Abstract: Tools and techniques for managing virtual machines, including without limitation virtual machines running in a cloud computing environment. Certain tools provide a user interface that allows a user to browse machine images to find an image that meets the user's needs. In some aspects, these tools and techniques can provide the ability for users to customize machine images to meet their own needs and/or to share their customized machine images with other users. In other aspects, these tools and techniques can provide users with the ability to export virtual machines for use on an actual computer system.