Credential access
Reads Docker registry auth, mounted secrets, build args, and files exposed through volume mounts.
brew / approval gates
Install docker with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container. Version 29.6.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-26.
agent safety
Agent safety answer
docker controls containers, images, mounts, registries, and local build state that agents can use to reach host files.
Remote mutation
Can push images, change containers, and alter running local or remote Docker contexts.
Publish/artifact risk
Can build and publish images that become production artifacts.
Recommended control
Gate image pushes, privileged containers, host mounts, and context changes.
Agent-use guidance
Allow local inspection and builds with constrained mounts; require approval for registry pushes and privileged execution.
install
Additional install commands
macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dockerlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dockerMacPorts ports tree · devel/docker/Portfile · source: api.github.com
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add dockerAlpine Linux edge package indexes · docker · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install wmdockerDebian stable package indexes · wmdocker · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install moby-engineFedora Rawhide package metadata · moby-engine · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dockernixpkgs package indexes · docker · source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dockerArch Linux sync databases · docker · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dockeropenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · docker · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install dockerChocolatey community package catalog · docker · source: community.chocolatey.org
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/dockerScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/docker.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id Docker.DockerDesktop -eWindows Package Manager source index · Docker.DockerDesktop · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container
Project links
Commands and aliases
- docker
history
Project history and usage
Docker is the package that made container workflows a default part of developer tooling. The Homebrew docker formula installs the CLI, but the broader Docker project combines the command-line client, daemon, image format, registry workflows, Docker Hub, Docker Desktop, Compose, BuildKit, and related projects into the everyday vocabulary of build, ship, and run.
Project history
Docker's documentation defines Docker as an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications, using containers as lightweight isolated environments. The docker/cli repository is the home of the Docker CLI, the command-line client that talks to the Docker daemon over the Docker API.
Docker's architecture joined a local client, a daemon, images, containers, registries, and distribution workflows into one approachable developer interface. Over time, major parts of the ecosystem were split or formalized into related projects such as Docker Distribution, containerd, runc, BuildKit, Compose, and Docker Desktop.
Adoption history
Docker spread because it made containerized development and CI/CD reproducible with ordinary commands such as docker build, run, pull, push, and compose-oriented workflows. Docker Hub provided the default public registry, and package managers made the CLI easy to install even on systems where the daemon or Desktop app came from a separate package.
The tool's adoption also reshaped packaging expectations. Application projects began shipping Dockerfiles, official images, compose files, and registry tags as part of their release surface. For many developers, installing docker became the practical entry point for running databases, language runtimes, build services, and whole application stacks locally.
How it is used
The docker command is the primary way many users interact with Docker. The client sends commands such as docker run to dockerd, which builds, runs, and distributes containers. Users pull and push images through registries, build images from Dockerfiles, inspect containers and images, manage networks and volumes, and configure CLI behavior in ~/.docker/config.json or through DOCKER_CONFIG.
Why package nerds care
For package nerds, docker is significant because it moved a large amount of software distribution from host-native packages to OCI-style images and registries. It also became a dependency of development workflows: a package manager entry for docker often means access to thousands of image-packaged tools rather than only one executable.
The CLI package is also interesting because it is only one face of Docker. On macOS, the standalone CLI, Docker Desktop, credential helpers, Compose, Buildx, and the daemon are related but not always delivered by the same package. That split makes docker a useful case study in how package managers model large developer platforms.
Timeline
- 2013: Solomon Hykes first publicly demoed Docker at PyCon.
- Docker platform era: The official architecture centers on a docker client, dockerd daemon, Docker API, images, containers, and registries.
- CLI repository era: Docker CLI development lives in the docker/cli repository as the home of the command-line client.
- 2023: Docker v23 made BuildKit the default builder for Linux images, with the legacy builder deprecated in Docker documentation.
- 2026: Docker documentation still treats docker as the primary CLI for container lifecycle and registry workflows.
Related projects
- Related projects include Docker Engine, Moby, containerd, runc, Docker Distribution, Docker Hub, Docker Desktop, Docker Compose, BuildKit, Buildx, and Docker credential helpers.
Sources
approval gates
Human review metadata for risky commands
The local approval-gate seed includes 6 rules for docker. Covered entrypoints: docker. Severity labels: critical, high. Coverage: partial, reviewed 2026-05-21.
Example gated actions
- Store registry credentials.
- Push an image to a registry.
- Run a container with elevated host privileges.
- Mount host paths into a container.
- Force-remove containers, images, volumes, networks, or system data.
- Execute a command inside a running container.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.docker/config.json
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.docker/config.json
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
docker | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version29.6.1
manager updated2026-06-26
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/docker/clinone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:docker |
|---|---|
| Version | 29.6.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/docker |
| Homepage | https://www.docker.com/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/docker/cli |
| Upstream docs | https://docs.docker.com/get-started/docker-overview |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Source archive | https://github.com/docker/cli.git |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26T15:34:47Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go, go-md2man |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | docker |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
wmdocker 1.5-4+b1
System tray for KDE3/GNOME2 docklet applications
sudo apt install wmdocker- Section: x11
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: docker
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
Nix95%
docker
nix profile install nixpkgs#docker- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
Ubuntu apt95%
wmdocker 1.5-4build3
System tray for KDE3/GNOME2 docklet applications
sudo apt install wmdocker- Section: universe/x11
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: docker
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker 29.5.3-r0
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container
sudo apk add docker- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-bash-completion 29.5.3-r0
Bash completions for docker
sudo apk add docker-bash-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-cli 29.5.3-r0
Docker CLI
sudo apk add docker-cli- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-doc 29.5.3-r0
Documentation for Docker
sudo apk add docker-doc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-engine 29.5.3-r0
Docker Engine (dockerd)
sudo apk add docker-engine- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-fish-completion 29.5.3-r0
Fish completions for docker
sudo apk add docker-fish-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-openrc 29.5.3-r0
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container (OpenRC init scripts)
sudo apk add docker-openrc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-rootless-extras 29.5.3-r0
Extras to run docker as in rootless mode
https://docs.docker.com/engine/security/rootless/
sudo apk add docker-rootless-extras- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-rootless-extras-openrc 29.5.3-r0
OpenRC scripts for running docker in rootless mode
sudo apk add docker-rootless-extras-openrc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-systemd 29.5.3-r0
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container (systemd files)
sudo apk add docker-systemd- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
apk95%
docker-zsh-completion 29.5.3-r0
Zsh completions for docker
sudo apk add docker-zsh-completion- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docker
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
dnf95%
moby-engine 29.5.3-1.fc45
The open-source application container engine
sudo dnf install moby-engine- License: Apache-2.0 AND BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause AND ISC AND MIT AND MPL-2.0 AND (Apache-2.0 OR GPL-2.0-or-later)
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: moby-engine
- 17 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
pacman95%
docker 1:29.5.2-1
Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container
sudo pacman -S docker- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- 10 dependencies
- 3 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docker
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- approval-gate seed metadata
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated agent safety answer
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment