A stack-based resource management system includes a computer-executed tool for managing the resources used to execute a distributed application. The tool uses a distributed computing environment protocol stack having multiple layers that each represents one or more resources used to execute a distributed application. The resources in each layer have one or more inter-layer dependencies to one or more resources of an adjacent layer. When the tool receives configuration instructions to configure one or more resources, it configures that resource, and identifies one or more inter-layer dependencies to resources in adjacent layers to configure those resources in the adjacent layers. The tool then sequentially traverse up and down the adjacent layers of the protocol stack to resolve any of the dependencies among the resources of each adjacent layer of the protocol stack.