Computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for managing containerized applications are described. An event associated with a containerized application are described is detected. A collection of files associated with resources for the containerized application and descriptor information for executing a lifecycle operation for the containerized application is received in response to the detected event. An execution of the lifecycle operation associated with the detected event is invoked at a node cluster of a container runtime environment, wherein the execution of the lifecycle operation is based on the collection of files, the descriptor information, and a solution image associated with the containerized application, wherein the solution image is determined based on the descriptor information.