1. A method for determining optimal pathways for creating a virtual machine (VM) with a given set of requirements, the method comprising: a computer receiving at least one requirement for a new VM; a computer identifying an existing VM to be modified during the generation of the new VM; a computer determining at least one step necessary to create the new VM configuration from the existing VM; a computer presenting to a user pathways for creating the new VM from the existing VM, wherein the pathways include at least three of: a total time required to create the new VM, a number of steps required to create the new VM, the at least one step, a complexity of the at least one step, and a degree of difficulty of the at least one step; and a computer receiving a selection of a presented pathway to create the new VM.