A subscription-based image pack service program provides the service of automated creation of computer software production images for different customers. To build a production image, a user interacts with the image pack service to enter selections of components and settings to be included in the production image. The image pack service automatically retrieves the selected components and builds the production image using the components. The image pack service keeps track of configuration information of the production image it has built, and notifies the user of recent changes/updates relating to the components and settings used in the production image. The user then decides whether the production image should be modified to incorporate the changes and, if so, uses the image pack service to generate the updated production image.