Techniques manage cluster resources within an application environment. The techniques involve identifying a group of cluster resources from a plurality of cluster resources of the application environment, the plurality of cluster resources being constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of services. The techniques further involve forming an application slice having the group of cluster resources. The techniques further involve deploying the application slice to provide services. Certain techniques provide a platform that allows operators to build application slices (or application overlays) that are a way of grouping application pods (or containers) based on one or more organizing principles such as velocity of deployment, security, governance, etc.