Docker Agent is a CLI tool that lets you build, run, and share AI agents using declarative YAML configuration without writing code.
The tool addresses the complexity of creating and orchestrating intelligent agents by providing a declarative approach where you define agents in YAML, assign them tools, and let them collaborate to solve problems. It supports multi-agent architectures where specialized agents can delegate tasks automatically. The tool integrates with multiple AI providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Mistral, and xAI, as well as local models through Docker Model Runner. It offers a rich tool ecosystem built on the Model Context Protocol, allowing integration of local, remote, or Docker-based tools. Advanced reasoning capabilities include built-in think, todo, and memory tools, while retrieval-augmented generation supports BM25, embeddings, hybrid search, and reranking strategies.
Developers should choose this tool if they need to orchestrate multiple AI agents working together on complex tasks without writing custom agent code. It suits projects where agents need access to external tools and data sources, and where the agent definitions should be version-controlled and shareable. The tool works as a Docker CLI plugin, making it accessible to developers already using Docker, though it can also be installed via Homebrew or as a standalone binary. Agents can be packaged and shared through OCI registries, enabling distribution and reuse across teams.
The project maintains active development with regular updates to support new AI providers and capabilities. The tool is self-hosted, with the project using docker-agent itself in its own build process. Anonymous usage telemetry is collected to inform ongoing improvements.
