diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index bdfecd61..cede0a51 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ bridge = [
 
 # Container Module - Unified container management (Apptainer + Docker)
 # Use: pip install scitex[container]
-container = ["scitex-container"]
+container = ["scitex-container>=0.1.6"]
 
 # Browser Module - Web automation
 # Use: pip install scitex[browser]
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/__init__.py b/src/scitex/container/__init__.py
index a5db0651..86f43081 100755
--- a/src/scitex/container/__init__.py
+++ b/src/scitex/container/__init__.py
@@ -1,65 +1,22 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""SciTeX container management -- delegates to scitex-container package."""
+"""SciTeX container — thin compatibility shim for scitex-container.
 
-try:
-    # Re-export subnamespaces so umbrella users can write
-    # `stx.container.apptainer.build(...)` as well as the flattened
-    # `stx.container.build(...)`.
-    from scitex_container import apptainer, docker, env_snapshot, host
-    from scitex_container.apptainer import (
-        build,
-        build_dev_pythonpath,
-        build_exec_args,
-        build_host_mount_binds,
-        build_srun_command,
-        cleanup,
-        deploy,
-        detect_container_cmd,
-        find_containers_dir,
-        freeze,
-        get_active_version,
-        is_sandbox,
-        list_versions,
-        rollback,
-        sandbox_create,
-        sandbox_maintain,
-        sandbox_to_sif,
-        status,
-        switch_version,
-        verify,
-    )
+Aliases ``scitex.container`` to the standalone ``scitex_container`` package via
+``sys.modules`` so ``scitex.container is scitex_container`` and every
+sub-namespace (``scitex.container.apptainer``, ``.docker``, ``.host``,
+``.env_snapshot``) keeps resolving.
 
-    _BACKEND = "scitex-container"
-except ImportError:
-    from ._build import build
-    from ._freeze import freeze
-    from ._status import status
-    from ._utils import detect_container_cmd, find_containers_dir
-    from ._versioning import (
-        cleanup,
-        deploy,
-        get_active_version,
-        list_versions,
-        rollback,
-        switch_version,
-    )
+Install: ``pip install scitex[container]``  (or ``pip install scitex-container``).
+See: https://github.com/ywatanabe1989/scitex-container
+"""
 
-    _BACKEND = "local"
+import sys as _sys
 
-__all__ = [
-    "apptainer",
-    "build",
-    "cleanup",
-    "deploy",
-    "docker",
-    "env_snapshot",
-    "freeze",
-    "get_active_version",
-    "host",
-    "list_versions",
-    "rollback",
-    "status",
-    "switch_version",
-]
+try:
+    import scitex_container as _real
+except ImportError as _e:  # pragma: no cover
+    raise ImportError(
+        "scitex.container requires the 'scitex-container' package. "
+        "Install with: pip install scitex[container]  (or: pip install scitex-container)"
+    ) from _e
 
-# EOF
+_sys.modules[__name__] = _real
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/_build.py b/src/scitex/container/_build.py
deleted file mode 100755
index e174e0bf..00000000
--- a/src/scitex/container/_build.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""Build Apptainer/Singularity SIF from .def file."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import hashlib
-import logging
-import subprocess
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from ._utils import detect_container_cmd, find_containers_dir
-
-logger = logging.getLogger("scitex")
-
-
-def build(
-    def_name: str = "scitex-cloud-shared-v0.1.0",
-    output_dir: str | Path | None = None,
-    force: bool = False,
-) -> Path:
-    """Build Apptainer/Singularity SIF from .def file.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    def_name : str
-        Name of the .def file (without extension).
-    output_dir : str or Path, optional
-        Directory for the output .sif file. Defaults to same dir as .def.
-    force : bool
-        Force rebuild even if .def is unchanged.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    Path
-        Path to the built .sif file.
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If .def file or container command not found.
-    RuntimeError
-        If build fails.
-    """
-    cmd = detect_container_cmd()
-    containers_dir = find_containers_dir()
-    def_path = containers_dir / f"{def_name}.def"
-
-    if not def_path.exists():
-        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Definition file not found: {def_path}")
-
-    out_dir = Path(output_dir) if output_dir else def_path.parent
-    sif_path = out_dir / f"{def_name}.sif"
-    hash_file = out_dir / ".def-hash"
-
-    current_hash = _hash_file(def_path)
-
-    if not force and sif_path.exists() and hash_file.exists():
-        stored_hash = hash_file.read_text().strip()
-        if current_hash == stored_hash:
-            logger.info("SIF is up-to-date (hash: %s...)", current_hash[:12])
-            return sif_path
-
-    logger.info("Building %s from %s", sif_path.name, def_path.name)
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        ["sudo", cmd, "build", "--force", str(sif_path), str(def_path)],
-        capture_output=False,
-    )
-    if result.returncode != 0:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"Build failed with exit code {result.returncode}")
-
-    hash_file.write_text(current_hash + "\n")
-    logger.info("Build complete: %s", sif_path)
-    return sif_path
-
-
-def _hash_file(path: Path) -> str:
-    """Compute SHA256 hash of a file."""
-    h = hashlib.sha256()
-    h.update(path.read_bytes())
-    return h.hexdigest()
-
-
-# EOF
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/_freeze.py b/src/scitex/container/_freeze.py
deleted file mode 100755
index 0e071f12..00000000
--- a/src/scitex/container/_freeze.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""Extract pinned versions from a built SIF for reproducibility."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import logging
-import subprocess
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from ._utils import detect_container_cmd
-
-logger = logging.getLogger("scitex")
-
-
-def freeze(
-    sif_path: str | Path,
-    output_dir: str | Path | None = None,
-) -> dict[str, Path]:
-    """Extract pinned versions from a built SIF.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    sif_path : str or Path
-        Path to the .sif file.
-    output_dir : str or Path, optional
-        Directory for lock files. Defaults to same dir as .sif.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict[str, Path]
-        Mapping of lock file type to path: {pip, dpkg, node}.
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If SIF file or container command not found.
-    """
-    sif_path = Path(sif_path)
-    if not sif_path.exists():
-        raise FileNotFoundError(f"SIF not found: {sif_path}")
-
-    cmd = detect_container_cmd()
-    out_dir = Path(output_dir) if output_dir else sif_path.parent
-    out_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-
-    lock_files = {}
-
-    # pip freeze
-    pip_lock = out_dir / "requirements-lock.txt"
-    logger.info("Extracting pip freeze...")
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        [cmd, "exec", str(sif_path), "pip", "freeze"],
-        capture_output=True,
-        text=True,
-    )
-    if result.returncode == 0:
-        pip_lock.write_text(result.stdout)
-        lock_files["pip"] = pip_lock
-
-    # dpkg packages
-    dpkg_lock = out_dir / "dpkg-lock.txt"
-    logger.info("Extracting dpkg packages...")
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        [cmd, "exec", str(sif_path), "dpkg-query", "-W", "-f=${Package}=${Version}\n"],
-        capture_output=True,
-        text=True,
-    )
-    if result.returncode == 0:
-        dpkg_lock.write_text(result.stdout)
-        lock_files["dpkg"] = dpkg_lock
-
-    # npm global packages
-    node_lock = out_dir / "node-lock.txt"
-    logger.info("Extracting npm packages...")
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        [cmd, "exec", str(sif_path), "npm", "list", "-g", "--depth=0", "--json"],
-        capture_output=True,
-        text=True,
-    )
-    if result.returncode == 0:
-        node_lock.write_text(result.stdout)
-        lock_files["node"] = node_lock
-
-    logger.info("Freeze complete: %d lock files", len(lock_files))
-    return lock_files
-
-
-# EOF
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/_status.py b/src/scitex/container/_status.py
deleted file mode 100755
index af1af2ef..00000000
--- a/src/scitex/container/_status.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""List available containers and their build status."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import hashlib
-import logging
-from datetime import datetime
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from ._utils import find_containers_dir
-
-logger = logging.getLogger("scitex")
-
-
-def status(containers_dir: str | Path | None = None) -> list[dict]:
-    """List available containers and their status.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : str or Path, optional
-        Directory containing .def files. Auto-detected if not given.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    list[dict]
-        List of container info dicts with keys:
-        name, def_path, sif_path, sif_size, sif_date,
-        hash_current, hash_stored, needs_rebuild.
-    """
-    cdir = Path(containers_dir) if containers_dir else find_containers_dir()
-    results = []
-
-    for def_path in sorted(cdir.glob("*.def")):
-        name = def_path.stem
-        sif_path = def_path.with_suffix(".sif")
-        hash_file = cdir / ".def-hash"
-
-        current_hash = _hash_file(def_path)
-        stored_hash = ""
-        if hash_file.exists():
-            stored_hash = hash_file.read_text().strip()
-
-        info: dict = {
-            "name": name,
-            "def_path": str(def_path),
-            "sif_path": str(sif_path) if sif_path.exists() else None,
-            "sif_size": None,
-            "sif_date": None,
-            "hash_current": current_hash,
-            "hash_stored": stored_hash or None,
-            "needs_rebuild": True,
-        }
-
-        if sif_path.exists():
-            stat = sif_path.stat()
-            info["sif_size"] = _human_size(stat.st_size)
-            info["sif_date"] = datetime.fromtimestamp(stat.st_mtime).strftime(
-                "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"
-            )
-            info["needs_rebuild"] = current_hash != stored_hash
-
-        results.append(info)
-
-    return results
-
-
-def _hash_file(path: Path) -> str:
-    """Compute SHA256 hash of a file."""
-    h = hashlib.sha256()
-    h.update(path.read_bytes())
-    return h.hexdigest()
-
-
-def _human_size(nbytes: int) -> str:
-    """Convert bytes to human-readable size."""
-    for unit in ("B", "KB", "MB", "GB", "TB"):
-        if abs(nbytes) < 1024:
-            return f"{nbytes:.1f} {unit}"
-        nbytes /= 1024
-    return f"{nbytes:.1f} PB"
-
-
-# EOF
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/_utils.py b/src/scitex/container/_utils.py
deleted file mode 100755
index d54a88ed..00000000
--- a/src/scitex/container/_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""Shared utilities for container management."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import shutil
-from pathlib import Path
-
-
-def detect_container_cmd() -> str:
-    """Detect apptainer or singularity command.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    str
-        The container command name ('apptainer' or 'singularity').
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If neither command is found.
-    """
-    for cmd in ("apptainer", "singularity"):
-        if shutil.which(cmd):
-            return cmd
-    raise FileNotFoundError(
-        "Neither apptainer nor singularity is installed. "
-        "Install with: sudo apt-get install apptainer"
-    )
-
-
-def find_containers_dir() -> Path:
-    """Find the containers directory.
-
-    Search order:
-    1. ./containers/ (current working directory)
-    2. Package-relative containers/ (scitex-python source tree)
-    3. ~/.scitex/containers/ (user-managed)
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    Path
-        Path to the containers directory.
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If no containers directory is found.
-    """
-    # 1. Current working directory
-    cwd_containers = Path.cwd() / "containers"
-    if cwd_containers.is_dir() and list(cwd_containers.glob("*.def")):
-        return cwd_containers
-
-    # 2. Package-relative (scitex-python/containers/)
-    pkg_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3]  # src/scitex/container -> root
-    pkg_containers = pkg_root / "containers"
-    if pkg_containers.is_dir() and list(pkg_containers.glob("*.def")):
-        return pkg_containers
-
-    # 3. User-managed
-    user_containers = Path.home() / ".scitex" / "containers"
-    if user_containers.is_dir() and list(user_containers.glob("*.def")):
-        return user_containers
-
-    raise FileNotFoundError(
-        "No containers directory found. Searched:\n"
-        f"  - {cwd_containers}\n"
-        f"  - {pkg_containers}\n"
-        f"  - {user_containers}"
-    )
-
-
-# EOF
diff --git a/src/scitex/container/_versioning.py b/src/scitex/container/_versioning.py
deleted file mode 100755
index d3bc9962..00000000
--- a/src/scitex/container/_versioning.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,367 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""Container version management: list, switch, rollback, deploy, cleanup."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import logging
-import re
-import subprocess
-from datetime import datetime
-from pathlib import Path
-
-logger = logging.getLogger("scitex")
-
-_VERSION_RE = re.compile(r"^scitex-v(.+)\.sif$")
-_BASE_RE = re.compile(r"^scitex-base-v(\d+)\.sif$")
-
-
-def _human_size(nbytes: int) -> str:
-    """Convert bytes to human-readable size.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    nbytes : int
-        Number of bytes.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    str
-        Human-readable size string (e.g. "1.2 GB").
-    """
-    for unit in ("B", "KB", "MB", "GB", "TB"):
-        if abs(nbytes) < 1024:
-            return f"{nbytes:.1f} {unit}"
-        nbytes /= 1024
-    return f"{nbytes:.1f} PB"
-
-
-def _parse_version(path: Path) -> str | None:
-    """Extract version string from a scitex-v*.sif filename.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    path : Path
-        Path to the SIF file.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    str or None
-        Version string if matched, else None.
-    """
-    m = _VERSION_RE.match(path.name)
-    return m.group(1) if m else None
-
-
-def _versioned_sifs(containers_dir: Path) -> list[Path]:
-    """Return scitex-v*.sif paths sorted by modification time (newest first).
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing SIF files.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    list[Path]
-        Sorted list of versioned SIF paths.
-    """
-    sifs = [
-        p
-        for p in containers_dir.glob("scitex-v*.sif")
-        if _VERSION_RE.match(p.name) and p.is_file()
-    ]
-    sifs.sort(key=lambda p: p.stat().st_mtime, reverse=True)
-    return sifs
-
-
-def list_versions(containers_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
-    """List all versioned SIFs with metadata.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing SIF files.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    list[dict]
-        Each dict contains keys: version, path, size, date, active.
-        Sorted by modification time (newest first).
-    """
-    containers_dir = Path(containers_dir)
-    active = get_active_version(containers_dir)
-    results = []
-
-    for sif in _versioned_sifs(containers_dir):
-        version = _parse_version(sif)
-        if version is None:
-            continue
-        stat = sif.stat()
-        results.append(
-            {
-                "version": version,
-                "path": str(sif),
-                "size": _human_size(stat.st_size),
-                "date": datetime.fromtimestamp(stat.st_mtime).strftime(
-                    "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"
-                ),
-                "active": version == active,
-            }
-        )
-
-    return results
-
-
-def get_active_version(containers_dir: Path) -> str | None:
-    """Read current.sif symlink to determine active version.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing the current.sif symlink.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    str or None
-        Version string of the active SIF, or None if no symlink exists
-        or it does not point to a valid versioned SIF.
-    """
-    containers_dir = Path(containers_dir)
-    link = containers_dir / "current.sif"
-
-    if not link.is_symlink():
-        return None
-
-    target = link.resolve()
-    return _parse_version(target)
-
-
-def switch_version(
-    version: str,
-    containers_dir: Path,
-    use_sudo: bool = False,
-) -> None:
-    """Atomically switch current.sif symlink to scitex-v{version}.sif.
-
-    Uses ``ln -sf`` to create a temporary symlink, then ``mv -Tf`` for an
-    atomic rename on the same filesystem.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    version : str
-        Target version string (e.g. "2.19.5").
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing SIF files.
-    use_sudo : bool
-        If True, run ln/mv via sudo (needed for /opt/scitex paths).
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If the target SIF does not exist.
-    RuntimeError
-        If the symlink switch fails.
-    """
-    containers_dir = Path(containers_dir)
-    target_name = f"scitex-v{version}.sif"
-    target_path = containers_dir / target_name
-    link_path = containers_dir / "current.sif"
-
-    if not target_path.exists():
-        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Version {version} not found: {target_path}")
-
-    # Temporary symlink name in the same directory (same filesystem)
-    tmp_link = containers_dir / f".current.sif.tmp.{id(version)}"
-
-    prefix = ["sudo"] if use_sudo else []
-
-    try:
-        # Create temp symlink pointing at target
-        subprocess.run(
-            [*prefix, "ln", "-sf", target_name, str(tmp_link)],
-            check=True,
-        )
-        # Atomic rename over the real symlink
-        subprocess.run(
-            [*prefix, "mv", "-Tf", str(tmp_link), str(link_path)],
-            check=True,
-        )
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
-        # Clean up temp link on failure
-        tmp_link.unlink(missing_ok=True)
-        raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to switch to version {version}: {exc}") from exc
-
-    logger.info("Switched to version %s", version)
-
-
-def rollback(
-    containers_dir: Path,
-    use_sudo: bool = False,
-) -> str:
-    """Switch to the version before the current one (by modification time).
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing SIF files.
-    use_sudo : bool
-        If True, run symlink commands via sudo.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    str
-        Version string that is now active after rollback.
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    RuntimeError
-        If there is no current version or no previous version to roll back to.
-    """
-    containers_dir = Path(containers_dir)
-    active = get_active_version(containers_dir)
-
-    if active is None:
-        raise RuntimeError("No active version found; cannot rollback")
-
-    sifs = _versioned_sifs(containers_dir)
-    versions = [_parse_version(s) for s in sifs]
-
-    try:
-        idx = versions.index(active)
-    except ValueError:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"Active version {active} not found in directory")
-
-    if idx + 1 >= len(versions):
-        raise RuntimeError(
-            f"No older version available to roll back to (current: {active})"
-        )
-
-    previous = versions[idx + 1]
-    logger.info("Rolling back from %s to %s", active, previous)
-    switch_version(previous, containers_dir, use_sudo=use_sudo)
-    return previous
-
-
-def deploy(
-    source_dir: Path,
-    target_dir: Path = Path("/opt/scitex/singularity"),
-) -> None:
-    """Copy active SIF and base SIF to target directory.
-
-    Copies the currently active ``scitex-v*.sif`` and the latest
-    ``scitex-base-v*.sif`` to *target_dir*, then recreates the
-    ``current.sif`` symlink there. Uses sudo for the copy.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    source_dir : Path
-        Directory containing the built SIF files.
-    target_dir : Path
-        Deployment target directory (default: /opt/scitex/singularity).
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    RuntimeError
-        If no active version is set or copy fails.
-    FileNotFoundError
-        If the active SIF or base SIF is missing.
-    """
-    source_dir = Path(source_dir)
-    target_dir = Path(target_dir)
-
-    active = get_active_version(source_dir)
-    if active is None:
-        raise RuntimeError("No active version in source directory")
-
-    active_sif = source_dir / f"scitex-v{active}.sif"
-    if not active_sif.exists():
-        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Active SIF not found: {active_sif}")
-
-    # Find latest base SIF by modification time
-    base_sifs = sorted(
-        (p for p in source_dir.glob("scitex-base-v*.sif") if p.is_file()),
-        key=lambda p: p.stat().st_mtime,
-        reverse=True,
-    )
-
-    # Ensure target directory exists
-    subprocess.run(
-        ["sudo", "mkdir", "-p", str(target_dir)],
-        check=True,
-    )
-
-    # Copy active SIF
-    logger.info("Deploying %s to %s", active_sif.name, target_dir)
-    subprocess.run(
-        ["sudo", "cp", str(active_sif), str(target_dir / active_sif.name)],
-        check=True,
-    )
-
-    # Copy base SIF if available
-    if base_sifs:
-        base_sif = base_sifs[0]
-        logger.info("Deploying %s to %s", base_sif.name, target_dir)
-        subprocess.run(
-            ["sudo", "cp", str(base_sif), str(target_dir / base_sif.name)],
-            check=True,
-        )
-
-    # Recreate symlink at target
-    switch_version(active, target_dir, use_sudo=True)
-    logger.info("Deploy complete: version %s", active)
-
-
-def cleanup(
-    containers_dir: Path,
-    keep: int = 3,
-) -> list[Path]:
-    """Remove old scitex-v*.sif files, keeping the N most recent.
-
-    Never removes the active version (current.sif target) or any
-    ``scitex-base-v*.sif`` base images.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    containers_dir : Path
-        Directory containing SIF files.
-    keep : int
-        Number of most-recent versioned SIFs to keep (default: 3).
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    list[Path]
-        Paths of removed SIF files.
-    """
-    containers_dir = Path(containers_dir)
-    active = get_active_version(containers_dir)
-    sifs = _versioned_sifs(containers_dir)  # newest first
-    removed: list[Path] = []
-
-    protected = set()
-    if active is not None:
-        protected.add(f"scitex-v{active}.sif")
-
-    # Keep the top N by modification time
-    kept = 0
-    for sif in sifs:
-        version = _parse_version(sif)
-        if version is None:
-            continue
-
-        if sif.name in protected:
-            # Active version is always kept and does not count toward limit
-            continue
-
-        if kept < keep:
-            kept += 1
-            continue
-
-        # Remove
-        logger.info("Removing old SIF: %s", sif.name)
-        sif.unlink()
-        removed.append(sif)
-
-    return removed
-
-
-# EOF