Docker — Install and Use Containers
Enables OpenClaw (and Cursor) to install Docker and use it reliably. Base all guidance on official Docker docs; when in doubt, fetch from canonical URLs below.
When to Apply
- User wants to install Docker (macOS, Linux, Windows)
- User asks about containers, images, Dockerfile, docker compose
- Building, running, or debugging Docker commands or workflows
- User asks for "latest Docker docs" or "how do I use Docker"
Canonical Documentation URLs
Rule: For install steps, CLI syntax, or Dockerfile instructions, fetch the relevant doc URL and use that content. Do not rely on training data for version-specific install or command details.
Installation (Reliable Paths)
macOS
Recommended: Docker Desktop
- Download from official docs: Install Docker Desktop on Mac.
- Apple Silicon:
https://desktop.docker.com/mac/main/arm64/Docker.dmg
- Intel:
https://desktop.docker.com/mac/main/amd64/Docker.dmg
- Open
Docker.dmg, drag Docker to Applications, then open Docker.app and accept terms.
- CLI install (optional): After downloading the DMG:
sudo hdiutil attach Docker.dmg
sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install
sudo hdiutil detach /Volumes/Docker
- Verify:
docker run hello-world
OpenClaw / automation: If docker is missing and the user is on macOS, suggest installing via Homebrew: brew install --cask docker, then starting Docker Desktop so the daemon is running.
Linux (Ubuntu example)
- Prefer Docker Engine from apt (see Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu).
- Remove conflicting packages first:
sudo apt remove $(dpkg --get-selections docker.io docker-compose docker-compose-v2 docker-doc podman-docker containerd runc 2>/dev/null | cut -f1)
- Add Docker’s apt repo, then:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo docker run hello-world
- Optional (run without sudo): Linux postinstall — add user to
docker group.
Convenience script (dev/test only): curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh && sudo sh get-docker.sh. Not recommended for production.
Windows
Use Get Docker and follow Docker Desktop for Windows (WSL2 backend recommended).
Core Workflow: Build and Run
- Dockerfile in app directory (see reference.md or Dockerfile reference).
- Build image:
docker build -t <name> .
- Run container:
docker run -d -p HOST_PORT:CONTAINER_PORT <name> (e.g. -p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000).
- List containers:
docker ps (running), docker ps -a (all).
- Stop/remove:
docker stop <container>, docker rm <container>.
Example from official getting-started:
docker build -t getting-started .
docker run -d -p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000 getting-started
# Open http://localhost:3000
Daemon Must Be Running
- Docker Desktop (Mac/Windows): Ensure Docker Desktop app is running;
docker CLI talks to its daemon.
- Linux:
sudo systemctl start docker (and enable if needed).
- If the user sees "Cannot connect to the Docker daemon", direct them to start Docker Desktop or the engine service and try again.
Quick Reference
- Images:
docker pull <image>, docker images, docker rmi <image>
- Containers:
docker run, docker ps, docker stop, docker rm, docker logs <container>
- Compose:
docker compose up -d, docker compose down — use compose.yaml in project root (see Compose file reference).
- Cleanup:
docker system prune -a (removes unused images/containers/networks; use with care).
Additional Resources
- For detailed CLI and Dockerfile syntax, see reference.md.
- For full specs, fetch from the official reference and guides.
1---2name: docker-33description: Installs and uses Docker reliably with official docs. Use when installing Docker (Desktop or Engine), building or running containers, writing Dockerfiles, using docker compose, or when the user asks about containers, images, or Docker CLI.4---5
6# Docker — Install and Use Containers
7
8Enables OpenClaw (and Cursor) to install Docker and use it reliably. Base all guidance on **official Docker docs**; when in doubt, fetch from canonical URLs below.
9
10## When to Apply
11
12- User wants to **install Docker** (macOS, Linux, Windows)
13- User asks about **containers**, **images**, **Dockerfile**, **docker compose**
14- Building, running, or debugging **Docker** commands or workflows
15- User asks for "latest Docker docs" or "how do I use Docker"
16
17## Canonical Documentation URLs
18
19| Purpose | URL |
20|--------|-----|
21| Get started / overview | https://docs.docker.com/get-started/overview/ |
22| Get Docker (install) | https://docs.docker.com/get-started/get-docker/ |
23| Develop with containers | https://docs.docker.com/get-started/introduction/develop-with-containers/ |
24| Guides | https://docs.docker.com/guides/ |
25| Manuals (install, config, use) | https://docs.docker.com/manuals/ |
26| Reference (CLI, Dockerfile, API) | https://docs.docker.com/reference/ |
27| Engine install (Linux) | https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ |
28| Docker Desktop Mac | https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/mac-install/ |
29| Docker CLI reference | https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/ |
30| Dockerfile reference | https://docs.docker.com/reference/dockerfile/ |
31
32**Rule:** For install steps, CLI syntax, or Dockerfile instructions, **fetch the relevant doc URL** and use that content. Do not rely on training data for version-specific install or command details.
33
34---
35
36## Installation (Reliable Paths)
37
38### macOS
39
40**Recommended: Docker Desktop**
41
421. Download from official docs: [Install Docker Desktop on Mac](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/mac-install/).
43 - Apple Silicon: `https://desktop.docker.com/mac/main/arm64/Docker.dmg`
44 - Intel: `https://desktop.docker.com/mac/main/amd64/Docker.dmg`
452. Open `Docker.dmg`, drag Docker to Applications, then open Docker.app and accept terms.
463. **CLI install (optional):** After downloading the DMG:
47 ```bash
48 sudo hdiutil attach Docker.dmg
49 sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install
50 sudo hdiutil detach /Volumes/Docker
51 ```
524. Verify: `docker run hello-world`
53
54**OpenClaw / automation:** If `docker` is missing and the user is on macOS, suggest installing via Homebrew: `brew install --cask docker`, then starting Docker Desktop so the daemon is running.
55
56### Linux (Ubuntu example)
57
581. Prefer **Docker Engine from apt** (see [Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/)).
592. Remove conflicting packages first:
60 ```bash
61 sudo apt remove $(dpkg --get-selections docker.io docker-compose docker-compose-v2 docker-doc podman-docker containerd runc 2>/dev/null | cut -f1)
62 ```
633. Add Docker’s apt repo, then:
64 ```bash
65 sudo apt update
66 sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin
67 sudo systemctl start docker
68 sudo docker run hello-world
69 ```
704. Optional (run without sudo): [Linux postinstall](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/linux-postinstall/) — add user to `docker` group.
71
72**Convenience script (dev/test only):** `curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh && sudo sh get-docker.sh`. Not recommended for production.
73
74### Windows
75
76Use [Get Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-started/get-docker/) and follow **Docker Desktop for Windows** (WSL2 backend recommended).
77
78---
79
80## Core Workflow: Build and Run
81
821. **Dockerfile** in app directory (see [reference.md](reference.md) or [Dockerfile reference](https://docs.docker.com/reference/dockerfile/)).
832. **Build image:** `docker build -t <name> .`
843. **Run container:** `docker run -d -p HOST_PORT:CONTAINER_PORT <name>` (e.g. `-p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000`).
854. **List containers:** `docker ps` (running), `docker ps -a` (all).
865. **Stop/remove:** `docker stop <container>`, `docker rm <container>`.
87
88Example from official getting-started:
89
90```bash
91docker build -t getting-started .
92docker run -d -p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000 getting-started
93# Open http://localhost:3000
94```
95
96---
97
98## Daemon Must Be Running
99
100- **Docker Desktop (Mac/Windows):** Ensure Docker Desktop app is running; `docker` CLI talks to its daemon.
101- **Linux:** `sudo systemctl start docker` (and `enable` if needed).
102- If the user sees "Cannot connect to the Docker daemon", direct them to start Docker Desktop or the engine service and try again.
103
104---
105
106## Quick Reference
107
108- **Images:** `docker pull <image>`, `docker images`, `docker rmi <image>`
109- **Containers:** `docker run`, `docker ps`, `docker stop`, `docker rm`, `docker logs <container>`
110- **Compose:** `docker compose up -d`, `docker compose down` — use `compose.yaml` in project root (see [Compose file reference](https://docs.docker.com/reference/compose-file/)).
111- **Cleanup:** `docker system prune -a` (removes unused images/containers/networks; use with care).
112
113## Additional Resources
114
115- For detailed CLI and Dockerfile syntax, see [reference.md](reference.md).
116- For full specs, fetch from the official [reference](https://docs.docker.com/reference/) and [guides](https://docs.docker.com/guides/).
dvcrn