Docker AI overview
Docker provides tools for working with AI across your development workflow. Each tool serves a different purpose.
Which tool do I need?
| I want to... | Use | Interface |
|---|---|---|
| Run coding agents in isolated environments | Docker Sandboxes | sbx |
| Run agents in cloud sandboxes through a web Console | Docker Agentic Platform (experimental) | Web Console |
| Get AI help with Docker tasks (containers, images, Dockerfiles) | Gordon | docker ai |
| Run AI models locally with an OpenAI-compatible API | Model Runner | docker model |
| Connect AI tools to external services via MCP | MCP Catalog and Toolkit | docker mcp |
| Build and orchestrate custom multi-agent teams | Docker Agent | docker agent |
| Give my coding agent Docker best-practice guidance | Docker Skills | None |
How these tools relate
Gordon is Docker's built-in AI assistant. It helps with Docker-specific
tasks like debugging containers, writing Dockerfiles, and managing images. You
interact with it through Docker Desktop or the docker ai command.
Docker Agent is an open-source framework for defining teams of AI agents in YAML. You configure agents with specific roles, models, and tools, then run them from your terminal. Docker Agent is a general-purpose agent runtime, not specific to Docker tasks.
Docker Skills are Docker's official, open-source instructions for compatible coding agents working on Docker tasks. Install them through your agent's supported method; they can also be used by Docker Agent and agents running in Docker Sandboxes. Browse the Docker Skills catalog for current guidance.
Docker Sandboxes provides isolated environments for running coding agents locally or in the cloud. Sandboxes is the isolation layer; the agents themselves are separate tools. Agent configuration and supported features differ between local and cloud sandboxes.
Docker Agentic Platform is an experimental service for running agents in Docker-managed cloud sandboxes. Its web Console provides kit selection, credentials, network policies, MCP tools, and sandbox lifecycle controls. Activate a subscription to use cloud compute, billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Model Runner lets you run LLMs locally. Other tools like Docker Agent can use Model Runner as a model provider.
MCP Catalog and Toolkit manages connections between AI tools and external services using the Model Context Protocol. Gordon, Docker Agent, and third-party tools can all use MCP servers configured through the Toolkit.