An information-technology (IT) blueprint is an executable document that, when executed, can be used to create an IT application such as an e-commerce site. An IT lifecycle blueprint can further be used to manage (e.g., modify) and, ultimately, destroy such an IT application. To this end, an IT lifecycle blueprint can include idempotent methods that achieve the same result whether starting from a blank (real or virtual) infrastructure or from a previously populated infrastructure. To effect a modification that is not within the scope of the blueprint that created the IT application, a new lifecycle blueprint can be created, if necessary, and executed to effect the modification. In a sense, the new lifecycle blueprint replaces the old lifecycle blueprint as a manager tool for the IT application.