Getting started

You need Node.js 20 or later and Docker 24 or later, running: Docker Desktop on Windows and macOS, Docker Engine on Linux. docker-mcp never installs Docker: if it's missing or stopped, it says how to install or start it.

In an agent built on agent-kit

Install its extension from Falken's Lab's marketplace, which runs this server at a fixed version, asks for its mode when you install it, and adds the skills to use it well:

my-agent extension marketplace add falkenslab/agent-kit-extensions
my-agent extension add docker-mcp@falkenslab

In Claude Code

claude mcp add docker -- npx -y @falkenslab/docker-mcp

That's full mode. For another, give it as a variable (see Modes and settings):

claude mcp add docker -e DOCKER_MCP_MODE=read -- npx -y @falkenslab/docker-mcp

Or, with its skills, as a plugin from the same marketplace:

claude plugin marketplace add falkenslab/agent-kit-extensions
claude plugin install docker-mcp@falkenslab

In Codex

codex plugin marketplace add falkenslab/agent-kit-extensions
codex plugin add docker-mcp@falkenslab

Codex has no plugin settings, so it runs in full mode with the default labs folder. For another mode, add it as a server of its own:

codex mcp add docker --env DOCKER_MCP_MODE=read -- npx -y @falkenslab/docker-mcp

To write it in .mcp.json (Claude Code) or config.toml (Codex) instead, with every setting, see Configuration.

Checking it works

Ask the agent: "Is Docker running, and which mode are you in?" It calls check_requirements and server_info.