Automatic package deployment allows Microservices Runtime to install or upgrade packages automatically. When automatic package deployment is enabled, packages can be installed or upgraded without using Deployer or an administrator tool such as, Microservices Runtime Administrator. Automatic deployment can be used with an on-premises Microservices Runtime and an Microservices Runtime that runs inside a Docker container.

Automatically deploying packages can be particularly useful for a Microservices Runtime that runs in a Docker container. Instead of creating the Docker image containing individual Packages, creating a base image containing Default package can be used to bring in custom packages. Packages to be installed or updated on the container can be placed in an autodeploy directory that Microservices Runtime periodically scans. Microservices Runtime will find and install the new or updated packages. If you do not use automatic deployment, you must rebuild the Docker image to use any new or updated packages with Microservices Runtime container.