Methods and systems can be used for swapping running executables in a container. A container orchestrator process receives a request to run an application in a container. A first execution of the application is initiated, in the container, in a first child process of the container orchestrator process. The container orchestrator process listens for file changes for the application. At least one file change is determined for the application, and in response to determining the at least one file change for the application, a second execution of the application is initiated in the container, without restarting the container, using the at least one file change, in a second child process of the container orchestration process. After initiating the second execution of the application in the container, the first child process is terminated.