A method for exchanging real-time data between program modules (11, 12, 13), wherein the program modules are executed on a control device in an automation system, and wherein the program modules are part of an overall application for execution on said control device, comprising providing a data storage means which provides a global data space in which the program modules can store variable values so that other program modules can access them, wherein the data storage means has a software component which forms part of the firmware of the control device; providing at least one description file, wherein the description file comprises meta information that describes which variables a program module offers by using ports; configuring the data storage means using the description file, wherein the meta information of the description file is stored in the data storage means, wherein the stored meta information (21 - 31) comprises at least one variable, and wherein at least one connector is provided, wherein the connector denotes a functionality of the data storage means which provides a connection from one of the program modules to another one of the program modules via the data storage means, wherein the connector describes the manner in which data of the variable is written and read in a memory of the data storage means, so that a connection can be established between the program modules (11, 12, 13) via the data storage means; wherein the program modules (11, 12, 13) can be executed by a real-time operating system; and exchanging the variable between one of the program modules (11, 12, 13) and the data storage means via the connector; further comprising providing variables in the data storage means by a first program module of the program modules (11, 12, 13); publishing the provided variables by the data storage means for at least one second program module of the program modules (11, 12, 13); and accessing the variables in the data storage means by at least the second program module. providing a data storage means which provides a global data space in which the program modules can store variable values so that other program modules can access them, wherein the data storage means has a software component which forms part of the firmware of the control device; providing at least one description file, wherein the description file comprises meta information that describes which variables a program module offers by using ports; configuring the data storage means using the description file, wherein the meta information of the description file is stored in the data storage means, wherein the stored meta information (21 - 31) comprises at least one variable, and wherein at least one connector is provided, wherein the connector denotes a functionality of the data storage means which provides a connection from one of the program modules to another one of the program modules via the data storage means, wherein the connector describes the manner in which data of the variable is written and read in a memory of the data storage means, so that a connection can be established between the program modules (11, 12, 13) via the data storage means; wherein the program modules (11, 12, 13) can be executed by a real-time operating system; and exchanging the variable between one of the program modules (11, 12, 13) and the data storage means via the connector; further comprising providing variables in the data storage means by a first program module of the program modules (11, 12, 13); publishing the provided variables by the data storage means for at least one second program module of the program modules (11, 12, 13); and accessing the variables in the data storage means by at least the second program module.