You can now create and control your own custom Linux distributions to optimize application performance, using DigitalOcean's Custom Image feature. This feature allows you to upload your own custom environment, which is charged at $0.05/GB per month for storage. The feature supports various file formats such as raw, qcow2, and vmdk, and can be uploaded through the Control Panel or by uploading via URL using the Spaces Object storage service. Once uploaded, you can start a Droplet directly from the Custom Images area, and leverage the DigitalOcean API endpoint for infrastructure automation tools. The feature is free to use, with no upfront costs, and will continue to expand in the coming months to support ISO images and greater flexibility through the API.