README.md

Docker Developer Tools

Expert Docker workflows for Cursor, Claude Code, and any MCP-compatible editor.

17 skills • 10 rules • 150 MCP tools

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Compatibility

This project works with any AI coding tool that supports skills, rules, or MCP:

Component	Cursor	Claude Code (terminal)	Claude Code in Cursor	Other MCP clients
CLAUDE.md context	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
17 Skills (SKILL.md)	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
10 Rules (.mdc)	Yes	Via CLAUDE.md	Yes	-
150 MCP tools	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md automatically and can reference skills. The MCP server works with any client that supports the MCP stdio transport.

Quick Start

Install the plugin, then ask anything about Docker:

"Write a production Dockerfile for my Node.js app with multi-stage builds"
"My container keeps restarting - help me debug it"
"Set up a docker-compose stack with Postgres, Redis, and my API"

How It Works

flowchart LR
    A[User asks Docker question] --> B[AI loads a Skill]
    B --> C[Skill guides the response]
    C --> D[MCP tools fetch live Docker data]
    D --> E[User gets expert help]

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17 Skills - on-demand Docker expertise

 

Category	Skill	Description
Core	dockerfile-best-practices	Multi-stage builds, layer caching, base image selection
Core	docker-compose-helper	Service definitions, networking, volumes, environment config
Core	docker-troubleshooting	Diagnose crashes, restarts, network failures, and permission issues
Optimization	image-optimization	Reduce image size, speed up builds, minimize attack surface
Optimization	docker-resource-management	CPU/memory limits, resource monitoring, OOM prevention
Networking & Storage	docker-networking	Bridge, overlay, host networking, DNS resolution, port mapping
Networking & Storage	docker-volumes	Named volumes, bind mounts, tmpfs, backup and restore strategies
Security	docker-security	Image scanning, rootless containers, secrets management, hardening
DevOps	docker-ci-cd	GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, build caching, registry push workflows
DevOps	docker-registry	Private registries, image tagging strategies, cleanup policies
DevOps	docker-development-env	Dev containers, hot reload, debugger attachment, local stacks
Debugging	container-debugging	Exec into containers, log analysis, health checks, process inspection
Advanced	docker-advanced-workflows	Multi-stage pipelines, sidecar patterns, healthchecks, signal handling
Advanced	docker-multi-platform	Multi-arch builds, buildx configuration, manifest lists, platform targeting
Advanced	docker-context-management	Remote Docker hosts, SSH/TLS contexts, multi-host workflows
Orchestration	docker-swarm	Swarm cluster management, service deployment, scaling, node administration
Security	docker-image-signing	Docker Content Trust, image signing, verification, key management

10 Rules - automatic best-practice enforcement

 

Rule	Scope	What It Does
dockerfile-lint	**/Dockerfile*	Flag antipatterns - unpinned bases, root user, ADD misuse, missing cleanup
docker-secrets	Global (always active)	Flag hardcoded passwords, tokens, and registry credentials
compose-validation	Compose files	Flag missing healthchecks, privileged mode, host networking
docker-resource-limits	Docker-related files	Flag missing memory and CPU limits
docker-image-pinning	Dockerfiles, compose files	Flag unpinned image tags (:latest or no tag)
docker-port-conflicts	Dockerfiles, compose files	Flag commonly conflicting port mappings
docker-logging	Dockerfiles, compose files	Flag missing logging drivers and log rotation
buildx-best-practices	Dockerfiles, compose files	Flag multi-platform build issues, missing cache config, arch hardcoding
compose-scaling	Compose files	Flag scaling blockers: container_name, fixed host ports, missing limits
swarm-security	Docker-related files	Flag missing autolock, unrotated certs, unencrypted overlays, exposed ports

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Companion: Docker MCP Server

The MCP server gives your AI assistant live access to your local Docker environment. Works with Cursor, Claude Code, and any MCP-compatible client.

Add to your Cursor MCP config (.cursor/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["./mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "cwd": "<path-to>/Docker-Developer-Tools"
    }
  }
}

150 MCP Tools - full tool reference

 

Read / Inspect (10)

Tool	What It Does
docker_listContainers	List running and stopped containers with status, ports, and names
docker_inspectContainer	Get detailed config, state, and networking for a specific container
docker_containerLogs	Retrieve stdout/stderr logs with optional tail and timestamp filters
docker_listImages	List local images with tags, sizes, and creation dates
docker_inspectImage	Get layer history, environment variables, and labels for an image
docker_listVolumes	List Docker volumes with driver and mount point info
docker_listNetworks	List Docker networks with driver, scope, and connected containers
docker_diskUsage	Show disk space used by images, containers, volumes, and build cache
docker_systemInfo	Return Docker daemon version, OS, storage driver, and runtime info
docker_searchHub	Search Docker Hub for images by name with filtering options

Container Lifecycle (10)

Tool	What It Does
docker_run	Create and start a container from an image (ports, env, volumes, network)
docker_create	Create a container without starting it
docker_start	Start a stopped container
docker_stop	Stop a running container with optional grace period
docker_restart	Restart a container with optional grace period
docker_kill	Send a signal to a running container (default: SIGKILL)
docker_rm	Remove a container (with optional force and volume removal)
docker_pause	Pause all processes in a running container
docker_unpause	Unpause a paused container
docker_exec	Execute a command in a running container

Image and Build (8)

Tool	What It Does
docker_pull	Pull an image or repository from a registry
docker_push	Push an image or repository to a registry
docker_build	Build an image from a Dockerfile and context directory
docker_tag	Create a tag that refers to a source image
docker_rmi	Remove one or more images
docker_commit	Create a new image from a container's changes
docker_save	Save one or more images to a tar archive
docker_load	Load images from a tar archive

Compose (24)

Tool	What It Does
docker_composeUp	Create and start Compose services (detached, build, profiles)
docker_composeDown	Stop and remove containers, networks, volumes, and images
docker_composePs	List containers for a Compose project
docker_composeLogs	View logs for Compose services
docker_composeBuild	Build or rebuild Compose service images
docker_composeRestart	Restart Compose services
docker_composePull	Pull images for Compose services
docker_composeExec	Execute a command in a running Compose service container
docker_composeConfig	Validate, resolve, and render a Compose file in canonical format
docker_composeCp	Copy files between a Compose service container and local filesystem
docker_composeCreate	Create service containers without starting them
docker_composeEvents	Receive real-time events from Compose containers
docker_composeImages	List images used by Compose service containers
docker_composeKill	Force stop Compose service containers
docker_composeLs	List running Compose projects
docker_composePause	Pause Compose services
docker_composeUnpause	Unpause Compose services
docker_composePort	Print the public port for a Compose service port binding
docker_composeRm	Remove stopped Compose service containers
docker_composeRun	Run a one-off command on a Compose service
docker_composeScale	Scale Compose services to a specified replica count
docker_composeStart	Start existing Compose service containers
docker_composeStop	Stop Compose services without removing containers
docker_composeTop	Display running processes in Compose service containers

Volume Management (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_volumeCreate	Create a named volume with optional driver and labels
docker_volumeRm	Remove one or more volumes
docker_volumeInspect	Display detailed volume information
docker_volumePrune	Remove all unused volumes

Network Management (6)

Tool	What It Does
docker_networkCreate	Create a network (bridge, overlay, macvlan)
docker_networkRm	Remove one or more networks
docker_networkConnect	Connect a container to a network
docker_networkDisconnect	Disconnect a container from a network
docker_networkInspect	Display detailed network information
docker_networkPrune	Remove all unused networks

Cleanup / Prune (3)

Tool	What It Does
docker_systemPrune	Remove unused containers, networks, images, and optionally volumes
docker_containerPrune	Remove all stopped containers
docker_imagePrune	Remove dangling or unused images

Advanced / Observability (6)

Tool	What It Does
docker_cp	Copy files or directories between a container and the local filesystem
docker_stats	Show live resource usage statistics (CPU, memory, network I/O)
docker_top	Show running processes in a container
docker_events	Stream real-time events from the Docker daemon
docker_update	Update container resource configuration (CPU, memory, restart policy)
docker_wait	Block until a container stops and return its exit code

Buildx (8)

Tool	What It Does
docker_buildxBuild	Multi-platform builds with buildx (cache export, provenance, push/load)
docker_buildxLs	List buildx builder instances
docker_buildxCreate	Create a new buildx builder instance
docker_buildxRm	Remove a buildx builder instance
docker_buildxInspect	Inspect a buildx builder instance
docker_buildxUse	Set the default buildx builder
docker_buildxImagetools	Inspect or create multi-platform manifest lists via buildx
docker_builderPrune	Remove buildx build cache

Manifest (5)

Tool	What It Does
docker_manifestCreate	Create a local manifest list for multi-architecture images
docker_manifestInspect	Display an image manifest or manifest list
docker_manifestAnnotate	Add platform information to a manifest list entry
docker_manifestPush	Push a manifest list to a registry
docker_manifestRm	Remove local manifest lists

Container Gaps (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_diff	Inspect filesystem changes in a container (added, changed, deleted files)
docker_export	Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive
docker_port	List port mappings or a specific mapping for a container
docker_rename	Rename a Docker container

Image Gaps (2)

Tool	What It Does
docker_imageHistory	Show layer history of an image (commands, sizes, timestamps)
docker_import	Import a tarball to create a Docker filesystem image

Context Management (6)

Tool	What It Does
docker_contextCreate	Create a Docker context for connecting to remote hosts
docker_contextLs	List available Docker contexts
docker_contextInspect	Display detailed information on a Docker context
docker_contextRm	Remove one or more Docker contexts
docker_contextUse	Set the current active Docker context
docker_contextShow	Print the name of the current Docker context

Registry Authentication (2)

Tool	What It Does
docker_login	Authenticate to a Docker container registry
docker_logout	Log out from a Docker container registry

Swarm Cluster (8)

Tool	What It Does
docker_swarmInit	Initialize a new Docker Swarm cluster
docker_swarmJoin	Join an existing Swarm as worker or manager
docker_swarmLeave	Leave the Docker Swarm
docker_swarmJoinToken	Display or rotate join tokens
docker_swarmUpdate	Update Swarm configuration
docker_swarmUnlock	Unlock a locked Swarm manager
docker_swarmUnlockKey	Display or rotate the unlock key
docker_swarmCa	Display and rotate the root CA certificate

Swarm Services (9)

Tool	What It Does
docker_serviceCreate	Create a replicated or global Swarm service
docker_serviceUpdate	Update a service (image, replicas, env, resources)
docker_serviceRm	Remove Swarm services
docker_serviceLs	List Swarm services
docker_serviceInspect	Inspect detailed service configuration
docker_serviceLogs	Fetch service or task logs
docker_servicePs	List tasks of a service
docker_serviceScale	Scale services to target replica count
docker_serviceRollback	Revert a service to its previous version

Swarm Nodes (7)

Tool	What It Does
docker_nodeLs	List nodes in the Swarm
docker_nodeInspect	Inspect detailed node information
docker_nodePs	List tasks running on a node
docker_nodeRm	Remove nodes from the Swarm
docker_nodeUpdate	Update node availability, role, or labels
docker_nodePromote	Promote workers to managers
docker_nodeDemote	Demote managers to workers

Swarm Stacks (6)

Tool	What It Does
docker_stackDeploy	Deploy or update a stack from a compose file
docker_stackRm	Remove Swarm stacks
docker_stackLs	List Swarm stacks
docker_stackPs	List tasks in a stack
docker_stackServices	List services in a stack
docker_stackConfig	Output merged stack configuration

Swarm Configs (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_configCreate	Create a Swarm config from a file
docker_configInspect	Inspect a Swarm config
docker_configLs	List Swarm configs
docker_configRm	Remove Swarm configs

Swarm Secrets (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_secretCreate	Create a Swarm secret from a file
docker_secretInspect	Inspect a Swarm secret (metadata only)
docker_secretLs	List Swarm secrets
docker_secretRm	Remove Swarm secrets

Docker Content Trust (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_trustInspect	Inspect trust data for an image
docker_trustSign	Sign an image for Docker Content Trust
docker_trustRevoke	Revoke trust for an image
docker_trustKey	Manage signing keys (generate or load)

Utility (2)

Tool	What It Does
docker_version	Show Docker client and server version information
docker_composeVersion	Show Docker Compose version information

Compose Extras (1)

Tool	What It Does
docker_composeWatch	Watch build context and auto-rebuild on file changes

Docker Scout (3)

Tool	What It Does
docker_scoutQuickview	Quick overview of image vulnerabilities
docker_scoutCves	List CVEs found in an image with severity filters
docker_scoutRecommendations	Get base image update recommendations

Plugin Management (4)

Tool	What It Does
docker_pluginLs	List installed Docker plugins
docker_pluginInstall	Install a Docker plugin from a registry
docker_pluginRm	Remove one or more Docker plugins
docker_pluginEnable	Enable a disabled Docker plugin

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Installation

 

Cursor (plugin + MCP)

Symlink this repo into your Cursor plugins directory:

# Windows (PowerShell - run as admin)
New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink `
  -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.cursor\plugins\docker-developer-tools" `
  -Target "<path-to>\Docker-Developer-Tools"

# macOS / Linux
ln -s /path/to/Docker-Developer-Tools ~/.cursor/plugins/docker-developer-tools

Build and configure the MCP server:

cd mcp-server
npm install
npm run build

Then add the JSON config from the MCP Server section to .cursor/mcp.json.

Claude Code (terminal or in Cursor)

Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md automatically when you open this repo. For the MCP server, register it with:

cd mcp-server && npm install && npm run build
claude mcp add docker node ./mcp-server/dist/index.js

Or if installed globally via npm:

npm install -g @tmhs/docker-mcp
claude mcp add docker -- npx @tmhs/docker-mcp

Other MCP clients

Any client supporting MCP stdio transport can use the Docker MCP server. Point it at node ./mcp-server/dist/index.js or the global npx @tmhs/docker-mcp.

Example Prompts - one per skill

 

Skill	Try This
dockerfile-best-practices	"Write a production Dockerfile for a Python Flask app"
docker-compose-helper	"Create a compose file with Nginx, Rails, Postgres, and Redis"
docker-troubleshooting	"My container exits with code 137 - what's wrong?"
image-optimization	"My Node image is 1.2 GB - help me shrink it"
docker-resource-management	"Set memory and CPU limits for my compose services"
docker-networking	"Two containers can't talk to each other - fix my networking"
docker-volumes	"Back up my Postgres data volume to a tar archive"
docker-security	"Audit my Dockerfile for security issues"
docker-ci-cd	"Build and push my image in GitHub Actions with layer caching"
docker-registry	"Set up a private registry with authentication"
docker-development-env	"Create a dev container with hot reload for my Go project"
container-debugging	"Show me the logs and processes inside my crashing container"
docker-advanced-workflows	"Set up healthchecks and graceful shutdown for my Node.js container"
docker-multi-platform	"Build my Go API image for both amd64 and arm64 with buildx"
docker-context-management	"Set up a Docker context for my remote staging server via SSH"
docker-swarm	"Initialize a Swarm cluster and deploy a 3-replica nginx service"
docker-image-signing	"Set up Docker Content Trust and sign our production images"

Roadmap

 

Version	Theme	MCP Tools	Highlights
v0.1.0	Foundation	10	12 skills, 6 rules, 10 read-only MCP tools
v0.2.0	Container Lifecycle	+10	run, start, stop, restart, kill, rm, exec, pause
v0.3.0	Image and Build	+8	pull, push, build, tag, rmi, commit, save, load
v0.4.0	Compose	+8	up, down, ps, logs, build, restart, pull, exec
v0.5.0	Volumes, Networks, Cleanup	+12	volume/network CRUD, system/container/image prune
v0.6.0	Advanced and Observability	+6	cp, stats, top, events, update, wait
v0.7.0	Buildx, Manifests, Registry	+13	Buildx tools, manifest lists, builder management
v0.8.0	Compose Completeness	+16	All remaining compose commands (config, cp, kill, scale, etc.)
v0.9.0	Container/Image Gaps, Context, Auth	+14	diff, export, port, rename, history, import, contexts, login
v0.10.0	Swarm Orchestration	+24	Swarm init/join, services, nodes, scaling, rollback
v0.11.0	Swarm Stacks, Configs, Secrets, Trust	+18	Stack deploy, config/secret CRUD, content trust
v0.12.0	Niche, Scout, Extras	+10	Version info, Scout CVEs, plugins, compose watch
v1.0.0	Stable	+0	Production release (~150 MCP tools)

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Contributing

Contributions welcome - see CONTRIBUTING.md. Found a bug? Open an issue.

License

CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0 - Copyright 2026 TM Hospitality Strategies. See LICENSE.

Built by TMHSDigital