merge_runtime_parameters(self, params):
+        pass
+
+
+def init_target_manager(config):
+    return FakeTargetManager(config.device, config.device_config)
+
+
 class Executor(object):
     """
     The ``Executor``'s job is to set up the execution context and pass to a
@@ -237,14 +262,14 @@ class Executor(object):
         self.device = None
         self.context = None
 
-    def execute(self, state, output):
+    def execute(self, config_manager, output):
         """
         Execute the run specified by an agenda. Optionally, selectors may be
         used to only selecute a subset of the specified agenda.
 
         Params::
 
-            :state: a ``WAState`` containing processed configuraiton
+            :state: a ``ConfigManager`` containing processed configuraiton
             :output: an initialized ``RunOutput`` that will be used to
                      store the results.
 
@@ -253,8 +278,17 @@ class Executor(object):
         signal.connect(self._warning_signalled_callback, signal.WARNING_LOGGED)
 
         self.logger.info('Initializing run')
+        self.logger.debug('Finalizing run configuration.')
+        config = config_manager.finalize()
+        output.write_config(config)
 
-        self.logger.debug('Loading run configuration.')
+        self.logger.info('Connecting to target')
+        target_manager = init_target_manager(config.run_config)
+        output.write_target_info(target_manager.get_target_info())
+
+        self.logger.info('Generationg jobs')
+        job_specs = config_manager.jobs_config.generate_job_specs(target_manager)
+        output.write_job_specs(job_specs)
 
     def old_exec(self, agenda, selectors={}):
         self.config.set_agenda(agenda, selectors)
diff --git a/wlauto/core/output.py b/wlauto/core/output.py
index 183ce8ed..1047bf2f 100644
--- a/wlauto/core/output.py
+++ b/wlauto/core/output.py
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import sys
 import uuid
 from copy import copy
 
+from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import JobSpec
+from wlauto.core.configuration.manager import ConfigManager
+from wlauto.core.device_manager import TargetInfo
 from wlauto.utils.misc import touch
 from wlauto.utils.serializer import write_pod, read_pod
 
@@ -78,6 +81,18 @@ class RunOutput(object):
     def statefile(self):
         return os.path.join(self.basepath, '.run_state.json')
 
+    @property
+    def configfile(self):
+        return os.path.join(self.metadir, 'config.json')
+
+    @property
+    def targetfile(self):
+        return os.path.join(self.metadir, 'target_info.json')
+
+    @property
+    def jobsfile(self):
+        return os.path.join(self.metadir, 'jobs.json')
+
     def __init__(self, path):
         self.basepath = path
         self.info = None
@@ -98,6 +113,32 @@ class RunOutput(object):
     def write_state(self):
         write_pod(self.state.to_pod(), self.statefile)
 
+    def write_config(self, config):
+        write_pod(config.to_pod(), self.configfile)
+
+    def read_config(self):
+        if not os.path.isfile(self.configfile):
+            return None
+        return ConfigManager.from_pod(read_pod(self.configfile))
+
+    def write_target_info(self, ti):
+        write_pod(ti.to_pod(), self.targetfile)
+
+    def read_config(self):
+        if not os.path.isfile(self.targetfile):
+            return None
+        return TargetInfo.from_pod(read_pod(self.targetfile))
+
+    def write_job_specs(self, job_specs):
+        job_specs[0].to_pod()
+        js_pod = {'jobs': [js.to_pod() for js in job_specs]}
+        write_pod(js_pod, self.jobsfile)
+
+    def read_job_specs(self):
+        if not os.path.isfile(self.jobsfile):
+            return None
+        pod = read_pod(self.jobsfile)
+        return [JobSpec.from_pod(jp) for jp in pod['jobs']]
 
 
 def init_wa_output(path, wa_state, force=False):
diff --git a/wlauto/tests/test_parsers.py b/wlauto/tests/test_parsers.py
index 763d2c7f..77d8bba4 100644
--- a/wlauto/tests/test_parsers.py
+++ b/wlauto/tests/test_parsers.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from wlauto.exceptions import ConfigError
 from wlauto.core.configuration.parsers import *  # pylint: disable=wildcard-import
 from wlauto.core.configuration.parsers import _load_file, _collect_valid_id, _resolve_params_alias
 from wlauto.core.configuration import RunConfiguration, JobGenerator, PluginCache, ConfigurationPoint
-from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import WAConfiguration
+from wlauto.core.configuration.configuration import MetaConfiguration
 from wlauto.utils.types import toggle_set, reset_counter
 
 
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ class TestFunctions(TestCase):
 class TestConfigParser(TestCase):
 
     def test_error_cases(self):
-        wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
-        wa_config.configuration = WAConfiguration.configuration
+        wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
+        wa_config.configuration = MetaConfiguration.configuration
         run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
         run_config.configuration = RunConfiguration.configuration
         config_parser = ConfigParser(wa_config,
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ class TestConfigParser(TestCase):
                                "Unit test")
 
     def test_config_points(self):
-        wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
-        wa_config.configuration = WAConfiguration.configuration
+        wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
+        wa_config.configuration = MetaConfiguration.configuration
 
         run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
         run_config.configuration = RunConfiguration.configuration
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ class TestAgendaParser(TestCase):
 
     # Tests Phase 1 & 2
     def test_valid_structures(self):
-        wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
-        wa_config.configuration = WAConfiguration.configuration
+        wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
+        wa_config.configuration = MetaConfiguration.configuration
         run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
         run_config.configuration = RunConfiguration.configuration
         jobs_config = Mock(spec=JobGenerator)
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ class TestAgendaParser(TestCase):
 
     # Test Phase 3
     def test_id_collection(self):
-        wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
-        wa_config.configuration = WAConfiguration.configuration
+        wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
+        wa_config.configuration = MetaConfiguration.configuration
         run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
         run_config.configuration = RunConfiguration.configuration
         jobs_config = Mock(spec=JobGenerator)
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ class TestAgendaParser(TestCase):
 
     # Test Phase 4
     def test_id_assignment(self):
-        wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
-        wa_config.configuration = WAConfiguration.configuration
+        wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
+        wa_config.configuration = MetaConfiguration.configuration
         run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
         run_config.configuration = RunConfiguration.configuration
         jobs_config = Mock(spec=JobGenerator)
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ class TestAgendaParser(TestCase):
 
 
 class TestCommandLineArgsParser(TestCase):
-    wa_config = Mock(spec=WAConfiguration)
+    wa_config = Mock(spec=MetaConfiguration)
     run_config = Mock(spec=RunConfiguration)
     jobs_config = Mock(spec=JobGenerator)
 
diff --git a/wlauto/utils/types.py b/wlauto/utils/types.py
index c23f8215..8e4c5e65 100644
--- a/wlauto/utils/types.py
+++ b/wlauto/utils/types.py
@@ -322,7 +322,8 @@ class prioritylist(object):
             raise ValueError('Invalid index {}'.format(index))
         current_global_offset = 0
         priority_counts = {priority: count for (priority, count) in
-                           zip(self.priorities, [len(self.elements[p]) for p in self.priorities])}
+                           zip(self.priorities, [len(self.elements[p]) 
+                                                 for p in self.priorities])}
         for priority in self.priorities:
             if not index_range:
                 break
@@ -351,13 +352,9 @@ class toggle_set(set):
     and ``cherries`` but disables ``oranges``.
     """
 
-    def merge_with(self, other):
-        new_self = copy(self)
-        return toggle_set.merge(other, new_self)
-
-    def merge_into(self, other):
-        other = copy(other)
-        return toggle_set.merge(self, other)
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_pod(pod):
+        return toggle_set(pod)
 
     @staticmethod
     def merge(source, dest):
@@ -372,6 +369,14 @@ class toggle_set(set):
                 dest.add(item)
         return dest
 
+    def merge_with(self, other):
+        new_self = copy(self)
+        return toggle_set.merge(other, new_self)
+
+    def merge_into(self, other):
+        other = copy(other)
+        return toggle_set.merge(self, other)
+
     def values(self):
         """
         returns a list of enabled items.
@@ -396,6 +401,9 @@ class toggle_set(set):
                 conflicts.append(item)
         return conflicts
 
+    def to_pod(self):
+        return list(self.values())
+
 class ID(str):
 
     def merge_with(self, other):
@@ -411,11 +419,19 @@ class obj_dict(MutableMapping):
     as an attribute.
 
     :param not_in_dict: A list of keys that can only be accessed as attributes
+
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, not_in_dict=None, values={}):
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_pod(pod):
+        return obj_dict(pod)
+
+    def __init__(self, values=None, not_in_dict=None):
+        self.__dict__['dict'] = dict(values or {})
         self.__dict__['not_in_dict'] = not_in_dict if not_in_dict is not None else []
-        self.__dict__['dict'] = dict(values)
+
+    def to_pod(self):
+        return self.__dict__['dict']
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         if key in self.not_in_dict:
@@ -457,13 +473,3 @@ class obj_dict(MutableMapping):
             return self.__dict__['dict'][name]
         else:
             raise AttributeError("No such attribute: " + name)
-
-    def to_pod(self):
-        return self.__dict__.copy()
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def from_pod(pod):
-        instance = ObjDict()
-        for k, v in pod.iteritems():
-            instance[k] = v
-        return instance