Agent skill · Docker
Docker Compose Patterns skill for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor
Officialname: docker-compose-patterns★ 596 (repo)pushed 2026-10-23Apache-2.0SKILL.md on GitHubchecked 2026-11-07
What it does, in the publisher's words
Use this skill when creating, modifying, or debugging Docker Compose configurations, even if the user just says they need to wire services together, add a database to their stack, or set up a local development environment with multiple containers. Covers service definitions, health checks, dependency ordering, volumes, networks, environment variables, and development overrides.
The description field of the SKILL.md. The agent reads only this at startup and decides from it when to load the full skill.
Install Docker Compose Patterns
The skills CLI copies the skill into the folder of each agent you pick (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf...). Add -g for all projects. Needs Node.js 22.20+. docs
npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns
This repo is a plugin marketplace. Inside Claude Code, add it and install the plugin that holds the skill (docker-skills), or copy only this skill into ~/.claude/skills. docs
/plugin marketplace add docker/skills /plugin install <plugin>@docker # or only this skill: npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns -a claude-code
Download the skill folder, zip it, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Code execution must be on (Settings > Capabilities). docs
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/docker/skills.git /tmp/docker-compose-patterns-src cp -r /tmp/docker-compose-patterns-src/skills/docker-compose-patterns ./docker-compose-patterns zip -r docker-compose-patterns.zip docker-compose-patterns
Codex reads skills from .agents/skills in the repo or ~/.agents/skills. Type $ in Codex to use one. docs
npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns -a codex
gh skill (GitHub CLI 2.90+, preview) installs it for Copilot in VS Code, the CLI and the cloud agent. Copilot also reads .github/skills and ~/.copilot/skills. docs
gh skill install docker/skills docker-compose-patterns
Cursor reads .cursor/skills, .agents/skills and ~/.cursor/skills (and .claude/skills). It does not install loose skills from a GitHub URL, so copy it in. docs
npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns -a cursor
Installs from the GitHub repo; --path picks this skill out of the repo. Default scope is user (all projects). docs
gemini skills install https://github.com/docker/skills.git --path skills/docker-compose-patterns
OpenCode reads .opencode/skills, ~/.config/opencode/skills and the Claude and .agents folders. docs
npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns -a opencode
Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) reads .devin/skills, .windsurf/skills and ~/.codeium/windsurf/skills. docs
npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns -a windsurf
Works with
Claude Code, Claude.ai and Claude Desktop, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and other agents that read the open Agent Skills format.
- The SKILL.md says: "Requires Docker Compose v2 (compose.yaml format)."
- Bundles 1 shell script the agent can run, so it needs shell on the machine. In the Claude apps, code execution must be on.
What's in the SKILL.md
- Overview
- When to use this skill
- Do not use this skill when
- Core guidance
- File naming
- Service definitions
- Dependency modeling
- Health checks
- Volumes
- Networks
- Environment variables
- Development overrides
- Compose Watch
- Destructive commands
- Related skills
- References
- Assets
- Scripts
- Checks
Bundled files
- agents/openai.yaml
- assets/bad-vs-good.md
- assets/compose-dev-override.yaml
- assets/compose-web-app.yaml
- checks/verification.md
- references/service-dependencies.md
- references/volumes-and-networks.md
- scripts/verify-compose.sh
- skill.yaml
Loaded only when the instructions point to them.
Facts
- Skill name
- docker-compose-patterns
- Publisher
- Docker (official)
- Repo
- docker/skills
- License
- Apache-2.0
- SKILL.md size
- 1,199 words, 165 lines
- Bundled files
- 9, 1 scripts (shell), 4 docs
- Repo stars
- 596 (as of 2026-10-24)
- SKILL.md checked
- 2026-11-07
Pairs with the Docker MCP server: the server gives the agent the tools, the skill teaches it how to use them.
More skills from docker/skills
- Dockerfile Build Strategies: Makes Dockerfiles smaller, faster and safer with multi-stage builds and layer caching.
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FAQ
What does the docker-compose-patterns skill do?+
Creates and debugs Compose files that wire services, databases and local dev stacks together. In its own SKILL.md, Docker describes it as: "Use this skill when creating, modifying, or debugging Docker Compose configurations, even if the user just says they need to wire services together, add a database to their stack, or set up a local development environment with multiple containers."
How do I install the docker-compose-patterns skill?+
Run npx skills add docker/skills --skill docker-compose-patterns and pick your agents, or use the tab for your agent above. In Claude Code the skill ends up in ~/.claude/skills/docker-compose-patterns/SKILL.md; in Codex and Cursor in .agents/skills/docker-compose-patterns/.
Does Docker Compose Patterns work in Codex, Cursor and Copilot, or only Claude?+
It's a standard SKILL.md, so any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use it: Claude Code, the Claude apps, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and more. The SKILL.md notes: Requires Docker Compose v2 (compose.yaml format).
Who maintains Docker Compose Patterns?+
Docker, the company or project behind it, in the docker/skills repo on GitHub, last pushed 2026-10-23. License: Apache-2.0.
Read a skill's SKILL.md and scripts before you install it: skills aren't verified by any agent vendor. Claude skills marketplace · How to install skills · MCP servers