1. A method comprising: generating an updated software binary for an updated version of a software application that uses a virtual container as an executable directory; wherein a previous version of the software application is deployed on a plurality of targets; wherein the previous version of the software application runs from a first set of components in a first container referenced by the virtual container; loading the updated software binary for the updated version of the software application to a second container that is referenced by the virtual container; wherein the previous version of the software application remains active on the plurality of targets while the updated software binary for the updated version of the software application is loaded to the second container that is referenced by the virtual container; wherein the virtual container is manageable as a single software unit representative of the software application that uses the virtual container as an executable directory, the virtual container defining a path for running the software application from the first set of components in the first container; and activating the updated version of the software application on a first subset of one or more targets of the plurality of targets by changing the path defined by the virtual container to run at least one deployment of the software application from a second set of source components in the second container; wherein after changing the path defined by the virtual container, at least one deployment of the software application on a second subset of one or more targets of the plurality of targets continue to run from the first set of components in the first container.