1. A computer-implemented method comprising: automatically discovering one or more configuration items for a software application; packaging the software application to form a virtual application package; deploying the virtual application package to instantiate the software application; and applying a deployment configuration comprising one or more settings for the one or more configuration items, wherein the deploying the virtual application package and the applying the deployment configuration are interleaved, with a first portion of the virtual application package being deployed as a first deployed portion of the software application and the deployment configuration being applied in the first deployed portion of the software application, followed by a second portion of the virtual application package being deployed as a second deployed portion of the software application and the deployment configuration being applied in the second deployed portion of the software application, and wherein the first portion of the virtual application package is different from the second portion of the virtual application package.