One or more computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for managing one or more component programs within a service application according to a service model, the method comprising: determining a level of load on the service application, wherein the service application comprises the one or more component programs that are executable on separate computing devices (255, 265) within a data center; detecting a trigger to instantiate the component programs within the service application, wherein the trigger is based on an indication of a change to a level of load on the service application or an indication of a change to the specifications within the service model; incident to detecting the trigger, extracting from specifications and/or hooks of the service model configuration settings that can be administered to the one or more component programs, where the configuration settings are utilized to configure parameters within the component programs and the service model provides hooks within the specifications that allow implicit and explicit configuration settings to be extracted therefrom; initiating an instantiation process for managing the service application in accordance with the level of the load, the instantiation process comprising: - deploying the one or more component programs within the data center; - determining a state of each of the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a transformation map, wherein the transformation map includes logic for expressing the configuration settings as formalized values that correspond to the state of each of the one or more component programs; - deriving the formalized values from the configuration settings according to the logic of the transformation map, and - automatically propagating the derived formalized values throughout the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a structure map and locating parameters within the component programs according to logic within the structure map, wherein the logic of the structure map assists in directing the formalized values to the appropriate parameters; and at least temporarily installing (335, 430) the formalized values at the appropriate parameters of the one or more component programs, thereby providing for functionality of the service application consistent with the service model. determining a level of load on the service application, wherein the service application comprises the one or more component programs that are executable on separate computing devices (255, 265) within a data center; detecting a trigger to instantiate the component programs within the service application, wherein the trigger is based on an indication of a change to a level of load on the service application or an indication of a change to the specifications within the service model; incident to detecting the trigger, extracting from specifications and/or hooks of the service model configuration settings that can be administered to the one or more component programs, where the configuration settings are utilized to configure parameters within the component programs and the service model provides hooks within the specifications that allow implicit and explicit configuration settings to be extracted therefrom; initiating an instantiation process for managing the service application in accordance with the level of the load, the instantiation process comprising: - deploying the one or more component programs within the data center; - determining a state of each of the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a transformation map, wherein the transformation map includes logic for expressing the configuration settings as formalized values that correspond to the state of each of the one or more component programs; - deriving the formalized values from the configuration settings according to the logic of the transformation map, and - automatically propagating the derived formalized values throughout the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a structure map and locating parameters within the component programs according to logic within the structure map, wherein the logic of the structure map assists in directing the formalized values to the appropriate parameters; and - deploying the one or more component programs within the data center; - determining a state of each of the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a transformation map, wherein the transformation map includes logic for expressing the configuration settings as formalized values that correspond to the state of each of the one or more component programs; - deriving the formalized values from the configuration settings according to the logic of the transformation map, and - automatically propagating the derived formalized values throughout the one or more deployed component programs; - accessing a structure map and locating parameters within the component programs according to logic within the structure map, wherein the logic of the structure map assists in directing the formalized values to the appropriate parameters; and at least temporarily installing (335, 430) the formalized values at the appropriate parameters of the one or more component programs, thereby providing for functionality of the service application consistent with the service model.