Techniques herein use rules automation and template pluggable databases to facilitate deployment into container databases. In an embodiment, a system of computers loads rules into a rules engine. Each rule associates a predicate with suitable container databases. The system receives a request to install a target pluggable database. The rules engine detects satisfied rules whose predicates match the request. Based on the suitable container databases of the satisfied rules, the rules engine selects a particular container database. The system installs the target pluggable database into the particular container database. In an embodiment, a system of computers stores a plurality of template pluggable databases in a repository. The repository receives an installation request. Based on the installation request, the system selects a particular template pluggable database. The system installs the particular template pluggable database into a container database.