Self-describing software image update components

Described is a system and method in which software images including updates are provided as packages. The package is self-describing, thereby facilitating the replacement of only component parts of an image. A software build process maps operating system features (comprising files, metadata, configuration information and so forth) into the packages, and executable code is processed for relocation purposes. The final package includes a device manifest file that describes the package and conveys dependency information and information about the priority of settings (shadow data).