diff --git a/include/miral/miral/configuration_data_source.h b/include/miral/miral/configuration_data_source.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c5136296365
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/miral/miral/configuration_data_source.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © Canonical Ltd.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2 or 3,
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MIRAL_CONFIGURATION_SOURCE_H
+#define MIRAL_CONFIGURATION_SOURCE_H
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace mir { class Server; }
+
+namespace miral
+{
+
+/// Used to define another source of configuration data. By default, configuration
+/// options are parsed from command line parameters and the Mir configuration file.
+/// Using this class, compositor authors can provide another way to set configuration
+/// options. For example, one may parse a JSON file to the map and define configuration
+/// variable in that way.
+class ConfigurationDataSource
+{
+public:
+    explicit ConfigurationDataSource(std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> const&);
+    void operator()(mir::Server& server) const;
+
+    struct Self;
+    std::shared_ptr<Self> self;
+};
+}
+
+#endif //MIRAL_CONFIGURATION_SOURCE_H
diff --git a/include/platform/mir/options/default_configuration.h b/include/platform/mir/options/default_configuration.h
index cb3c9d3ace5..c7cfe2896cb 100644
--- a/include/platform/mir/options/default_configuration.h
+++ b/include/platform/mir/options/default_configuration.h
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class DefaultConfiguration : public Configuration
     // before the first invocation of the_options() - typically during initialization.
     boost::program_options::options_description_easy_init add_options();
 
+    void set_options_map(std::map<std::string, std::string> const& options);
+
 private:
     // MUST be the first member to ensure it's destroyed last, lest we attempt to
     // call destructors in DSOs we've unloaded.
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@ class DefaultConfiguration : public Configuration
 
     std::string const config_file;
 
+    std::optional<std::map<std::string, std::string>> options_map;
+
     void add_platform_options();
     // accessed via the base interface, when access to add_options() has been "lost"
     std::shared_ptr<options::Option> the_options() const override;
@@ -70,6 +74,10 @@ class DefaultConfiguration : public Configuration
         boost::program_options::options_description& desc,
         ProgramOption& options) const;
 
+    virtual void parse_custom(
+        boost::program_options::options_description& desc,
+        ProgramOption& options) const;
+
     int const argc;
     char const** const argv;
     std::function<void(int argc, char const* const* argv)> const unparsed_arguments_handler;
diff --git a/include/platform/mir/options/program_option.h b/include/platform/mir/options/program_option.h
index dbfe05d0450..73ee51b800f 100644
--- a/include/platform/mir/options/program_option.h
+++ b/include/platform/mir/options/program_option.h
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ class ProgramOption : public Option
         boost::program_options::options_description const& description,
         std::string const& filename);
 
+    void parse_map(
+        boost::program_options::options_description const& description,
+        std::map<std::string, std::string> const& map);
+
     bool is_set(char const* name) const override;
     bool get(char const* name, bool default_) const override;
     std::string get(char const*, char const* default_) const override;
diff --git a/src/include/server/mir/server.h b/src/include/server/mir/server.h
index af588ea65c2..0b2835fcf21 100644
--- a/src/include/server/mir/server.h
+++ b/src/include/server/mir/server.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 #include <vector>
+#include <map>
 
 struct wl_display;
 
@@ -186,6 +187,10 @@ class Server
     /// 2. $XDG_CONFIG_DIRS (if set, otherwise /etc/xdg)
     void set_config_filename(std::string const& config_file);
 
+    /// Set an alternative source for configuration data.
+    void set_configuration_data_source(
+        std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> const&);
+
     /// Returns the configuration options.
     /// This will be null before initialization starts. It will be available
     /// when the init_callback has been invoked (and thereafter until the server exits).
diff --git a/src/miral/CMakeLists.txt b/src/miral/CMakeLists.txt
index e9e27d22a2c..664f268e9d8 100644
--- a/src/miral/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/miral/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ add_library(miral-external OBJECT
     application_authorizer.cpp          ${miral_include}/miral/application_authorizer.h
     application_info.cpp                ${miral_include}/miral/application_info.h
     canonical_window_manager.cpp        ${miral_include}/miral/canonical_window_manager.h
+    configuration_data_source.cpp       ${miral_include}/miral/configuration_data_source.h
     configuration_option.cpp            ${miral_include}/miral/configuration_option.h
     ${miral_include}/miral/command_line_option.h
     cursor_theme.cpp                    ${miral_include}/miral/cursor_theme.h
diff --git a/src/miral/configuration_data_source.cpp b/src/miral/configuration_data_source.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d628b2d74e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/miral/configuration_data_source.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © Canonical Ltd.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2 or 3,
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "miral/configuration_data_source.h"
+#include <mir/server.h>
+
+struct miral::ConfigurationDataSource::Self
+{
+    std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> get_map;
+};
+
+miral::ConfigurationDataSource::ConfigurationDataSource(
+    std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> const& get_map)
+    : self{std::make_shared<Self>(get_map)}
+{
+}
+
+void miral::ConfigurationDataSource::operator()(mir::Server& server) const
+{
+    server.set_configuration_data_source(self->get_map);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/miral/symbols.map b/src/miral/symbols.map
index 79b4961cfd4..6ec0394d80e 100644
--- a/src/miral/symbols.map
+++ b/src/miral/symbols.map
@@ -456,6 +456,8 @@ local: *;
 MIRAL_5.1 {
 global:
   extern "C++" {
+    miral::ConfigurationDataSource::ConfigurationDataSource*;
+    miral::ConfigurationDataSource::operator*;
     miral::Decorations::Decorations*;
     miral::Decorations::always_csd*;
     miral::Decorations::always_ssd*;
@@ -469,7 +471,9 @@ global:
     miral::IdleListener::on_wake*;
     miral::IdleListener::operator*;
     miral::WindowManagerTools::move_cursor_to*;
-    typeinfo?for?miral::IdleListener;
+    typeinfo?for?miral::ConfigurationDataSource;
     typeinfo?for?miral::Decorations;
+    typeinfo?for?miral::IdleListener;
   };
 } MIRAL_5.0;
+
diff --git a/src/platform/options/default_configuration.cpp b/src/platform/options/default_configuration.cpp
index b2412781c9d..3f8d32fbd72 100644
--- a/src/platform/options/default_configuration.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/options/default_configuration.cpp
@@ -269,6 +269,11 @@ boost::program_options::options_description_easy_init mo::DefaultConfiguration::
     return program_options->add_options();
 }
 
+void mo::DefaultConfiguration::set_options_map(std::map<std::string, std::string> const& options)
+{
+    options_map = options;
+}
+
 std::shared_ptr<mo::Option> mo::DefaultConfiguration::the_options() const
 {
     if (!options)
@@ -277,6 +282,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<mo::Option> mo::DefaultConfiguration::the_options() const
         parse_arguments(*program_options, *options, argc, argv);
         parse_environment(*program_options, *options);
         parse_config_file(*program_options, *options);
+        parse_custom(*program_options, *options);
         this->options = options;
     }
     return options;
@@ -343,3 +349,11 @@ void mo::DefaultConfiguration::parse_config_file(
     if (!config_file.empty())
         options.parse_file(desc, config_file);
 }
+
+void mo::DefaultConfiguration::parse_custom(
+    boost::program_options::options_description& desc,
+    mir::options::ProgramOption& options) const
+{
+    if (options_map)
+        options.parse_map(desc, options_map.value());
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/platform/options/program_option.cpp b/src/platform/options/program_option.cpp
index 1cf88974083..41da01c4924 100644
--- a/src/platform/options/program_option.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/options/program_option.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,23 @@ void mo::ProgramOption::parse_file(
     po::notify(options);
 }
 
+void mo::ProgramOption::parse_map(
+    po::options_description const& desc,
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> const& map)
+{
+    boost::program_options::parsed_options opts(&desc);
+    for (auto const& [key, val] : map)
+    {
+        boost::program_options::basic_option<char> opt;
+        opt.string_key = key;
+        opt.value.push_back(val);
+        opts.options.push_back(opt);
+    }
+
+    po::store(opts, options);
+    po::notify(options);
+}
+
 bool mo::ProgramOption::is_set(char const* name) const
 {
     return options.count(parse_name(name));
diff --git a/src/platform/symbols.map b/src/platform/symbols.map
index 80961be7627..59ba505d161 100644
--- a/src/platform/symbols.map
+++ b/src/platform/symbols.map
@@ -202,3 +202,10 @@ MIR_PLATFORM_2.17 {
  local: *;
 };
 
+MIR_PLATFORM_2.18 {
+ global:
+  extern "C++" {
+    mir::options::DefaultConfiguration::set_options_map*;
+  };
+ local: *;
+} MIR_PLATFORM_2.17;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/server/server.cpp b/src/server/server.cpp
index 3126ca86b9b..b73df6e6979 100644
--- a/src/server/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server/server.cpp
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ struct mir::Server::Self
         std::make_shared<TemporaryCompositeEventFilter>()};
 
     std::function<void(int argc, char const* const* argv)> command_line_hander{};
+    std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> get_options_map;
 
     /// set a callback to introduce additional configuration options.
     /// this will be invoked by run() before server initialisation starts
@@ -244,7 +245,8 @@ std::shared_ptr<mo::DefaultConfiguration> configuration_options(
     int argc,
     char const** argv,
     std::function<void(int argc, char const* const* argv)> const& command_line_hander,
-    std::string const& config_file)
+    std::string const& config_file,
+    std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> const& get_options_map)
 {
     std::shared_ptr<mo::DefaultConfiguration> result;
 
@@ -253,6 +255,9 @@ std::shared_ptr<mo::DefaultConfiguration> configuration_options(
     else
         result = std::make_shared<mo::DefaultConfiguration>(argc, argv, config_file);
 
+    if (get_options_map)
+        result->set_options_map(get_options_map());
+
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -342,6 +347,14 @@ void mir::Server::set_config_filename(std::string const& config_file)
     self->config_file = config_file;
 }
 
+/// Set an alternative source for configuration data.
+void mir::Server::set_configuration_data_source(
+    std::function<std::map<std::string, std::string>()> const& get_map)
+{
+    verify_setting_allowed(self->server_config);
+    self->get_options_map = get_map;
+}
+
 auto mir::Server::get_options() const -> std::shared_ptr<options::Option>
 {
     verify_accessing_allowed(self->server_config);
@@ -378,7 +391,8 @@ void mir::Server::apply_settings()
 {
     if (self->server_config) return;
 
-    auto const options = configuration_options(self->argc, self->argv, self->command_line_hander, self->config_file);
+    auto const options = configuration_options(
+        self->argc, self->argv, self->command_line_hander, self->config_file, self->get_options_map);
     self->add_configuration_options(*options);
 
     auto const config = std::make_shared<ServerConfiguration>(options, self);
diff --git a/src/server/symbols.map b/src/server/symbols.map
index 5b6e9aaf91a..b8642934036 100644
--- a/src/server/symbols.map
+++ b/src/server/symbols.map
@@ -1344,12 +1344,13 @@ local: *;
 MIR_SERVER_INTERNAL_2.18 {
 global:
   extern "C++" {
-    mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_led_observer_registrar*;
     mir::DecorationStrategy::?DecorationStrategy*;
     mir::DecorationStrategy::DecorationStrategy*;
     mir::DecorationStrategy::operator*;
     mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::set_the_decoration_strategy*;
     mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_decoration_strategy*;
+    mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_led_observer_registrar*;
+    mir::Server::set_configuration_data_source*;
     mir::Server::set_the_decoration_strategy*;
     mir::Server::the_decoration_strategy*;
     mir::Server::the_idle_handler*;
@@ -1369,6 +1370,9 @@ global:
     mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar::xkb_modifiers*;
     mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver::?IdleHandlerObserver*;
     mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver::IdleHandlerObserver*;
+    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DecorationStrategy::?DecorationStrategy*;
+    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::set_the_decoration_strategy*;
+    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_decoration_strategy*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_led_observer_registrar*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar::clear_all_keymaps*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar::clear_keymap_for_device*;
@@ -1382,19 +1386,16 @@ global:
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar::unregister_interest*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar::xkb_modifiers*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver::?IdleHandlerObserver*;
-    typeinfo?for?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar;
-    typeinfo?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
-    vtable?for?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar;
-    vtable?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
-    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DecorationStrategy::?DecorationStrategy*;
-    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::set_the_decoration_strategy*;
-    non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_decoration_strategy*;
     non-virtual?thunk?to?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver::?IdleHandlerObserver*;
     typeinfo?for?mir::DecorationStrategy;
+    typeinfo?for?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar;
+    typeinfo?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
     typeinfo?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
     virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::set_the_decoration_strategy*;
     virtual?thunk?to?mir::DefaultServerConfiguration::the_decoration_strategy*;
     vtable?for?mir::DecorationStrategy;
+    vtable?for?mir::input::receiver::XKBMapperRegistrar;
+    vtable?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
     vtable?for?mir::shell::IdleHandlerObserver;
   };
 } MIR_SERVER_INTERNAL_2.17;
diff --git a/tools/symbols_map_generator/main.py b/tools/symbols_map_generator/main.py
index d0b5376df91..3047925d0a7 100755
--- a/tools/symbols_map_generator/main.py
+++ b/tools/symbols_map_generator/main.py
@@ -41,8 +41,19 @@ class LibraryInfo(TypedDict):
     header_directories: list[HeaderDirectory]
     map_file: str
 
+def get_version_from_library_version_str(version: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Given a string like MIR_SERVER_INTERNAL_5.0.0, returns the version
+    string (e.g. 5.0.0)
+    """
+    s = version.split("_")
+    return s[len(s) - 1]
+
 
 def get_major_version_from_str(version: str) -> int:
+    """
+    Given a string like 5.0.0, returns the major version (e.g. 5).
+    """
     return int(version.split('.')[0])
 
 
@@ -482,7 +493,7 @@ def main():
 
         # Remake the stanzas for the previous symbols
         for symbol in previous_symbols:
-            major = get_major_version_from_str(symbol.version)
+            major = get_major_version_from_str(get_version_from_library_version_str(symbol.version))
 
             # If we are going up by a major version, then we should add
             # all existing symbols to the new stanza