Docker Desktop 4.42 introduces powerful new capabilities that enhance network flexibility, improve security, and deepen AI toolchain integration, all while reducing setup friction. With native IPv6 support, a fully integrated MCP Toolkit, and major upgrades to Docker Model Runner and our AI agent Gordon, this release continues our commitment to helping developers move faster, ship smarter, and build securely across any environment. Whether you’re managing enterprise-grade networks or experimenting with agentic workflows, Docker Desktop 4.42 brings the tools you need right into your development workflows. 

IPv6 support 

Docker Desktop now provides IPv6 networking capabilities with customization options to better support diverse network environments. You can now choose between dual IPv4/IPv6 (default), IPv4-only, or IPv6-only networking modes to align with your organization’s network requirements. The new intelligent DNS resolution behavior automatically detects your host’s network stack and filters unsupported record types, preventing connectivity timeouts in IPv4-only or IPv6-only environments. 

These ipv6 settings are available in Docker Desktop Settings > Resources > Network section and can be enforced across teams using Settings Management, making Docker Desktop more reliable in complex enterprise network configurations including IPv6-only deployments.

Further documentation here.

Figure 1: Docker Desktop IPv6 settings

Docker MCP Toolkit integrated into Docker Desktop

Last month, we launched the Docker MCP Catalog and Toolkit to help developers easily discover MCP servers and securely connect them to their favorite clients and agentic apps. We’re humbled by the incredible support from the community. User growth is up by over 50%, and we’ve crossed 1 million pulls! Now, we’re excited to share that the MCP Toolkit is built right into Docker Desktop, no separate extension required.

You can now access more than 100 MCP servers, including GitHub, MongoDB, Hashicorp, and more, directly from Docker Desktop – just enable the servers you need, configure them, and connect to clients like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Continue.dev, or Docker’s AI agent Gordon.

Unlike typical setups that run MCP servers via npx or uvx processes with broad access to the host system, Docker Desktop runs these servers inside isolated containers with well-defined security boundaries. All container images are cryptographically signed, with proper isolation of secrets and configuration data. 

Figure 2: Docker MCP Toolkit is now integrated natively into Docker Desktop

To meet developers where they are, we’re bringing Docker MCP support to the CLI, using the same command structure you’re already familiar with. With the new docker mcp commands, you can launch, configure, and manage MCP servers directly from the terminal. The CLI plugin offers comprehensive functionality, including catalog management, client connection setup, and secret management.

Figure 3:  Docker MCP CLI commands.

Docker AI Agent Gordon Now Supports MCP Toolkit Integration

In this release, we’ve upgraded Gordon, Docker’s AI agent, with direct integration to the MCP Toolkit in Docker Desktop. To enable it, open Gordon, click the “Tools” button, and toggle on the “MCP” Toolkit option. Once activated, the MCP Toolkit tab will display tools available from any MCP servers you’ve configured.

Figure 4: Docker’s AI Agent Gordon now integrates with Docker’s MCP Toolkit, bringing 100+ MCP servers

This integration gives you immediate access to 100+ MCP servers with no extra setup, letting you experiment with AI capabilities directly in your Docker workflow. Gordon now acts as a bridge between Docker’s native tooling and the broader AI ecosystem, letting you leverage specialized tools for everything from screenshot capture to data analysis and API interactions – all from a consistent, unified interface.

Figure 5: Docker’s AI Agent Gordon uses the GitHub MCP server to pull issues and suggest solutions.

Finally, we’ve also improved the Dockerize feature with expanded support for Java, Kotlin, Gradle, and Maven projects. These improvements make it easier to containerize a wider range of applications with minimal configuration. With expanded containerization capabilities and integrated access to the MCP Toolkit, Gordon is more powerful than ever. It streamlines container workflows, reduces repetitive tasks, and gives you access to specialized tools, so you can stay focused on building, shipping, and running your applications efficiently.

Docker Model Runner adds Qualcomm support, Docker Engine Integration, and UX Upgrades

Staying true to our philosophy of giving developers more flexibility and meeting them where they are, the latest version of Docker Model Runner adds broader OS support, deeper integration with popular Docker tools, and improvements in both performance and usability.

In addition to supporting Apple Silicon and Windows systems with NVIDIA GPUs, Docker Model Runner now works on Windows devices with Qualcomm chipsets. Under the hood, we’ve upgraded our inference engine to use the latest version of llama.cpp, bringing significantly enhanced tool calling capabilities to your AI applications.Docker Model Runner can now be installed directly in Docker Engine Community Edition across multiple Linux distributions supported by Docker Engine. This integration is particularly valuable for developers looking to incorporate AI capabilities into their CI/CD pipelines and automated testing workflows. To get started, check out our documentation for the setup guide.

Get Up and Running with Models Faster

The Docker Model Runner user experience has been upgraded with expanded GUI functionality in Docker Desktop. All of these UI enhancements are designed to help you get started with Model Runner quickly and build applications faster. A dedicated interface now includes three new tabs that simplify model discovery, management, and streamline troubleshooting workflows. Additionally, Docker Desktop’s updated GUI introduces a more intuitive onboarding experience with streamlined “two-click” actions.

After clicking on the Model tab, you’ll see three new sub-tabs. The first, labeled “Local,” displays a set of models in various sizes that you can quickly pull. Once a model is pulled, you can launch a chat interface to test and experiment with it immediately.

Figure 6: Access a set of models of various sizes to get quickly started in Models menu of Docker Desktop

The second tab ”Docker Hub” offers a comprehensive view for browsing and pulling models from Docker Hub’s AI Catalog, making it easy to get started directly within Docker Desktop, without switching contexts.

Figure 7: A shortcut to the Model catalog from Docker Hub in Models menu of Docker Desktop

The third tab “Logs” offers real-time access to the inference engine’s log tail, giving developers immediate visibility into model execution status and debugging information directly within the Docker Desktop interface.

Figure 8: Gain visibility into model execution status and debugging information in Docker Desktop

Model Packaging Made Simple via CLI

As part of the Docker Model CLI, the most significant enhancement is the introduction of the docker model package command. This new command enables developers to package their models from GGUF format into OCI-compliant artifacts, fundamentally transforming how AI models are distributed and shared. It enables seamless publishing to both public and private and OCI-compatible repositories such as Docker Hub and establishes a standardized, secure workflow for model distribution, using the same trusted Docker tools developers already rely on. See our docs for more details. 

Conclusion 

From intelligent networking enhancements to seamless AI integrations, Docker Desktop 4.42 makes it easier than ever to build with confidence. With native support for IPv6, in-app access to 100+ MCP servers, and expanded platform compatibility for Docker Model Runner, this release is all about meeting developers where they are and equipping them with the tools to take their work further. Update to the latest version today and unlock everything Docker Desktop 4.42 has to offer.

Learn more

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Big things are happening in Docker Desktop 4.41! Whether you’re building the next AI breakthrough or managing development environments at scale, this release is packed with tools to help you move faster and collaborate smarter. From bringing Docker Model Runner to Windows (with NVIDIA GPU acceleration!), Compose and Testcontainers, to new ways to manage models in Docker Desktop, we’re making AI development more accessible than ever. Plus, we’ve got fresh updates for your favorite workflows — like a new Docker DX Extension for Visual Studio Code, a speed boost for Mac users, and even a new location for Docker Desktop on the Microsoft Store. Also, we’re enabling ACH transfer as a payment option for self-serve customers. Let’s dive into what’s new!

Docker Model Runner now supports Windows, Compose & Testcontainers

This release brings Docker Model Runner to Windows users with NVIDIA GPU support. We’ve also introduced improvements that make it easier to manage, push, and share models on Docker Hub and integrate with familiar tools like Docker Compose and Testcontainers. Docker Model Runner works with Docker Compose projects for orchestrating model pulls and injecting model runner services, and Testcontainers via its libraries. These updates continue our focus on helping developers build AI applications faster using existing tools and workflows. 

In addition to CLI support for managing models, Docker Desktop now includes a dedicated “Models” section in the GUI. This gives developers more flexibility to browse, run, and manage models visually, right alongside their containers, volumes, and images.

Figure 1: Easily browse, run, and manage models from Docker Desktop

Further extending the developer experience, you can now push models directly to Docker Hub, just like you would with container images. This creates a consistent, unified workflow for storing, sharing, and collaborating on models across teams. With models treated as first-class artifacts, developers can version, distribute, and deploy them using the same trusted Docker tooling they already use for containers — no extra infrastructure or custom registries required.

docker model push <model>

The Docker Compose integration makes it easy to define, configure, and run AI applications alongside traditional microservices within a single Compose file. This removes the need for separate tools or custom configurations, so teams can treat models like any other service in their dev environment.

Figure 2: Using Docker Compose to declare services, including running AI models

Similarly, the Testcontainers integration extends testing to AI models, with initial support for Java and Go and more languages on the way. This allows developers to run applications and create automated tests using AI services powered by Docker Model Runner. By enabling full end-to-end testing with Large Language Models, teams can confidently validate application logic, their integration code, and drive high-quality releases.

String modelName = "ai/gemma3";
DockerModelRunnerContainer modelRunnerContainer = new DockerModelRunnerContainer()
       .withModel(modelName);
modelRunnerContainer.start();


OpenAiChatModel model = OpenAiChatModel.builder()
       .baseUrl(modelRunnerContainer.getOpenAIEndpoint())
       .modelName(modelName)
       .logRequests(true)
       .logResponses(true)
       .build();


String answer = model.chat("Give me a fact about Whales.");
System.out.println(answer);

Docker DX Extension in Visual Studio: Catch issues early, code with confidence 

The Docker DX Extension is now live on the Visual Studio Marketplace. This extension streamlines your container development workflow with rich editing, linting features, and built-in vulnerability scanning. You’ll get inline warnings and best-practice recommendations for your Dockerfiles, powered by Build Check — a feature we introduced last year. 

It also flags known vulnerabilities in container image references, helping you catch issues early in the dev cycle. For Bake files, it offers completion, variable navigation, and inline suggestions based on your Dockerfile stages. And for those managing complex Docker Compose setups, an outline view makes it easier to navigate and understand services at a glance.

Figure 3: Docker DX Extension in Visual Studio provides actionable recommendations for fixing vulnerabilities and optimizing Dockerfiles

Read more about this in our announcement blog and GitHub repo. Get started today by installing Docker DX – Visual Studio Marketplace 

MacOS QEMU virtualization option deprecation

The QEMU virtualization option in Docker Desktop for Mac will be deprecated on July 14, 2025. 

With the new Apple Virtualization Framework, you’ll experience improved performance, stability, and compatibility with macOS updates as well as tighter integration with Apple Silicon architecture. 

What this means for you:

• If you’re using QEMU as your virtualization backend on macOS, you’ll need to switch to either Apple Virtualization Framework (default) or Docker VMM (beta) options.
• This does NOT affect QEMU’s role in emulating non-native architectures for multi-platform builds.
• Your multi-architecture builds will continue to work as before.

For complete details, please see our official announcement. 

Introducing Docker Desktop in the Microsoft Store

Docker Desktop is now available for download from the Microsoft Store! We’re rolling out an EXE-based installer for Docker Desktop on Windows. This new distribution channel provides an enhanced installation and update experience for Windows users while simplifying deployment management for IT administrators across enterprise environments.

Key benefits

For developers:

• Automatic Updates: The Microsoft Store handles all update processes automatically, ensuring you’re always running the latest version without manual intervention.
• Streamlined Installation: Experience a more reliable setup process with fewer startup errors.
• Simplified Management: Manage Docker Desktop alongside your other applications in one familiar interface.

For IT admins: 

• Native Intune MDM Integration: Deploy Docker Desktop across your organization with Microsoft’s native management tools.
• Centralized Deployment Control: Roll out Docker Desktop more easily through the Microsoft Store’s enterprise distribution channels.
• Automatic Updates Regardless of Security Settings: Updates are handled automatically by the Microsoft Store infrastructure, even in organizations where users don’t have direct store access.
• Familiar Process: The update mechanism maps to the widget command, providing consistency with other enterprise software management tools.

This new distribution option represents our commitment to improving the Docker experience for Windows users while providing enterprise IT teams with the management capabilities they need.

Unlock greater flexibility: Enable ACH transfer as a payment option for self-serve customers

We’re focused on making it easier for teams to scale, grow, and innovate. All on their own terms. That’s why we’re excited to announce an upgrade to the self-serve purchasing experience: customers can pay via ACH transfer starting on 4/30/25.

Historically, self-serve purchases were limited to credit card payments, forcing many customers who could not use credit cards into manual sales processes, even for small seat expansions. With the introduction of an ACH transfer payment option, customers can choose the payment method that works best for their business. Fewer delays and less unnecessary friction.

This payment option upgrade empowers customers to:

• Purchase more independently without engaging sales
• Choose between credit card or ACH transfer with a verified bank account

By empowering enterprises and developers, we’re freeing up your time, and ours, to focus on what matters most: building, scaling, and succeeding with Docker.

Visit our documentation to explore the new payment options, or log in to your Docker account to get started today!

Wrapping up 

With Docker Desktop 4.41, we’re continuing to meet developers where they are — making it easier to build, test, and ship innovative apps, no matter your stack or setup. Whether you’re pushing AI models to Docker Hub, catching issues early with the Docker DX Extension, or enjoying faster virtualization on macOS, these updates are all about helping you do your best work with the tools you already know and love. We can’t wait to see what you build next!

Learn more

• Authenticate and update today to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter.
• Learn about our sign-in enforcement options.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

At Docker, we’re focused on making life easier for developers and teams building high-quality applications, including those powered by generative AI. That’s why, in the Docker Desktop 4.40 release, we’re introducing new tools that simplify GenAI app development and support secure, scalable development. 

Keep reading to find updates on new tooling like Model Runner and a more powerful Docker AI Agent with MCP capabilities. Plus, with the AI Tool Catalog, teams can now easily build smarter AI-powered applications and agents with MCPs. And with Docker Desktop Setting Reporting, admins now get greater visibility into compliance and policy enforcement.

Docker Model Runner (Beta): Bringing local AI model execution to developers 

Now in beta with Docker Desktop 4.40, Docker Model Runner makes it easier for developers to run AI models locally. No extra setup, no jumping between tools, and no need to wrangle infrastructure. This first iteration is all about helping developers quickly experiment and iterate on models right from their local machines.

The beta includes three core capabilities:

• Local model execution, right out of the box
  
• GPU acceleration on Apple Silicon for faster performance
  
• Standardized model packaging using OCI Artifacts

Powered by llama.cpp and accessible via the OpenAI API, the built-in inference engine makes running models feel as simple as running a container. On Mac, Model Runner uses host-based execution to tap directly into your hardware — speeding things up with zero extra effort.

Models are also packaged as OCI Artifacts, so you can version, store, and ship them using the same trusted registries and CI/CD workflows you already use. Check out our docs for more detailed info!

Figure 1: Using Docker Model Runner and CLI commands to experiment with models locally

This release lays the groundwork for what’s ahead: support for additional platforms like Windows with GPU, the ability to customize and publish your own models, and deeper integration into the development loop. We’re just getting started with Docker Model Runner and look forward to sharing even more updates and enhancements in the coming weeks.

Docker AI Agent: Smarter and more powerful with MCP integration + AI Tool Catalog

Our vision for the Docker AI Agent is simple: be context-aware, deeply knowledgeable, and available wherever developers build. With this release, we’re one step closer! The Docker AI Agent is now even more capable, making it easier for developers to tap into the Docker ecosystem and streamline their workflows beyond Docker. 

Your trusted AI Agent for all things Docker 

The Docker AI agent now has built-in support for many new popular developer capabilities like:

• Running shell commands
• Performing Git operations
• Downloading resources
• Managing local files

Thanks to a Docker Scout integration, we also now support other tools from the Docker ecosystem, such as performing security analysis on your Dockerfiles or images. 

Expanding the Docker AI Agent beyond Docker 

The Docker AI Agent now fully embraces the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This new standard for connecting AI agents and models to external data and tools makes them more powerful and tailored to specific needs. In addition to acting as an MCP client, many of Docker AI Agent’s capabilities are now exposed as MCP Servers. This means you can interact with the agent in Docker Desktop GUI or CLI or your favorite client, such as Claude Desktop and Cursor.

Figure 2: Extending Docker AI Agent’s capabilities with many tools, including the MCP Catalog. 

AI Tool Catalog: Your launchpad for experimenting with MCP servers

Thanks to the AI Tool Catalog extension in Docker Desktop, you can explore different MCP servers and seamlessly connect the Docker AI agent to other tools or other LLMs to the Docker ecosystem. No more manually configuring multiple MCP servers! We’ve also added secure handling and injection of MPC servers’ secrets, such as API keys, to simplify log-ins and credential management.

The AI Tool Catalog includes containerized servers that have been pushed to Docker Hub, and we’ll continue to expand them. If you’re working in this space or have an MCP server that you’d like to distribute, please reach out in our public GitHub repo. To install the AI Tool Catalog, go to the extensions menu of Docker Desktop or use this for installation.

Figure 3: Explore and discover MCP servers in the AI Tools Catalog extension in Docker Desktop

Bring compliance into focus with Docker Desktop Setting Reporting

Building on the Desktop Settings Management capabilities introduced in Docker Desktop 4.36, Docker Desktop 4.40 brings robust compliance reporting for Docker Business customers. This new powerful feature gives administrators comprehensive visibility into user compliance with assigned settings policies across the organization.

Key benefits

• Real-time compliance tracking: Easily monitor which users are compliant with their assigned settings policies. This allows administrators to quickly identify and address non-compliant systems and users.
• Streamlined troubleshooting: Detailed compliance status information helps administrators diagnose why certain users might be non-compliant, reducing resolution time and IT overhead.

Figure 4: Desktop settings reporting provides an overview of policy assignment and compliance status, helping organizations stay compliant. 

Get started with Docker Desktop Setting Reporting

The Desktop Setting Reporting dashboard is currently being rolled out through Early Access. Administrators can see which settings policies are assigned to each user and whether those policies are being correctly applied.

Soon, administrators will be able to access the reporting dashboard by navigating to the Admin Console > Docker Desktop > Reporting. The dashboard provides a clear view of all users’ compliance status, with options to:

• Search by username or email address
• Filter by assigned policies
• Toggle visibility of compliant users to focus on potential issues
• View detailed compliance information for specific users
• Download comprehensive compliance data as a CSV file

The dashboard also provides targeted resolution steps for non-compliant users to help administrators quickly address issues and ensure organizational compliance.

This new reporting capability underscores Docker’s commitment to providing enterprise-grade management tools that simplify administration while maintaining security and compliance across diverse development environments. Learn more about Desktop settings reporting here.

Wrapping up 

Docker is expanding its AI tooling to simplify application development and improve team workflows. New additions like Model Runner, the Docker AI Agent with MCP server and client support, and the AI Tool Catalog extension in Docker Desktop help streamline how developers build with AI. We continue to make enterprise tools more useful and robust, giving admins better visibility into compliance and policy enforcement through Docker Desktop Settings Reporting. We can’t wait to see what you build next!

Learn more

• Authenticate and update today to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter.
• Learn about our sign-in enforcement options.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

Developers need a fast, secure, and reliable way to build, share, and run applications — and Docker makes that easy. With the Docker Desktop 4.39 release, we’re excited to announce a few developer productivity enhancements including Docker AI Agent with Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Kubernetes support, general availability of Docker Desktop CLI, and `platform` flag support for more seamless multi-platform image management.

Docker AI Agent: Smarter, more capable, and now with MCP & Kubernetes

In our last release, we introduced the Docker AI Agent in beta as an AI-powered, context-aware assistant built into Docker Desktop and the CLI. It simplifies container management, troubleshooting, and workflows with guidance and automation. And the response has been incredible: a 9x increase in weekly active users. With each Docker Desktop release, we’re making Docker AI Agent smarter, more helpful, and more versatile across developer container workflows. And if you’re using Docker for GitHub Copilot, you’ll get these upgrades automatically — so you’re always working with the latest and greatest.

Docker AI Agent now supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Kubernetes, along with usability upgrades like multiline prompts and easy copying. The agent can now also interact with the Docker Engine to list and clean up containers, images, and volumes. Plus, with access to the Kubernetes cluster, Docker AI Agent can list namespaces, deploy and expose, for example, an Nginx service, and analyze pod logs. 

How Docker AI Agent Uses MCP

MCP is a new standard for connecting AI agents and models to external data and tools. It lets AI-powered apps and agents retrieve data and information from external sources, perform operations with third-party services, and interact with local filesystems, unlocking new and expanded capabilities. MCP works by introducing the concept of MCP clients and MCP Servers, this way clients request resources and the servers handle the request and perform the requested action.

The Docker AI Agent acts as an MCP client and can interact with MCP servers running as containers. When running the docker ai command in the terminal or in the Docker Desktop AI Agent window to ask a question, the agent looks for a gordon-mcp.yml file in the working directory for a list of MCP servers that should be used when in that context. For example, as a specialist in all things Docker, Docker AI Agent can:

• Access the internet via the MCP fetch server.
• Create a project on GitHub with the MCP Github server

To make MCP adoption easier and more secure, Docker has collaborated with Anthropic to build container images for the reference implementations of MCP servers, available on Docker Hub under the mcp namespace. Check out our docs for examples of using MCP with Docker AI Agent. 

Containerizing apps in multiple popular languages: More coming soon

Docker AI Agent is also more capable, and can now support the containerization of applications in new programming languages including:

• JavaScript/TypeScript applications using npm, pnpm, yarn and bun;
• Go applications using Go modules;
• Python applications using pip, poetry, and uv;
• C# applications using nuget

Try it out — just ask, “Can you containerize my application?” 

Once the agent runs through steps such as determining the number of services in the project, the language, package manager, and relevant information for containerization, it’ll generate Docker-related assets. You’ll have an optimized Dockerfile, Docker Compose file, dockerignore file, and a README to jumpstart your application with Docker. 

More language and package manager support will be available soon!

Figure 1: Docker AI Agent helps with containerizing your app and shows steps of its work

No need to write scripts, just ask Docker AI Agent

The Docker AI Agent also comes with built-in capabilities such as interfacing with containers, images, and volumes. Instead of writing scripts, you can simply ask in natural language to perform complex operations.  For example, combining various servers, to do complex tasks such as finding and cleaning unused images.

Figure 2: Finding and optimizing unused images storage with a simple ask to Docker AI Agent

Docker Desktop CLI: Now in GA

With the Docker Desktop 4.37 release, we introduced the Docker Desktop CLI controller in Beta, a command-line tool to manage Docker Desktop. In addition to performing tasks like starting, stopping, restarting, and checking the status of Docker Desktop directly from the command line, developers can also print logs and update to the latest version of Docker Desktop. 

Docker meets developers where they work — whether in the CLI or GUI. With the Docker Desktop CLI, developers can seamlessly switch between GUI and command-line workflows, tailoring their workflows to their needs. 

This feature lets you automate Docker Desktop operations in CI/CD pipelines, expedites troubleshooting directly from the terminal, and creates a smoother, distraction-free workflow. IT admins also benefit from this feature; for example, they can use these commands in automation scripts to manage updates. 

Improve multi-platform image management with the new --platform flag 

Containerized applications often need to run across multiple architectures, making efficient platform-specific image management essential. To simplify this, we’ve introduced a --platform flag for docker save, docker load, and docker history. This addition will let developers explicitly select and manage images for specific architectures like linux/amd64, linux/arm64, and more.

The new –platform flag gives you full control over environment variants when saving or loading. For example, exporting only the linux/arm64 version of an image is now as simple as running:

docker save --platform linux/arm64 -o my-image.tar my-app:latest

Similarly, docker load --platform linux/amd64 ensures that only the amd64 variant is imported from a multi-architecture archive, reducing ambiguity and improving cross-platform workflows. For debugging and optimization, docker history --platform provides detailed insights into the build history of a specific architecture.

These enhancements streamline multi-platform development by giving developers full control over how they build, store, and distribute images. 

Head over to our history, load, and save documentation to learn more! 

Wrapping up 

Docker Desktop 4.39 reinforces our commitment to streamlining the developer experience. With Docker AI Agent’s expanded support for MCP, Kubernetes, built-in capabilities of interacting with containers, and more, developers can simplify and customize their workflow. They can also seamlessly switch between the GUI and command-line, while creating automations with the Docker Desktop CLI. Plus, with the new --platform flag, developers now have full control over how they build, store, and distribute images. 

Less friction, more flexibility — we can’t wait to see what you build next!

Authenticate and update today to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.

Learn more

• Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter.
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• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

At Docker, we’re committed to simplifying the developer experience and empowering enterprises to scale securely and efficiently. With the Docker Desktop 4.38 release, teams can look forward to improved developer productivity and enterprise governance. 

We’re excited to announce the General Availability of Bake, a powerful feature for optimizing build performance and multi-node Kubernetes testing to help teams “shift left.” We’re also expanding availability for several enterprise features designed to boost operational efficiency. And last but not least, Docker AI Agent (formerly Project: Agent Gordon) is now in Beta, delivering intelligent, real-time Docker-related suggestions across Docker CLI, Desktop, and Hub. It’s here to help developers navigate Docker concepts, fix errors, and boost productivity.

Docker’s AI Agent boosts developer productivity  

We’re thrilled to introduce Docker AI Agent (also known as Project: Agent Gordon) — an embedded, context-aware assistant seamlessly integrated into the Docker suite. Available within Docker Desktop and CLI, this innovative agent delivers real-time, tailored guidance for tasks like container management and Docker-specific troubleshooting — eliminating disruptive context-switching. Docker AI agent can be used for every Docker-related concept and technology, whether you’re getting started, optimizing an existing Dockerfile or Compose file, or understanding Docker technologies in general. By addressing challenges precisely when and where developers encounter them, Docker AI Agent ensures a smoother, more productive workflow. 

The first iteration of Docker’s AI Agent is now available in Beta for all signed-in users. The agent is disabled by default, so user activation is required. Read more about Docker’s New AI Agent and how to use it to accelerate developer velocity here. 

Figure 1: Asking questions to Docker AI Agent in Docker Desktop

Simplify build configurations and boost performance with Docker Bake

Docker Bake is an orchestration tool that simplifies and speeds up Docker builds. After launching as an experimental feature, we’re thrilled to make it generally available with exciting new enhancements.

While Dockerfiles are great for defining build steps, teams often juggle docker build commands with various options and arguments — a tedious and error-prone process. Bake changes the game by introducing a declarative file format that consolidates all options and image dependencies (also known as targets) in one place. No more passing flags to every build command! Plus, Bake’s ability to parallelize and deduplicate work ensures faster and more efficient builds.

Key benefits of Docker Bake

• Simplicity: Abstract complex build configurations into one simple command.
• Flexibility: Write build configurations in a declarative syntax, with support for custom functions, matrices, and more.
• Consistency: Share and maintain build configurations effortlessly across your team.
• Performance: Bake parallelizes multi-image workflows, enabling faster and more efficient builds.

Developers can simplify multi-service builds by integrating Bake directly into their Compose files — Bake supports Compose files natively. It enables easy, efficient building of multiple images from a single repository with shared configurations. Plus, it works seamlessly with Docker Build Cloud locally and in CI. With Bake-optimized builds as the foundation, developers can achieve more efficient Docker Build Cloud performance and faster builds.

Learn more about streamlining build configurations, boosting performance, and improving team workflows with Bake in our announcement blog. 

Shift Left with Multi-Node Kubernetes testing in Docker Desktop

In today’s complex production environments, “shifting left”  is more essential than ever. By addressing concerns earlier in the development cycle, teams reduce costs and simplify fixes, leading to more efficient workflows and better outcomes. That’s why we continue to bring new features and enhancements to integrate feedback directly into the developer’s inner loop

Docker Desktop now includes Multi-Node Kubernetes integration, enabling easier and extensive testing directly on developers’ machines. While single-node clusters allow for quick verification of app deployments, they fall short when it comes to testing resilience and handling the complex, unpredictable issues of distributed systems. To tackle this, we’re updating our Kubernetes distribution with kind — a lightweight, fast, and user-friendly solution for local test and multi-node cluster simulations.

Figure 2: Selecting Kubernetes version and cluster number for testing

Key Benefits:

• Multi-node cluster support: Replicate a more realistic production environment to test critical features like node affinity, failover, and networking configurations.
• Multiple Kubernetes versions: Easily test across different Kubernetes versions, which is a must for validating migration paths.
• Up-to-date maintenance: Since kind is an actively maintained open-source project, developers can update to the latest version on demand without waiting for the next Docker Desktop release.

Head over to our documentation to discover how to use multi-node Kubernetes clusters for local testing and simulation.

General availability of administration features for Docker Business subscription

With the Docker Desktop 4.36 release, we introduced Beta enterprise admin tools to streamline administration, improve security, and enhance operational efficiency. And the feedback from our Early Access Program customers has been overwhelmingly positive. 

For instance, enforcing sign-in with macOS configuration files and across multiple organizations makes deployment easier and more flexible for large enterprises. Also, the PKG installer simplifies managing large-scale Docker Desktop deployments on macOS by eliminating the need to convert DMG files into PKG first.

Today, the features below are now available to all Docker Business customers.  

• Enforce sign-in with macOS configuration profiles 
• Enforce sign-in for more than one organization at a time 
• Deploy Docker Desktop for Mac in bulk with the PKG installer 

Looking ahead, Docker is dedicated to continue expanding enterprise administration capabilities. Stay tuned for more announcements!

Wrapping up 

Docker Desktop 4.38 reinforces our commitment to simplifying the developer experience while equipping enterprises with robust tools. 

With Bake now in GA, developers can streamline complex build configurations into a single command. The new Docker AI Agent offers real-time, on-demand guidance within their preferred Docker tools. Plus, with Multi-node Kubernetes testing in Docker Desktop, they can replicate realistic production environments and address issues earlier in the development cycle. Finally, we made a few new admin tools available to all our Business customers, simplifying deployment, management, and monitoring. 

We look forward to how these innovations accelerate your workflows and supercharge your operations! 

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter.
• Learn about our sign-in enforcement options.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

Key features of the Docker Desktop 4.37 release include: 

• Directly access the AI Catalog in Docker Hub through Docker Desktop
• Perform key operations, such as starting, stopping, and checking the status of Docker Desktop directly from the command line
• Component upgrades
• Bug fixes and stability improvements

The Docker Desktop 4.37 release brings incremental improvements that make developers’ lives easier by addressing common challenges in modern software development. With a focus on integrating AI resources and streamlining operational workflows, this update ensures developers can work faster, smarter, and more effectively.

Unlocking AI-driven development with Docker AI Catalog integration

AI/ML development is exploding, but many developers face hurdles accessing prebuilt AI models and tools. They often need to search across multiple platforms, wasting valuable time piecing together resources and overcoming compatibility issues. This fragmentation slows down innovation and makes it harder for teams to bring AI-driven features into their applications.

With Docker Desktop 4.37, the AI Catalog in Docker Hub is now accessible directly through Docker Desktop. This seamless integration enables developers to discover, pull, and integrate AI models into their workflows effortlessly. Whether you’re incorporating pretrained machine learning models or exploring generative AI tools, Docker Desktop ensures these resources are just a click away.

Key benefits:

• Streamlined discovery: You don’t need to leave your development environment to find AI tools. The AI Catalog is built into Docker Hub and can be immediately accessed from Docker Desktop.
• Faster prototyping: By eliminating friction in accessing AI resources, teams can focus on building and iterating faster.
• Enhanced compatibility: Docker’s containerized approach ensures AI models run consistently across environments, reducing setup headaches.

Whether you’re developing cutting-edge AI/ML applications or just beginning to experiment with AI tools, this integration empowers developers to innovate without distraction.

Command-line operations: Control Docker Desktop your way

For developers who automate workflows or work heavily in terminal environments, relying solely on graphical user interfaces (GUIs) can be limiting. Starting, stopping, or troubleshooting Docker Desktop often requires GUI navigation, which can disrupt automation pipelines and slow down power users.

Docker Desktop 4.37 introduces robust command-line capabilities for managing Docker Desktop itself. Developers can now perform essential tasks such as starting, stopping, restarting, and checking the status of Docker Desktop directly from the command line.

Key benefits:

• Improved automation: Script Docker Desktop operations into CI/CD workflows, eliminating manual intervention.
• Faster troubleshooting: Check the status and restart Docker Desktop without leaving the terminal, streamlining issue resolution.
• Developer flexibility: A smoother, distraction-free experience for developers who prefer terminal-based workflows.

This new feature bridges the gap between GUI and command-line preferences, allowing developers to tailor their workflows to their needs.

Upgraded components: Keeping developers ahead

Docker Desktop 4.37 includes significant upgrades to its underlying components, bringing enhanced performance, security, and feature sets such as GPU- accelerated workflows. 

Here’s what’s new:

• Docker Buildx v0.19.2: Optimized multiplatform builds for faster, more efficient pipelines.
• Docker Compose v2.31.0: New Docker Compose enhancements make managing multi-container applications simpler and more powerful.
• Docker Engine v27.4.0: Ensures compatibility with the latest development tools and runtime improvements.
• Docker Scout CLI v1.15.1: Improved security scanning helps teams identify vulnerabilities earlier in the development cycle.
• NVIDIA Container Toolkit v1.17.2: Supports GPU-accelerated workflows, crucial for AI/ML workloads.

Bug fixes and stability improvements

At Docker, we aim to provide a stable and dependable development platform so developer teams can focus on creating, not troubleshooting. Docker Desktop 4.37 also addresses several key bugs and usability concerns:

• Default disk usage limit: New installations now default to a 1TB disk limit, offering additional flexibility for developers with large containerized applications.
• Loopback AF_VSOCK connections: Fixed to ensure container communication reliability.
• CLI context reset fixes: Prevent unintended resets when restoring default settings.
• Dashboard synchronization: Ensures consistent behavior between the Docker Desktop Dashboard and the Docker daemon after engine restarts.
• Resource Saver mode stability: Resolves issues with mode reengagement, improving power efficiency for resource-conscious users.

Wrapping up 

Docker Desktop 4.37 offers a step forward in enabling developers to innovate. With a focus on AI-driven development and automation-friendly operations, this release aligns with the evolving needs of modern software teams.

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Learn more about host networking support.

Key features of the Docker Desktop 4.36 release include: 

• New administration features for Docker Business subscription:
  • Enforce sign-in with macOS configuration profiles (Early Access Program)
  • Enforce sign-in for more than one organization at a time (Early Access Program)
  • Deploy Docker Desktop for Mac in bulk with the PKG installer (Early Access Program)
  • Use Desktop Settings Management to manage and enforce defaults via Admin Console (Early Access Program)
  • Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) improvements
• Additional improvements:
  • WSL 2 is now faster, more reliable, and has enhanced security with mono distribution

Docker Desktop 4.36 introduces powerful updates to simplify enterprise administration and enhance security. This release features streamlined macOS sign-in enforcement via configuration profiles, enabling IT administrators to deploy tamper-proof policies at scale, alongside a new PKG installer for efficient, consistent deployments. Enhancements like the unified WSL 2 mono distribution improve startup speeds and workflows, while updates to Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) and Desktop Settings Management allow for greater flexibility and centralized policy enforcement. These innovations empower organizations to maintain compliance, boost productivity, and streamline Docker Desktop management across diverse enterprise environments.

Sign-in enforcement: Streamlined alternative for organizations for macOS 

Recognizing the need for streamlined and secure ways to enforce sign-in protocols, Docker is introducing a new sign-in enforcement mechanism for macOS configuration profiles. This Early Access update delivers significant business benefits by enabling IT administrators to enforce sign-in policies quickly, ensuring compliance and maximizing the value of Docker subscriptions.

Key benefits

• Fast deployment and rollout: Configuration profiles can be rapidly deployed across a fleet of devices using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, making it easy for IT admins to enforce sign-in requirements and other policies without manual intervention.
• Tamper-proof enforcement: Configuration profiles ensure that enforced policies, such as sign-in requirements, cannot be bypassed or disabled by users, providing a secure and reliable way to manage access to Docker Desktop (Figure 1).
• Support for multiple organizations: More than one organization can now be defined in the allowedOrgs field, offering flexibility for users who need access to Docker Desktop under multiple organizational accounts (Figure 2).

How it works

macOS configuration profiles are XML files that contain specific settings to control and manage macOS device behavior. These profiles allow IT administrators to:

• Restrict access to Docker Desktop unless the user is authenticated.
• Prevent users from disabling or bypassing sign-in enforcement.

By distributing these profiles through MDM solutions, IT admins can manage large device fleets efficiently and consistently enforce organizational policies.

Configuration profiles, along with the Windows Registry key, are the latest examples of how Docker helps streamline administration and management. 

Enforce sign-in for multiple organizations

Docker now supports enforcing sign-in for more than one organization at a time, providing greater flexibility for users working across multiple teams or enterprises. The allowedOrgs field now accepts multiple strings, enabling IT admins to define more than one organization via any supported configuration method, including:

• registry.json
• Windows Registry key
• macOS plist
• macOS configuration profile

This enhancement makes it easier to enforce login policies across diverse organizational setups, streamlining access management while maintaining security (Figure 3).

Learn more about the various sign-in enforcement methods.

Deploy Docker Desktop for macOS in bulk with the PKG installer

Managing large-scale Docker Desktop deployments on macOS just got easier with the new PKG installer. Designed for enterprises and IT admins, the PKG installer offers significant advantages over the traditional DMG installer, streamlining the deployment process and enhancing security.

• Ease of use: Automate installations and reduce manual steps, minimizing user error and IT support requests.
• Consistency: Deliver a professional and predictable installation experience that meets enterprise standards.
• Streamlined deployment: Simplify software rollouts for macOS devices, saving time and resources during bulk installations.
• Enhanced security: Benefit from improved security measures that reduce the risk of tampering and ensure compliance with enterprise policies.

You can download the PKG installer via Admin Console > Security and Access > Deploy Docker Desktop > macOS. Options for both Intel and Arm architectures are also available for macOS and Windows, ensuring compatibility across devices.

Start deploying Docker Desktop more efficiently and securely today via the Admin Console (Figure 4). 

Desktop Settings Management (Early Access) 

Managing Docker Desktop settings at scale is now easier than ever with the new Desktop Settings Management, available in Early Access for Docker Business customers. Admins can centrally deploy and enforce settings policies for Docker Desktop directly from the cloud via the Admin Console, ensuring consistency and efficiency across their organization.

Here’s what’s available now:

• Admin Console policies: Configure and enforce default Docker Desktop settings from the Admin Console.
• Quick import: Import existing configurations from an admin-settings.json file for seamless migration.
• Export and share: Export policies as JSON files to easily share with security and compliance teams.
• Targeted testing: Roll out policies to a smaller group of users for testing before deploying globally.

What’s next?

Although the Desktop Settings Management feature is in Early Access, we’re actively building additional functionality to enhance it, such as compliance reporting and automated policy enforcement capabilities. Stay tuned for more!

This is just the beginning of a powerful new way to simplify Docker Desktop management and ensure organizational compliance. Try it out now and help shape the future of settings management: Admin Console > Security and Access > Desktop Settings Management (Figure 5).

Streamlining data workflow with WSL 2 mono distribution 

Simplify the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2) setup by eliminating the need to maintain two separate Docker Desktop WSL distributions. This update streamlines the WSL 2 configuration by consolidating the previously required dual Docker Desktop WSL distributions into a single distribution, now available on both macOS and Windows operating systems.

The simplification of Docker Desktop’s WSL 2 setup is designed to make the codebase easier to understand and maintain. This enhances the ability to handle failures more effectively and increases the startup speed of Docker Desktop on WSL 2, allowing users to begin their work more quickly.

The value of streamlining data workflows and relocating data to a different drive on macOS and Windows with the WSL 2 backend in Docker Desktop encompasses these key areas:

• Improved performance: By separating data and system files, I/O contention between system operations and data operations is reduced, leading to faster access and processing.
• Enhanced storage management: Separating data from the main system drives allows for more efficient use of space.
• Increased flexibility with cross-platform compatibility: Ensuring consistent data workflows across different operating systems (macOS and Windows), especially when using Docker Desktop with WSL 2.
• Enhanced Docker performance: Docker performs better when processing data on a drive optimized for such tasks, reducing latency and improving container performance.

By implementing these practices, organizations can achieve more efficient, flexible, and high-performing data workflows, leveraging Docker Desktop’s capabilities on both macOS and Windows platforms.

Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) improvements 

• Allow any container to mount the Docker socket: Admins can now configure permissions to allow all containers to mount the Docker socket by adding * or *:* to the ECI Docker socket mount permission image list. This simplifies scenarios where broad access is required while maintaining security configuration through centralized control. Learn more in the advanced configuration documentation.
• Improved support for derived image permissions: The Docker socket mount permissions for derived images feature now supports wildcard tags (e.g., alpine:*), enabling admins to grant permissions for all versions of an image. Previously, specific tags like alpine:latest had to be listed, which was restrictive and required ongoing maintenance. Learn more about managing derived image permissions.

These enhancements reduce administrative overhead while maintaining a high level of security and control, making it easier to manage complex environments.

Upgrade now

The Docker Desktop 4.36 release introduces a suite of features designed to simplify enterprise administration, improve security, and enhance operational efficiency. From enabling centralized policy enforcement with Desktop Settings Management to streamlining deployments with the macOS PKG installer, Docker continues to empower IT administrators with the tools they need to manage Docker Desktop at scale.

The improvements in Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) and WSL 2 workflows further demonstrate Docker’s commitment to innovation, providing solutions that optimize performance, reduce complexity, and ensure compliance across diverse enterprise environments.  

As businesses adopt increasingly complex development ecosystems, these updates highlight Docker’s focus on meeting the unique needs of enterprise teams, helping them stay agile, secure, and productive. Whether you’re managing access for multiple organizations, deploying tools across platforms, or leveraging enhanced image permissions, Docker Desktop 4.36 sets a new standard for enterprise administration.  

Start exploring these powerful new features today and unlock the full potential of Docker Desktop for your organization.

Learn more

• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• Learn about our sign-in enforcement options.
• Learn more about host networking support.
• New to Docker? Create an account.
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

Key features of the Docker Desktop 4.35 release include: 

• Secure development environments with organization access tokens (Beta) 
• Docker Home enhances your Docker experience (Beta) 
• Accelerate development with a terminal in Docker Desktop (GA)  
• Volumes Export (GA)
• Improved performance on macOS
• Docker Desktop for Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Organization access tokens (Beta) 

Before the beta release of organization access tokens, managing developer access to Docker resources was challenging, as it relied heavily on individual user accounts, leading to security risks and administrative inefficiencies. 

Organization access tokens let you manage access at the organizational level, providing enhanced security. This feature allows teams to operate more securely and efficiently with centralized user management, reduced administrative overhead, and the flexibility to scale access as the organization grows. For businesses, this feature offers significant value by improving governance, enhancing security, and supporting scalable infrastructure from an administrative perspective. 

Organizational access tokens empower organizations to maintain tighter control over their resources and security, making Docker Desktop even more valuable for enterprise users. This is one piece of the continuous updates we’re releasing to support administrators across large enterprise companies, ensuring they have the tools needed to manage complex environments with efficiency and confidence.

Docker Home (Beta) 

Sign in to your Docker account to see the release of the new Docker Home page (Figure 1). The new Docker Home marks a milestone in Docker’s journey as a multi-product company, reinforcing Docker’s commitment to providing an expanding suite of solutions that help developers and businesses containerize applications with ease.

• Unified experience: The home page provides a central hub for users to access Docker products, manage subscriptions, adjust settings, and find resources — all in one place. This approach simplifies navigation for developers and admins.
• Admin access: Administrators can manage organizations, users, and onboarding processes through the new portal, with access to dashboards for monitoring Docker usage.
• Future enhancements: Future updates will add personalized features for different roles, and business subscribers will gain access to tools like the Docker Support portal and organization-wide notifications.

Terminal experience in Docker Desktop

Our terminal feature in Docker Desktop is now generally available. While managing containerized applications, developers have often faced friction and inefficiencies when switching between the Docker Desktop CLI and GUI. This constant context switching disrupted workflows and reduced productivity. 

The terminal enhancement integrates a terminal directly within the Docker Desktop GUI, enabling seamless transitions between CLI and GUI interactions within a single window. By incorporating a terminal shell into the Docker Desktop interface (Figure 2), we significantly reduce the friction associated with context switching for developers.

This functionality is designed to streamline workflows, accelerate delivery times, and enhance overall developer productivity.

Volumes Export is GA 

With the 4.35 release, we’ve elevated volume backup capabilities in Docker Desktop, introducing an upgraded feature set (Figure 3). This enhancement directly integrates the previous Volumes Backup & Share extension directly into Docker Desktop, streamlining your backup processes.

Although this release marks a significant step forward, it’s just the beginning. We’re committed to expanding these capabilities, adding even more value in future updates. Check out the beta of Scheduled Backups as well as External Cloud Storage backups, which are also available. 

Significantly improved performance experience on macOS (Beta)

Docker Desktop 4.35 also includes a beta release of Docker VMM, a container-optimized hypervisor for Apple Silicon Macs. Local developer workflows rely heavily on the performance of the hypervisor layer for everything from handling individual timer interrupts to accessing files and downloading images from the network. 

Docker VMM allows us to optimize the Linux kernel and hypervisor layer together, massively improving the speed of many common developer tasks. For example, iterating over a large shared file system with find is now 2x faster than on Docker Desktop 4.34 with a cold cache and up to 25x faster — faster than running natively on the Mac — when the cache is warm. This is only the beginning. Thanks to Docker VMM, we have many exciting new performance improvements in the pipeline.

Enable Docker VMM via Settings > General > Virtual Machine options and try it for your developer workflows today (Figure 4).

Docker Desktop for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 

Today we are excited to announce the general availability of Docker Desktop for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). This feature marks a great milestone for both Docker and our growing community of developers.

By making Docker Desktop available on RHEL, we’re not only extending our reach — we’re meeting developers where they are. RHEL users can now access a seamless containerized development experience directly on the same OS that might power their production environments.

Docker Desktop for RHEL (Figure 5) offers the same intuitive interface, integrated tooling, and performance optimizations that you’ve come to expect on the other supported Linux distributions.

How to install Docker Desktop on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Download links and information can be found in our release notes. 

Looking for support?

Did you know that you can get Premium Customer Support for Docker Desktop with a Pro or Team subscription? With this GA release, we’re now ready to officially help support you if you’re thinking about using Docker Desktop. Check out our pricing page to learn more about what’s included in a Pro or Team subscription, and if it’s right for you.

Explore the latest updates

With this latest wave of updates, from the security enhancements of organization access tokens to the performance boost of Docker VMM for Apple Silicon Macs, we’re pushing Docker Desktop forward to meet the evolving needs of developers and organizations alike. Each new feature is designed to make development smoother, faster, and more secure — whether you’re managing large teams or optimizing your individual workflow. 

We’re continuing to make improvements, with more tools and features on the way to help you build, manage, and scale your projects efficiently. Explore the latest updates and see how they can enhance your development experience

Learn more

• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account.
• Learn more about host networking support.
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

Key GA features of the Docker Desktop 4.34 release include: 

• MSI installer GA and Windows registry key 
• Host networking support to Docker Desktop 
• Automatic reclamation of disk space in Docker Desktop for WSL2
• Authentication enhancements 
• NVIDIA AI Workbench Docker Desktop Integration 
• Multi-platform UX improvements and the containerd image store

Docker Desktop 4.34 introduces key features to enhance security, scalability, and productivity for all development team sizes, making deploying and managing environments more straightforward. With the general availability (GA) of the MSI installer for bulk deployment, managing installations across Windows environments becomes even simpler. Enhanced authentication features offer an improved administration experience while reinforcing security. Automatically reclaim valuable disk space with Docker Desktop’s new smart compaction feature, streamlining storage management for WSL2 users. Additionally, the integration with NVIDIA AI Workbench provides developers with a seamless connection between model training and local development. Explore how these innovations simplify your workflows and foster a culture of innovation and reliability in your development practices.

Deploy Docker Desktop in bulk with the MSI installer

We’re excited to announce that the MSI installer for Docker Desktop is now generally available to all our Docker Business customers. This powerful tool allows you to customize and deploy Docker Desktop across multiple users or machines in an enterprise environment, making it easier to manage Docker at scale. 

Features include:

• Interactive and silent installations: Choose between an interactive setup process or deploy silently across your organization without interrupting your users.
• Customizable installation paths: Tailor the installation location to fit your organization’s needs.
• Desktop shortcuts and automatic startup: Simplify access for users with automatic creation of desktop shortcuts and Docker Desktop starting automatically after installation.
• Set usage to specific Docker Hub organizations: Control which Docker Hub organizations your users are tied to during installation.

Docker administrators can download the MSI installer directly from the Docker Admin Console.

One of the standout features of this installer is the --allowed-org flag. This option enables the creation of a Windows registry key during installation, enforcing sign-in to a specified organization. By requiring sign-in, you ensure that your developers are using Docker Desktop with their corporate credentials, fully leveraging your Docker Business subscription. This also adds an extra layer of security, protecting your software supply chain.

Additionally, this feature paves the way for Docker to provide you with valuable usage insights across your organization and enable cloud-based control over application settings for every user in your organization in the future.

What’s next

We’re also working on releasing a PKG enterprise installer for macOS, config profiles for macOS, and supporting multiple organizations in all supported sign-in enforcement mechanisms. 

Refer to our docs to learn about MSI configuration and discover more about sign-in enforcement via Windows registry key.

Host networking support to Docker Desktop 

Previously, Docker Desktop lacked seamless host networking capability, complicating the integration between host and container network services. Developers had to take time to set up and enable communication between the host and containers. Docker Desktop now supports host networking capability directly into Docker Desktop. 

Host networking allows containers that are started with --net=host to use localhost to connect to TCP and UDP services on the host. It will automatically allow software on the host to use localhost to connect to TCP and UDP services in the container. This simplifies the setup for scenarios in which close integration between host and container network services is required. Additionally, we’re driving cross-platform consistency and simplifying configuration by reducing the need for additional steps, such as setting up port forwarding or bridge networks. 

While this has previously been available in the Docker Engine, we’re now extending this capability to Docker Desktop for Windows, macOS, and Linux. We’re dedicated to improving developer productivity, and this is another way we help developers spend less time configuring network settings and more time building and testing applications, accelerating development cycles. 

This new capability is available for all users logged into Docker Desktop. To enable this feature, navigate to Settings > Resources > Network. Learn more about this feature on Docker Docs. 

Automatic reclamation of disk space in Docker Desktop for WSL2 

Previously, when customers using Docker Desktop for WSL2 deleted Docker objects such as containers, images, or builds (for example via a docker system prune), the freed storage space was not automatically reclaimed on their host. Instead, they had to use external tools to “compact” the virtual disk/distribution backing Docker Desktop.

Starting with Docker 4.34, we are rolling out automatic reclamation of disk space. When you quit the app, Docker Desktop will automatically check whether there is storage space that can be returned to the host. It will then scan the virtual disk used for Docker storage, and compact it by returning all zeroed blocks to the operating system. Currently Docker Desktop will only start the scan when it estimates that at least 16GB of space can be returned. In the future, we plan to make this threshold adaptive and configurable by the user.

The feature is now enabled for all customers running the Mono distribution architecture for Docker Desktop on WSL2. This new architecture, which was rolled out starting with Docker Desktop 4.30 for all fresh installations of Docker Desktop, removed the need for a dedicated docker-desktop-data WSL2 distribution to store docker data. We will be rolling out the new architecture to all customers in the upcoming Docker Desktop releases.

Customers with installations still using the docker-desktop-data WSL2 distribution can compact storage manually via VHDX compaction tools, or change the WSL2 configuration to enable the experimental WSL2 feature for disk cleanup.

(Pro tip: Did you know you can use the Disk Usage extension to see how Docker Desktop is using your storage and use it to prune dangling objects with a single click?)

Authentication enhancements 

Previously, authenticating via the CLI required developers to either type their password into the command-line interface — which should generally be avoided by the security-minded — or manually create a personal access token (PAT) by navigating to their Docker account settings, generating the token, and then copying it into the CLI for authentication. This process was time-consuming and forced developers to switch contexts between the CLI and the web portal.

In this latest Docker Desktop release, we’re streamlining the CLI authentication flow. Now, users can authenticate through a seamless browser-based process, similar to the experience in CLIs like GitHub’s gh or Amazon’s AWS CLI. With this improved flow, typing docker login in the CLI will print a confirmation code and open your browser for authentication, automating PAT creation behind the scenes and eliminating the need for manual PAT provisioning. This enhancement saves time, reduces complexity, and delivers a smoother and more secure user experience. Additionally, when you authenticate using this workflow, you’ll be logged in across both Docker CLI and Docker Desktop. 

This new flow also supports developers in organizations that require single sign-on (SSO), ensuring a consistent and secure authentication process.

Enterprise-grade AI application development with Docker Desktop and NVIDIA AI Workbench  

AI development is a complex journey, often hindered by the challenge of connecting the dots between model training, local development, and deployment. Developers frequently encounter a fragmented and inconsistent development environment and toolchain, making it difficult to move seamlessly from training models in the cloud to running them locally. This fragmentation slows down innovation, introduces errors, and complicates the end-to-end development process.

To solve this, we’re proud to announce the integration of Docker Desktop with NVIDIA AI Workbench, a collaboration designed to streamline every stage of AI development. This solution brings together the power of Docker’s containerization with NVIDIA’s leading AI tools, providing a unified environment that bridges the gap between model training and local development.

With this integration, you can now train models in the cloud using NVIDIA’s robust toolkit and effortlessly transition to local development on Docker Desktop. This eliminates the friction of managing different environments and configurations, enabling a smoother, more efficient workflow from start to finish. 

To learn more about this collaboration and how Docker Business supports enterprise-grade AI application development, read our blog post. 

Multi-platform UX improvements and the containerd image store  

In February 2024, we announced the general availability of the containerd image store in Docker Desktop. Since then, we’ve been working on improving the output of our commands to make multi-platform images easier to view and manage. 

Now, we are happy to announce that the docker image list CLI command now supports an experimental --tree flag. This offers a completely new tree view of the image list, which is more suitable for describing multi-platform images.

If you’re looking for multi-platform support, you need to ensure that you have the containerd image store enabled in Docker Desktop (see General settings in Docker Desktop, select Use containerd for pulling and storing images). As of the Docker Desktop 4.34 release, fresh installs or factory resets of Docker Desktop will now default to using the containerd image store, meaning that you get multi-platform building capability out of the box. 

To learn more about the containerd image store, check out our containerd documentation. 

Wrapping up 

Docker Desktop 4.34 marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing an industry-leading container development suite. With key features such as the MSI installer for bulk deployment, enhanced authentication mechanisms, and the integration with NVIDIA AI Workbench, Docker Desktop is transforming how teams manage deployments, protect their environments, and accelerate their development workflows. 

These advancements simplify your development processes and help drive a culture of innovation and reliability. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and enhancements as we continue to deliver solutions designed to empower your development teams and secure your operations at scale. 

Upgrade to Docker Desktop 4.34 today and experience the future of container development. 

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Read New Docker Desktop Enterprise Admin Features: MSI Installer and Login Enforcement Alternative. 
• Read Optimizing AI Application Development with Docker Desktop and NVIDIA AI Workbench. 
• Learn more about MSI configuration.
• Discover more about sign-in enforcement via Windows registry key.
• Learn more about host networking support.

Key features of the Docker Desktop 4.33 release include: 

• Docker Debug GA release
• Docker Build checks GA release
• Configuration integrity check UX improvements

Docker Desktop 4.33 is packed with powerful new features designed to elevate your container development experience. Docker Desktop 4.33 includes GA releases of Docker Debug and Docker Build checks, and significant UX improvements to the Configuration integrity check. These features provide robust tools for debugging, building, and maintaining containerized applications, ensuring a more efficient and user-friendly development environment.

Docker Debug GA released

Developers face significant hurdles when debugging their applications within containers. Traditionally, debugging slim containers or those without a shell has been a challenging task. Developers have had to rebuild images or use workarounds to gain visibility into container internals, which is time-consuming and error-prone. The most common existing method, docker exec -it, comes with significant limitations, particularly for modern slim containers that remove basic tools like ping or Vim, hindering efficient debugging processes.

We are pleased to announce that Docker Debug, initially introduced as a beta feature in Docker Desktop 4.27, is now generally available (GA) in Docker Desktop 4.33. This powerful feature is accessible to all Docker users with a Pro, Teams, or Business license.

Docker Debug revolutionizes the debugging process by providing a seamless and efficient way to get a shell into any container (regardless of state) or image, even those that are slimmed down and lack a shell. This capability is crucial for maintaining the security and performance of containerized applications without compromising the ability to troubleshoot issues effectively. Now, you can access a dedicated shell for quick issue resolution directly from the Docker Desktop CLI or GUI for efficient debugging, targeting both local and remote applications.

Key benefits of Docker Debug

Improved productivity

• Simplified commands: The docker debug command simplifies attaching a shell to any container or image. This reduces the cognitive load on developers, allowing them to focus on solving problems rather than configuring their environment.
• Dynamic port forwarding: Break the isolation between the container and the host OS, making it easier to troubleshoot network-related issues.

Enhanced debugging capabilities

• Shell access: Docker Debug provides a robust debug shell equipped with essential tools by default, such as Vim, Nano, htop, curl, and more. This makes it easy to inspect and modify container contents.
• Support for slim containers: Even if a container does not include a shell, Docker Debug allows you to attach a debug shell, facilitating troubleshooting without needing to modify the container image.
• Persistent customizations: Customize your debugging environment with additional tools using the built-in NixOS package manager. These customizations persist across debug sessions, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

Seamless integration

• Integration with existing workflows: Docker Debug integrates seamlessly with your existing Docker workflows. Whether you are working with running containers, stopped containers, or just images, Docker Debug provides a consistent and intuitive interface for debugging.
• Remote debugging: Use Docker Debug to troubleshoot containers running on remote Docker instances, enhancing your ability to manage and debug applications deployed across different environments.

Docker Debug is a game-changer for developers working with containerized applications. By simplifying and enhancing the debugging process, Docker Debug empowers developers to maintain secure, performant, and reliable applications. Upgrade to Docker Desktop 4.33 today and experience the power of Docker Debug.

For more details, refer to the Docker Debug docs.

Docker Build checks GA released 

Docker Desktop is more than a simple containerization tool — it’s a comprehensive solution designed to support developers at every stage of the development process. With Docker Build checks in Docker Desktop 4.33, we’ve enhanced BuildKit — the powerful engine behind Docker Build and Docker Build Cloud — to ensure Dockerfiles meet the highest standards. 

Ensuring that Dockerfiles adhere to best practices can be challenging for development teams. Evaluating and maintaining the quality of Dockerfiles across local and CI workflows — including complex multi-stage builds, which leads to inefficient builds, increased build times, and potential security vulnerabilities — can be difficult. 

Docker Build checks guide developers in writing optimized Dockerfiles, improving efficiency and reducing build times. We have enhanced BuildKit, our build engine behind Docker Build and Docker Build Cloud, to support guiding you on best practices for writing great Dockerfiles. Driving your team to follow best practices enhances security and reduces your build times in Docker Build Cloud.

By using Docker Build checks to evaluate all stages of your local and CI workflows, including multi-stage builds and bake, and deep-dive in Docker Desktop Builds view, you ensure that your Dockerfiles are set up to leverage the full potential of Docker Build Cloud. This new feature not only saves you time in maintaining your Dockerfiles, but also enhances your overall build performance in Docker Build Cloud. 

To fully benefit from Docker Build Cloud, we encourage you to authenticate and explore how Docker Build checks can elevate your development experience and drive you toward more efficient and high-quality container builds. 

Configuration integrity check 2.0 

In the past, Docker Desktop users have encountered disruptive warning messages about configuration issues, which can interrupt their workflow and lead to repeated and ineffective repair attempts. To improve the overall user experience and ensure smoother operation of Docker Desktop, a more user-friendly and efficient way to alert users about configuration problems, provide actionable guidance, and handle errors has been needed. Our latest release includes a new and improved UX for the Configuration integrity check for macOS, with:

• Banner migrated to Notification Center: The warning is now less obtrusive and appears as an alert in the Notification Center.
• Actionable alert: The Notification Center will read Find out more instead of Repair. Clicking it will open a pop-up with details on configuration changes (such as incorrect or missing symlinks) and the option to repair.
• Error-handling improvements: Introducing an error dialogue with a diagnostic upload option if the check fails, operating system checks, and preventing the Integrity Repair from running multiple times if the user clicks Repair in quick succession.

If you ignore the notification, it will be shown again only at the next Docker Desktop startup. If you choose to repair your configuration, you won’t be prompted again.

If you want to switch off Configuration integrity check notifications, navigate to Docker Desktop’s Settings and in the General tab, and clear the Automatically check configuration setting.

Fill out the feedback form if you have feedback on how to improve the Configuration integrity check feature further.

Conclusion 

Docker Desktop 4.33 is another milestone in our commitment to providing an industry-leading container development suite. By introducing features like Docker Debug, Docker Build checks, and improved Configuration integrity check, we empower development teams to write better Dockerfiles, troubleshoot applications with ease, and maintain optimal configurations. These enhancements drive productivity and streamline workflows, solidifying Docker Desktop as your launchpad for engineering excellence. Upgrade to Docker Desktop 4.33 today and experience the future of container development. 

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Dive deep into Docker Debug with additional Docker Debug documentation.
• Introducing Docker Build Checks: Optimize Dockerfiles with Best Practices.
• Leave feedback on the Configuration integrity check feature.

In this post:

• Compose File Viewer (Beta)
• Terminal integration (Beta)
• Enterprise-grade Volume Backup to cloud providers (Beta) 
• Docker Desktop MSI Installer and new login enforcement alternatives (Early Access)

Docker Desktop 4.32 includes a series of powerful enhancements designed to streamline data workflows and elevate user productivity. The latest Docker Desktop release enhances the experience across development teams of all sizes and emphasizes our commitment to providing a secure hybrid development platform that enables efficient building, sharing, and running of innovative applications anywhere. 

Key features of the Docker Desktop 4.32 release include: 

• Improving developer’s experience with Compose File Viewer (Beta)
• Enhancing developer productivity with Terminal in Docker Desktop (Beta)
• Simplifying data management with Volume Backups to Cloud Providers (Beta) 
• Streamlining administration with Docker Desktop’s MSI Installer (Early Access) 

Compose File Viewer (Beta) now available

Launched as Beta rolled out to limited customers during our Docker Desktop 4.31 release, Compose File Viewer has now been rolled out to all customers. Users can now see enhanced instructions for setting up Compose Watch when launching the viewer from the Compose CLI. 

Configuring multi-container applications can be complex, so  Compose File Viewer helps developers see their Docker Compose configuration file in Docker Desktop with information about each section a click away. This makes it simpler for developers to orient on basic Compose concepts and learn to set up Compose Watch, making it easier to sync code changes into running containers. 

Check out this new File Viewer through the View Configuration option in the Compose command line or by viewing a Compose stack in the Containers tab, then clicking the View Configuration button.

These enhancements are another step forward as we continue improving Compose to help you get the benefits of containerized development faster.

Terminal experience in Docker Desktop  (Beta)

We are excited to introduce the new terminal feature in Docker Desktop. This enhancement integrates a terminal directly within the Docker Desktop GUI, enabling seamless transitions between CLI and GUI interactions within a single window. By incorporating a terminal shell into the Docker Desktop interface, we significantly reduce the friction associated with context switching for developers. 

This functionality is designed to streamline workflows, accelerate delivery times, and enhance overall developer productivity.

Enterprise-grade Volume Backup to cloud providers (Beta) 

We are pleased to announce the release of an advanced Beta feature for interacting with volumes data within Docker Desktop. Building on our previously introduced Volumes Backup & Share functionalities, we are now introducing the capability to back up volumes to multiple cloud providers. 

With a Docker Business subscription, users can seamlessly back up their volumes to various cloud storage services, including AWS, Azure, and GCP. 

This new Volume Backup to cloud providers feature represents the latest enhancement in our ongoing efforts to streamline data management capabilities within Docker Desktop.

Docker Desktop MSI Installer and new login enforcement alternatives (Early Access)

We have made it easier to enforce login for your organization and deploy using the MSI Installer, available for early access. These key enhancements aim to streamline administration, improve security, and enhance the user experience for Docker Business subscribers.

Docker is committed to helping enterprises of all sizes with enhanced Docker sign-in enforcement across Windows and macOS to help increase user logins, simplify administration, and reduce learning curves for IT administrators.

The Docker Desktop MSI Installer helps with mass deployments and customizations with standardized silent install parameters. 

Although these updates are currently available only for early access, they reflect Docker’s commitment to simplifying deployment and streamlining administration for organizations of all sizes. With more of these administrative offerings becoming available soon, we encourage IT teams and administrators to start planning for these changes to enhance their Docker experience.

Conclusion 

The Docker Desktop 4.32 release brings significant improvements aimed at streamlining workflows and boosting productivity for development teams of all sizes. With features like the Compose File Viewer, Terminal integration, and volume backups to cloud providers, Docker Desktop continues to simplify and enhance the developer experience. The new MSI Installer for easier administration also underlines our commitment to streamlining administration.

We look forward to seeing how these enhancements will help you build, share, and run innovative applications more effectively.

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account .
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.

In this post:

• Air-gapped containers: Ensuring security and compliance
• Accelerating Builds in Docker Desktop with Docker Build Cloud
• Docker Desktop on Windows on Arm (Beta)
• Compose File Viewer (Beta)
• Deep Dive into GitHub Actions Docker Builds with Docker Desktop (Beta)

Docker Desktop’s latest release continues to empower development teams of every size, providing a secure hybrid development launchpad that supports productively building, sharing, and running innovative applications anywhere. 

Highlights from the Docker Desktop 4.31 release include: 

• Air-gapped containers help secure developer environments and apps to ensure peace of mind. 
• Accelerating Builds in Docker Desktop with Docker Build Cloud helps developers build rapidly to increase productivity and ROI.
• Docker Desktop on Windows on Arm (WoA) Beta continues our commitment to supporting the Microsoft Developer ecosystem by leveraging the newest and most advanced development environments.
• Compose File Viewer (Beta) see your Compose configuration with contextual docs.
• Deep Dive into GitHub Actions Docker Builds with Docker Desktop (Beta) that streamline accessing detailed GitHub Actions build summaries, including performance metrics and error reports, directly within the Docker Desktop UI.

Air-gapped containers: Ensuring security and compliance

For our business users, we introduce support for air-gapped containers. This feature allows admins to configure Docker Desktop to restrict containers from accessing the external network (internet) while enabling access to the internal network (private network). Docker Desktop can apply a custom set of proxy rules to network traffic from containers. The proxy can be configured to allow network connections, reject network connections, and tunnel through an HTTP or SOCKS proxy (Figure 1). This enhances security by allowing admins to choose which outgoing TCP ports the policy applies to and whether to forward a single HTTP or SOCKS proxy, or to implement policy per destination via a PAC file.

This functionality enables you to scale securely and is especially crucial for organizations with strict security requirements. Learn more about air-gapped containers on our Docker Docs.  

Accelerating Builds in Docker Desktop with Docker Build Cloud 

Did you know that in your Core Docker Subscription (Personal, Pro, Teams, Business) you have an included allocation of Docker Build Cloud minutes? Yes! This allocation of cloud compute time and shared cache lets you speed up your build times when you’re working with multi-container apps or large repos. 

For organizations, your build minutes are shared across your team, so anyone allocated Docker Build Cloud minutes with their Docker Desktop Teams or Business subscription can leverage available minutes and purchase additional minutes if necessary. Docker Build Cloud works for both developers building locally and in CI/CD.

With Docker Desktop, you can use these minutes to accelerate your time to push and gain access to the Docker Build Cloud dashboard (build.docker.com)  where you can view build history, manage users, and view your usage stats. 

And now, from build.docker.com, you can quickly and easily create your team’s cloud builder using a one-click setup that connects your cloud builder to Docker Desktop. At the same time, you can choose to configure the Build Cloud builder as the default builder in Docker Desktop in about 30 seconds — check the Set the default builder radio button during the Connect via Docker Desktop setup (Figure 2).

Docker Desktop on Windows on Arm

At Microsoft Build, we were thrilled to announce that Docker Desktop is available on Windows on Arm (WoA) as a beta release. This version will be available behind authentication and is aimed at users with Arm-based Windows devices. This feature ensures that developers using these devices can take full advantage of Docker’s capabilities. 

To learn more about leveraging WoA to accelerate your development practices, watch the Microsoft Build Session Introducing the Next Generation of Windows on Arm with Ivette Carreras and Jamshed Damkewala. You can also learn about the other better-together opportunities between Microsoft and Docker by visiting our Microsoft Build Docker Page and reading our event highlights blog post. 

Compose File Viewer (Beta)

With Compose File Viewer (Beta), developers can now see their Docker Compose configuration file in Docker Desktop, with relevant docs linked. This makes it easier to understand your Compose YAML at a glance, with proper syntax highlighting. 

Check out this new File Viewer through the View Configuration option in the Compose command line or by viewing a Compose stack in the Containers tab, then clicking the View Configuration button.

Introducing enhanced CI visibility with GitHub Actions in Docker Desktop

We’re happy to announce the beta release of our new feature for inspecting GitHub Actions builds directly in Docker Desktop. This enhancement provides in-depth summaries of Docker builds, including performance metrics, cache utilization, and detailed error reports. You can download build results as a .dockerbuild archive and inspect them locally using Docker Desktop 4.31. Now you can access all the details about your CI build as if you had reproduced them locally. 

Not familiar with the Builds View in Docker Desktop? It’s a feature we introduced last year to give you greater insight into your local Docker builds. Now, with the import functionality, you can explore the details of your remote builds from GitHub Actions just as thoroughly in a fraction of the time. This new capability aims to improve CI/CD efficiency and collaboration by offering greater visibility into your builds. Update to Docker Desktop 4.31 and configure your GitHub Actions with docker/build-push-action@v5  or docker/bake-action@v4 to get started.

Conclusion 

With this latest release, we’re doubling down on our mission to support Docker Desktop users with the ability to accelerate innovation, enable security at scale, and enhance productivity. 

Stay tuned for additional details and upcoming releases. Thank you for being part of our community as we continuously strive to empower development teams. 

Learn more

• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level’s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Explore the new beta feature: GitHub Actions Docker Builds with Docker Desktop.
• Visit our Microsoft Build Docker Page to learn about our partnership in supporting Microsoft developers.
• Learn how Docker Build Cloud in Docker Desktop can accelerate builds.
• Secure Your Supply Chain with Docker Scout in Docker Desktop.
• Learn more about air-gapped containers.
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.

In this post:

• Enhancing connectivity with SOCKS proxy support in Docker Desktop
• Seamless integration of Docker Desktop with NTLM and Kerberos proxies
• Docker Desktop with Enhanced Container Isolation for build commands
• Docker Desktop for WSL 2: A leap towards simplification and speed
• Enhance your Docker builds experience with new Docker Desktop Build features
• Reimagining dev environments: Streamlining development workflows
• Docker Desktop support for RHEL beta

Docker Desktop is elevating its capabilities with crucial updates that streamline development workflows and enhance security for developers and enterprises alike. Key enhancements in Docker Desktop 4.30 include improved SOCKS5 proxy support for seamless network connectivity, advanced integration with NTLM and Kerberos for smoother authentication processes, and extended Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) to secure build environments. Additionally, administrative ease is boosted by simplifying sign-in enforcement through familiar system settings, and WSL 2 configurations have been optimized to enhance performance.

In this blog post, we’ll describe these enhancements and also provide information on future features and available beta features such as Docker Desktop on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Read on to learn more about how these updates are designed to maximize the efficiency and security of your Docker Desktop experience.

Enhancing connectivity with SOCKS proxy support in Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop now supports SOCKS5 proxies, a significant enhancement that broadens its usability in corporate environments where SOCKS proxy is the primary means for internet access or is used to connect to company intranets. This new feature allows users to configure Docker Desktop to route HTTP/HTTPS traffic through SOCKS proxies, enhancing network flexibility and security.

Users can easily configure Docker Desktop to access the internet using socks5:// proxy URLs. This ensures that all outgoing requests, including Docker pulls and other internet access on ports 80/443, are routed through the chosen SOCKS proxy.

• The proxy configuration can manually be specified in Settings > Resources > Proxies > Manual proxy configuration, by adding the socks5://host:port URL in the Secure Web Server HTTPS box.
• Automatic detection of SOCKS proxies specified in .pac files is also supported.

This advancement not only improves Docker Desktop’s functionality for developers needing robust proxy support but also aligns with business needs for secure and versatile networking solutions. This new feature is available to Docker Business subscribers. 

Visit Docker Docs for detailed information on setting up and utilizing SOCKS proxy support in Docker Desktop.

Seamless integration of Docker Desktop with NTLM and Kerberos proxies

Proxy servers are vital in corporate networks, ensuring security and efficient traffic management. Recognizing their importance, Docker Desktop has evolved to enhance integration with these secured environments, particularly on Windows. Traditional basic authentication often presented challenges, such as repeated login prompts and security concerns. 

Docker Desktop 4.30 introduces major upgrades by supporting advanced authentication protocols such as Kerberos and NTLM, which streamline the user experience by handling the proxy handshake invisibly and reducing interruptions.

These updates simplify workflows and improve security and performance, allowing developers and admins to focus more on their tasks and less on managing access issues. The new version promises a seamless, secure, and more efficient interaction with corporate proxies, making Docker Desktop a more robust tool in today’s security-conscious corporate settings.

For a deeper dive into how Docker Desktop is simplifying proxy navigation and enhancing your development workflow within the Docker Business subscription, be sure to read the full blog post.

Docker Desktop with Enhanced Container Isolation for build commands

Docker Desktop’s latest update marks an important advancement in container security by extending Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) to docker build and docker buildx commands. This means docker build/buildx commands run in rootless mode when ECI is enabled, thereby protecting the host machine against malicious containers inadvertently used as dependencies while building container images.

This update is significant as it addresses previous limitations where ECI protected containers initiated with docker run but did not extend the same level of security to containers created during the build processes — unless the build was done with the docker-container build driver. 

Prior limitations:

• Limited protection: Before this update, while ECI effectively safeguarded containers started with docker run, those spawned by docker build or docker buildx commands, using the default “docker” build driver, did not benefit from this isolation, posing potential security risks.
• Security vulnerabilities: Given the nature of build processes, they can be susceptible to various security vulnerabilities, which previously might not have been adequately mitigated. This gap in protection could expose Docker Desktop users to risks during the build phase.

Enhancements in Docker Desktop 4.30:

• Rootless build operations: By extending ECI to include build commands, Docker Desktop now ensures that builds run rootless, significantly enhancing security.
• Comprehensive protection: This extension of ECI now includes support for docker builds on all platforms (Mac, Windows, Hyper-V, Linux), except Windows WSL, ensuring that all phases of container operation — both runtime and build — are securely isolated.
  

This development not only strengthens security across Docker Desktop’s operations but also aligns with Docker’s commitment to providing comprehensive security solutions. By safeguarding the entire lifecycle of container management, Docker ensures that users are protected against potential vulnerabilities from development to deployment.

To understand the full scope of these changes and how to leverage them within your Docker Business Subscription, visit the Enhanced Container Isolation docs for additional guidance.

Docker Desktop for WSL 2: A leap toward simplification and speed

We’re excited to announce an update to Docker Desktop that enhances its performance on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2) by reducing the complexity of the setup process. This update simplifies the WSL 2 setup by consolidating the previously required two Docker Desktop WSL distributions into one.

The simplification of Docker Desktop’s WSL 2 setup is designed to make the codebase easier to understand and maintain, improving our ability to handle failures more effectively. Most importantly, this change will also enhance the startup speed of Docker Desktop on WSL 2, allowing you to get to work faster than ever before.

What’s changing?

Phase 1: Starting with Docker Desktop 4.30, we are rolling out this update incrementally on all fresh installations. If you’re setting up Docker Desktop for the first time, you’ll experience a more streamlined installation process with reduced setup complexity right away.

Phase 2: We plan to introduce data migration in a future update, further enhancing the system’s efficiency and user experience. This upcoming phase will ensure that existing users also benefit from these improvements without any hassle.

To take advantage of phase 1, we encourage all new and existing users to upgrade to Docker Desktop 4.30. By doing so, you’ll be prepared to seamlessly transition to the enhanced version as we roll out subsequent phases.

Keep an eye out for more updates as we continue to refine Docker Desktop and enrich your development experience. 

Enhance your Docker Builds experience with new Docker Desktop Build features

Docker Desktop’s latest updates bring significant improvements to the Builds View, enhancing both the management and transparency of your build processes. These updates are designed to make Docker Desktop an indispensable tool for developers seeking efficiency and detailed insights into their builds.

Bulk delete enhancements:

• Extended bulk delete capability: The ability to bulk delete builds has been expanded beyond the current page. Now, by defining a search or query, you can effortlessly delete all builds that match your specified criteria across multiple pages.
• Simplified user experience: With the new Select all link next to the header, managing old or unnecessary builds becomes more straightforward, allowing you to maintain a clean and organized build environment with minimal effort (Figure 1).

Build provenance and OpenTelemetry traces:

• Provenance and dependency insights: The updated Builds View now includes an action menu that offers access to the dependencies and provenance of each build (Figure 2). This feature enables access to the origin details and the context of the builds for deeper inspection, enhancing security and compliance.
• OpenTelemetry integration: For advanced debugging, Docker Desktop lets you download OpenTelemetry traces to inspect build performance in Jaeger. This integration is crucial for identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks efficiently. Also, depending on your build configuration, you can now download the provenance to inspect the origin details for the build.

Overall, these features work together to provide a more streamlined and insightful build management experience, enabling developers to focus more on innovation and less on administrative tasks. 

For more detailed information on how to leverage these new functionalities and optimize your Docker Desktop experience, make sure to visit Builds documentation.

Reimagining Dev Environments: Streamlining development workflows

We are evolving our approach to development environments as part of our continuous effort to refine Docker Desktop and enhance user experience. Since its launch in 2021, Docker Desktop’s Dev Environments feature has been a valuable tool for developers to quickly start projects from GitHub repositories or local directories. However, to better align with our users’ evolving needs and feedback, we will be transitioning from the existing Dev Environments feature to a more robust and integrated solution in the near future. 

What does that mean to those using Dev Environments today? The feature is unchanged. Starting with the Docker Desktop 4.30 release, though, new users trying out Dev Environments will need to explicitly turn it on in Beta features settings. This change is part of our broader initiative to streamline Docker Desktop functionalities and introduce new features in the future (Figure 3).

We understand the importance of a smooth transition and are committed to providing detailed guidance and support to our users when we officially announce the evolution of Dev Environments. Until then, you can continue to leverage Dev Environments and look forward to additional functionality to come.

Docker Desktop support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux beta

As part of Docker’s commitment to broadening its support for enterprise-grade operating systems, we are excited to announce the expansion of Docker Desktop to include compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distributions, specifically versions 8 and 9. This development is designed to support our users in enterprise environments where RHEL is widely used, providing them with the same seamless Docker experience they expect on other platforms.

To provide feedback on this new beta functionality, engage your Account Executive or join the Docker Desktop Preview Program.

As Docker Desktop continues to evolve, the latest updates are set to significantly enhance the platform’s efficiency and security. From integrating advanced proxy support with SOCKS5, NTLM, and Kerberos to streamlining administrative processes and optimizing WSL 2 setups, these improvements are tailored to meet the needs of modern developers and enterprises. 

With the addition of exciting upcoming features and beta opportunities like Docker Desktop on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Docker remains committed to providing robust, secure, and user-friendly solutions. Stay connected with us to explore how these continuous advancements can transform your development workflows and enhance your Docker experience.

Learn more

• Read Navigating Proxy Servers with Ease: New Advancements in Docker Desktop 4.30.
• Authenticate and update to receive the newest Docker Desktop features per your subscription level.
• New to Docker? Create an account. 
• Learn how Docker Build Cloud in Docker Desktop can accelerate builds.
• Secure your supply chain with Docker Scout in Docker Desktop.
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

Imagine you’re deep in the zone, coding away on a groundbreaking project. The ideas are flowing, the coffee’s still warm, and then — bam! An error message pops up, halting your progress like a red light at a busy intersection. We’ve all been there, staring at cryptic codes or vague advice, feeling more like ancient mariners navigating by the stars than modern developers armed with cutting-edge technology.

This scenario is all too familiar in the world of software development. With an arsenal of tools, languages, platforms, and security protocols at our disposal, the complexity of our work environment has skyrocketed. For developers charting the unexplored territories of innovation, encountering errors can feel like facing a tempest with a leaky boat. But fear not, for Docker Desktop sails to the rescue with a lighthouse’s guidance: a new, intuitive prompt that sheds light on the mysterious seas of error messages.

Enhancing Docker Desktop with advanced error management

In our Docker Desktop 4.29 release, we’ve embarked on an ambitious journey to elevate the user experience by fundamentally redefining error management. This initiative goes far beyond simple bug fixes; it aims to create a development environment that is not only more efficient and reliable but also more satisfying for developers. At the heart of these enhancements is our unwavering commitment to empowering users and providing them with the tools they need to recover swiftly from any setbacks they may encounter.

This strategic update is built around a core objective: pivoting Docker Desktop toward a model that supports self-service troubleshooting and fosters user resilience. By reimagining errors as opportunities for learning and growth, we’re doing more than just solving technical problems. We’re transforming how developers interact with Docker Desktop, enabling them to overcome challenges confidently and enhance their skills in the process. The changes introduced in Docker Desktop 4.29 signify a significant leap forward in our mission to address user issues and enhance their ability to navigate the complexities of software development with ease and efficiency.

Bridging the gap: From frustration to resolution

Previously, encountering an error in Docker Desktop could feel like reaching a dead end. Users were often greeted with cryptic error codes or minimal guidance, lacking the necessary context for a swift resolution. This outdated approach impeded user experience, efficiency, and overall satisfaction. The contrast with our new system couldn’t be more stark: Users now receive actionable insights when an error arises, ensuring every issue is a step toward a solution (Figure 1).

Empowering users, reducing support tickets

This latest update introduces an intuitive error management interface, direct diagnostic uploads, and self-service remediation options. These enhancements make troubleshooting more accessible and reduce the need for support inquiries, improving Docker Desktop’s usability and reliability specifically in the following ways: 

1. Enhanced error interface: Introducing an updated error interface that combines raw error codes with helpful explanatory text, including links for streamlined support. This not only makes troubleshooting more accessible but also significantly enhances the support process.

2. Direct diagnostic uploads: Users can now easily collect and upload diagnostics directly from the error screen. This feature enhances our support and troubleshooting capabilities, making it easier for users to get the help they need without navigating away from the error context.

3. Reset and exit options: Recognizing that some situations may require more drastic measures, the updated error interface also allows users to reset the application to factory settings or exit the application directly from the error screen (Figure 2).

4. Self-Service Options: For errors within the user’s ability to remedy, the error message now provides a user-friendly technical error description accompanied by clear, actionable buttons for immediate remediation. This reduces the need for support tickets and fosters a sense of user empowerment.

Conclusion

This update is evidence of our continuous focus on refining and enhancing our Docker Desktop users’ experiences — and there are more updates to come. We’re committed to making every aspect of application development as intuitive and empowering as possible. Look for further improvements as we continue to advance the state of user support and error remediation that supports sky-rocketing your innovation trajectory and productivity.

Learn more

• Read the Docker Desktop 4.29 announcement to learn more about the advancements in the latest release.
• Authenticate and update to receive your subscription level‘s newest Docker Desktop features.
• New to Docker? Create an account.
• Read the Docker Desktop Release Notes.
• Learn about Docker Build Cloud and how you can leverage cloud resources directly from Docker Desktop.
• Subscribe to the Docker Newsletter.
• Have questions? The Docker community is here to help.

The release of Docker Desktop 4.29 introduces enhancements to secure and streamline the development process and to improve error management and workflow efficiency. With the integration of Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) with Docker socket mount permissions, the debut of Moby 26 within Docker Desktop, and exciting features such as Docker Compose enhancements via synchronized file shares reaching beta release, we’re equipping developers with the essential resources to tackle the complexities of modern development head-on.

Dive into the details to discover these new enhancements and get a sneak peek at exciting advancements currently in beta release.

In this post:

• Enhanced Container Isolation with Docker socket mount permissions
• Advanced error management in Docker Desktop
• New in Docker Engine: Volume subpath mounts, networking enhancements, BuildKit 0.13, and more
• Beta release highlights
• Docker Debug in Docker Desktop GUI and CLI
• Improved volume backup capabilities 
• Support for host network mode on Docker Desktop for Mac and Windows
• Enhancing security with Docker Desktop’s new air-gapped containers
• Compose bind mount support with synchronized file shares 

Enhanced Container Isolation with Docker socket mount permissions 

We’re pleased to unveil a new feature in the latest Docker Desktop release, now in General Availability to Business subscribers, that further improves Desktop’s Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) mode: Docker socket mount permissions. This update blends robust security with the flexibility you love, allowing you to enjoy key development tools like Testcontainers with the peace of mind provided by ECI’s unprivileged containers. Initially launched in beta with Docker Desktop 4.27, this update moves the ECI Docker socket mount permissions feature to General Availability (GA), demonstrating our commitment to making Docker Desktop the best modern application development platform.

The Docker Engine socket, a crucial component for container management, has historically been a vector for potential security risks. Unauthorized access could enable malicious activities, such as supply chain attacks. However, legitimate use cases, like the Testcontainers framework, require socket access for operational tasks.

With ECI, Docker Desktop enhances security by default, blocking unapproved bind-mounting of the Docker Engine socket into containers. Yet, recognizing the need for flexibility, we introduce controlled access through admin-settings.json configuration. This allows specified images to bind-mount the Docker socket, combining security with functionality. 

Key features include:

• Selective permissions: Admins can now specify which container images can access the Docker socket through a curated imageList, ensuring that only trusted containers have the necessary permissions.
• Command restrictions: The commandList feature further tightens security by limiting the Docker commands approved containers can execute, acting as a secondary defense layer.

While we celebrate this release, our journey doesn’t stop here. We’re continuously exploring ways to expand Docker Desktop’s capabilities, ensuring our users can access the most secure, efficient, and user-friendly containerization tools.

Stay tuned for further security enhancements, including our beta release of air-gapped containers. Update to Docker Desktop 4.29 to start leveraging the full potential of Enhanced Container Isolation with Docker socket mount permissions today.

Advanced error management in Docker Desktop 

We’re redefining error management to significantly improve the developer experience. This update isn’t just about fixing bugs; it’s a comprehensive overhaul aimed at making the development process more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly.

Central to this update is our shift toward self-service troubleshooting and resilience, transforming errors from roadblocks into opportunities for growth and learning. The new system presents actionable insights for errors, ensuring developers can swiftly move toward a resolution.

Key enhancements include:

• An enhanced error interface: Combining error codes with explanatory text and support links, making troubleshooting straightforward.
• Direct diagnostic uploads: Allowing users to share diagnostics from the error screen, streamlining support. 
• Reset and exit options: Offering quick fixes directly from the error interface.
• Self-service remediation: Providing clear, actionable steps for users to resolve issues independently (Figure 1).

This update marks a significant leap in our commitment to enhancing the Docker Desktop user experience, empowering developers, and reducing the need for support tickets. Read Next-Level Error Handling: How Docker Desktop 4.29 Aims to Simplify Developer Challenges to dive deeper into these enhancements in our blog and discover how Docker Desktop 4.29 is setting a new standard for error management and developer support.

New in Docker Engine: Volume subpath mounts, networking enhancements, BuildKit 0.13, and more 

In the latest Docker Engine update, Moby 26, packaged in Docker Desktop 4.29, introduces several enhancements aimed at enriching the developer experience. Here’s the breakdown of what’s new: 

• Volume subpath mounts: Responding to widespread user requests, we’ve made it possible to mount a subdirectory as a named volume. This addition enhances flexibility and control over data management within containers. Detailed guidance on specifying these mounts is available in the docs. 
• Networking enhancements: Significant improvements have been made to bolster the stability of networking capabilities within the engine, along with preliminary efforts to support future IPv6 enhancements.
• Integration of BuildKit 0.13: Among other updates, this BuildKit version includes experimental support for Windows Containers, ensuring builds remain dependable and efficient.
• Streamlined API: Deprecated API versions have been removed, concentrating on quality enhancements and promoting a more secure, reliable environment.
• Multi-platform image enhancements: In this release, you’ll see an improved docker images UX as we’ve combined image entries for multi-platform images.

Beta release highlights

Docker Debug in Docker Desktop GUI and CLI 

Docker Debug (Beta), a recent addition to Docker Desktop, streamlines the debugging process for developers. This feature, accessible in Docker Pro, Teams, and Business subscriptions, offers a shell for efficiently debugging both local and remote containerized applications — even those that fail to run. With Docker Debug, developers can swiftly pinpoint and address issues, freeing up more time for innovation.

Now, in beta release, Docker Debug introduces comprehensive debugging directly from the Docker Desktop CLI for active and inactive containers alike. Moreover, the Docker Desktop GUI has been enhanced with an intuitive option: Click the toggle in the Exec tab within a container to switch on Debug mode to start debugging with the necessary tools at your fingertips.

To dive into Docker Debug, ensure you’re logged in with your subscription account, then initiate debugging by executing docker debug <Container or Image name> in the CLI or by selecting a container from the GUI container list for immediate debugging from any device local or in the cloud.

Improved volume backup capabilities 

With our latest release, we’re elevating volume backup capabilities in Docker Desktop, introducing an upgraded feature set in beta release. This enhancement directly integrates the Volumes Backup & Share extension directly into Docker Desktop, streamlining your backup processes. 

This release marks a significant step forward, but it’s just the beginning. We’re committed to expanding these capabilities, adding even more value in future updates. Start exploring the new feature today and prepare for an enhanced backup experience soon.

Support for host network mode on Docker Desktop for Mac and Windows 

Support for host network mode (docker run –net=host), previously limited to Linux users, is now available for Mac and Windows Docker Desktop users, offering enhanced networking capabilities and flexibility.

With host network mode support, Docker Desktop becomes a more versatile tool for advanced networking tasks, such as dynamic network penetration testing, without predefined port mappings. This feature is especially useful for applications requiring the ability to dynamically accept connections on various ports, just as if they were running directly on the host. Features include:

• Simplified networking: Eases the setup for complex networking tasks, facilitating security testing and the development of network-centric applications.
• Greater flexibility: Allows containers to use the host’s network stack, avoiding the complexities of port forwarding.

Enhancing security with Docker Desktop’s new air-gapped containers

Docker Desktop’s latest beta feature, air-gapped containers, is now available in version 4.29, reflecting our deep investment in security enhancements. This Business subscription feature empowers administrators to limit container access to network resources, tightening security across containerized applications by: 

• Restricting network access: Ensuring containers communicate only with approved sources.
• Customizing proxy rules: Allowing detailed control over container traffic.
• Enhancing data protection: Preventing unauthorized data transfer in or out of containers.

The introduction of air-gapped containers is part of our broader effort to make Docker Desktop not just a development tool, but an even more secure development environment. We’re excited about the potential this feature holds for enhancing security protocols and simplifying the management of sensitive data.

Compose bind mount support with synchronized file shares 

We’re elevating the Docker Compose experience for our subscribers by integrating synchronized file shares (SFS) directly into Compose. This feature eradicates the sluggishness typically associated with managing large codebases in containers. Formerly known as Mutagen, synchronized file shares enhances bind mounts with native filesystem performance, accelerating file operations by an impressive 2-10x. This leap forward is incredibly impactful for developers handling extensive codebases, effortlessly streamlining their workflow.

With a Docker subscription, you’ll find that Docker Compose and SFS work together seamlessly, automatically optimizing bind mounts to significantly boost synchronization speeds. This integration requires no additional configuration; Compose intelligently activates SFS whenever a bind mount is used, instantly enhancing your development process.

Enabling synchronized file shares in Compose is simple:

1. Log into Docker Desktop.
2. Under Settings, navigate to Features in development and choose the Experimental features tab.
3. Enable Access experimental features and Manage Synchronized file shares with Compose.

Once set up via Docker Desktop settings, these folders act as standard bind mounts with the added benefit of SFS speed enhancements. 

If your Compose project relies on a bind mount that could benefit from synchronized file shares, the initial share creation must be done through the Docker Desktop GUI.

Embrace the future of Docker Compose with Docker Desktop’s synchronized file shares and transform your development workflow with unparalleled speed and efficiency.

Try Docker Desktop 4.29 now

Docker Desktop 4.29 introduces updates focused on innovation, security, and enhancing the developer experience. This release integrates community feedback and advances Docker’s capabilities, providing solutions that meet developers’ and businesses’ immediate needs while setting the stage for future features. We advise all Docker users to upgrade to version 4.29. Please note that access to certain features in this release requires authentication and may be contingent upon your subscription tier. We encourage you to evaluate your feature needs and select the subscription level that best suits your requirements.

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