Configured generation of virtual machine images

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored contents that cause a computing system of a virtual machine image generating service to at least:

• receive configuration information from a client that specifies one or more triggering conditions for use in determining when to generate a target virtual machine image constructed from multiple stored construction components based at least in part on changes in the multiple stored construction components;
• based at least in part on monitoring status information that indicates one or more modifications made to at least one of the multiple stored construction components, determine that the one or more triggering conditions are satisfied and perform the generating of the target virtual machine image by:
• executing a base virtual machine image in a host virtual machine;
• modifying the host virtual machine based at least in part on the one or more modifications made to the at least one stored construction component, wherein the modifying of the host virtual machine includes installing one or more software programs on the host virtual machine, adding data specific to the client to storage of the host virtual machine, and configuring one or more settings on the host virtual machine using one or more of the multiple stored construction components, wherein one of the installed software programs is one of the multiple stored construction components;
• and
• saving, after the modifying of the host virtual machine, a current state of the host virtual machine as the target virtual machine image, wherein the target virtual machine image is configured to execute at least one of the installed software programs upon startup;
• and
• provide access for the client to the generated target virtual machine image.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors of one or more computing systems;
• and
• one or more memories including stored instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the at least one processor to provide a software image generating service, the providing including:
• receiving configuration information from a client that specifies one or more triggering conditions for use in determining when to generate a target software image to be constructed from multiple stored construction components;
• monitoring one or more of the multiple stored construction components, and determining, based at least in part on a change to at least one of the multiple stored construction components identified from the monitoring, that the one or more triggering conditions are satisfied;
• based at least in part on the determining, generating the target software image by:
• executing a base software image in a host machine;
• modifying the host machine based at least in part on the change to the at least one of the multiple stored construction components, the modifying of the host machine including modifying storage of the host machine to include data specific to the client, configuring one or more settings on the host machine based at least in part on one or more of the multiple stored construction components, and installing one or more software programs on the host machine, wherein at least one of the installed software programs is one of the multiple construction components;
• and
• saving, after the modifying of the host machine, a current state of the host machine as the target software image, wherein the target software image is configured to execute at least one of the installed software programs upon startup;
• and
• providing access for the client to the generated target software image.