id=improved-lifecycle-management>Improved lifecycle management</h2><p>To improve Istio’s life-cycle management, we moved to an
<a href=https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/extend-kubernetes/operator/>operator</a>-based
installation. We introduced the
<strong><a href=/v1.4/docs/setup/install/istioctl/>IstioOperator CRD and two installation modes</a></strong>:</p><ul><li>Human-triggered: use istioctl to apply the settings to the cluster.</li><li>Machine-triggered: use a controller that is continually watchin