How to integrate Docker hub MCP with Claude Code

Manage your Docker hub directly from Claude Code with zero worries about OAuth hassles, API-breaking issues, or reliability and security concerns. You can do this in two different ways: Via Composio Connect - Direct and easiest approach Via Composio SDK - Programmatic approach with more control

Docker hub logoDocker hub
Api Key

Docker Hub is a cloud-based registry for finding and sharing container images. It simplifies container collaboration and deployment for individuals and teams.

24 Tools

Introduction

Manage your Docker hub directly from Claude Code with zero worries about OAuth hassles, API-breaking issues, or reliability and security concerns.

You can do this in two different ways:

  1. Via Composio Connect - Direct and easiest approach
  2. Via Composio SDK - Programmatic approach with more control

Also integrate Docker hub with

Why use Composio?

  • Only one MCP URL to connect multiple apps with Claude Code with zero auth hassles.
  • Programmatic tool calling allows LLMs to write its code in a remote workbench to handle complex tool chaining. Reduces to-and-fro with LLMs for frequent tool calling.
  • Handling Large tool responses out of LLM context to minimize context rot.
  • Dynamic just-in-time access to 20,000 tools across 1000+ other Apps for cross-app workflows. It loads the tools you need, so LLMs aren't overwhelmed by tools you don't need.

Connecting Docker hub to Claude Code using Composio

1. Add the Composio MCP to Claude

Terminal

2. Start Claude Code

bash
claude

3. Open your MCP list

bash
/mcp

4. Select Composio and click on Authenticate

Select Composio and click Authenticate

5. This will redirect you to the Composio OAuth page. Complete the flow by authorizing Composio and you're all set.

Composio OAuth authorization page
Composio authorization complete
Ask Claude to connect to your account and authenticate via the link

What is the Docker hub MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Docker hub MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Docker Hub account. It provides structured and secure access to your container repositories and organizations, so your agent can perform actions like creating repositories, managing organization members, deleting images, setting up webhooks, and cleaning up tags on your behalf.

  • Repository and image management: Let your agent create new Docker Hub repositories, delete existing ones, and remove specific images or tags as needed.
  • Organization and team automation: Easily add members to organizations, create new Docker Hub organizations, or delete organizations and teams directly from your workflows.
  • Webhook configuration: Set up or remove repository webhooks to automate external integrations and keep your CI/CD pipelines in sync.
  • Tag and resource cleanup: Direct your agent to delete outdated tags or unused resources, helping you maintain a tidy container registry.
  • Secure role management: Invite users with specific roles to your organizations, ensuring the right access for collaborators and teams.

Connecting Docker hub via Composio SDK

Composio SDK is the underlying tech that powers Rube. It's a universal gateway that does everything Rube does but with much more programmatic control. You can programmatically generate an MCP URL with the app you need (here Docker hub) for even more tool search precision. It's secure and reliable.

How the Composio SDK works

The Composio SDK follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Step by step10 STEPS
1

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Claude Pro, Max, or API billing enabled Anthropic account
  • Composio API Key
  • A Docker hub account
  • Basic knowledge of Python or TypeScript
2

Install Claude Code

bash
# macOS, Linux, WSL
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

# Windows CMD
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods based on your operating system:

3

Set up Claude Code

bash
cd your-project-folder
claude

Open a terminal, go to your project folder, and start Claude Code:

  • Claude Code will open in your terminal
  • Follow the prompts to sign in with your Anthropic account
  • Complete the authentication flow
  • Once authenticated, you can start using Claude Code
Claude Code initial setup showing sign-in prompt
Claude Code terminal after successful login
4

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here

Create a .env file in your project root with the following variables:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio (get it from Composio dashboard)
  • USER_ID identifies the user for session management (use any unique identifier)
5

Install Composio library

npm install @composio/core dotenv

Install the Composio TypeScript library to create MCP sessions.

  • @composio/core provides the core Composio functionality
  • dotenv loads environment variables from your .env file
6

Generate Composio MCP URL

import 'dotenv/config';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';

const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;

if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
  throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
}

const composioClient = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

const composioSession = await composioClient.create(USER_ID, {
  toolkits: ['docker_hub'],
});

const composioMcpUrl = composioSession?.mcp.url;

console.log(`MCP URL: ${composioMcpUrl}`);
console.log(`\nUse this command to add to Claude Code:`);
console.log(`claude mcp add --transport http docker_hub-composio "${composioMcpUrl}" --headers "X-API-Key:${COMPOSIO_API_KEY}"`);

Create a script to generate a Composio MCP URL for Docker hub. This URL will be used to connect Claude Code to Docker hub.

What's happening

  • We import the Composio client and load environment variables
  • Create a Composio instance with your API key
  • Call create() to create a Tool Router session for Docker hub
  • The returned mcp.url is the MCP server URL that Claude Code will use
  • The script prints this URL so you can copy it
7

Run the script and copy the MCP URL

node --loader ts-node/esm generate_mcp_url.ts
# or if using tsx
tsx generate_mcp_url.ts

Run your TypeScript script to generate the MCP URL.

  • The script connects to Composio and creates a Tool Router session
  • It prints the MCP URL and the exact command you need to run
  • Copy the entire claude mcp add command from the output
8

Add Docker hub MCP to Claude Code

bash
claude mcp add --transport http docker_hub-composio "YOUR_MCP_URL_HERE" --headers "X-API-Key:YOUR_COMPOSIO_API_KEY"

# Then restart Claude Code
exit
claude

In your terminal, add the MCP server using the command from the previous step. The command format is:

  • claude mcp add registers a new MCP server with Claude Code
  • --transport http specifies that this is an HTTP-based MCP server
  • The server name (docker_hub-composio) is how you'll reference it
  • The URL points to your Composio Tool Router session
  • --headers includes your Composio API key for authentication

After running the command, close the current Claude Code session and start a new one for the changes to take effect.

9

Verify the installation

bash
claude mcp list

Check that your Docker hub MCP server is properly configured.

  • This command lists all MCP servers registered with Claude Code
  • You should see your docker_hub-composio entry in the list
  • This confirms that Claude Code can now access Docker hub tools

If everything is wired up, you should see your docker_hub-composio entry listed:

Claude Code MCP list showing the toolkit MCP server
10

Authenticate Docker hub

The first time you try to use Docker hub tools, you'll be prompted to authenticate.

  • Claude Code will detect that you need to authenticate with Docker hub
  • It will show you an authentication link
  • Open the link in your browser (or copy/paste it)
  • Complete the Docker hub authorization flow
  • Return to the terminal and start using Docker hub through Claude Code

Once authenticated, you can ask Claude Code to perform Docker hub operations in natural language. For example:

  • "Create a new Docker Hub repository"
  • "Add a member to my Docker organization"
  • "Delete an old image from a repository"

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with Docker hub and Claude Code:

import 'dotenv/config';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';

const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;

if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
  throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
}

const composioClient = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

const composioSession = await composioClient.create(USER_ID, {
  toolkits: ['docker_hub'],
});

const composioMcpUrl = composioSession?.mcp.url;

console.log(`MCP URL: ${composioMcpUrl}`);
console.log(`\nUse this command to add to Claude Code:`);
console.log(`claude mcp add --transport http docker_hub-composio "${composioMcpUrl}" --headers "X-API-Key:${COMPOSIO_API_KEY}"`);

Conclusion

You've successfully integrated Docker hub with Claude Code using Composio's MCP server. Now you can interact with Docker hub directly from your terminal using natural language commands.

Key features of this setup:

  • Terminal-native experience without switching contexts
  • Natural language commands for Docker hub operations
  • Secure authentication through Composio's managed MCP
  • Tool Router for dynamic tool discovery and execution

Next steps:

  • Try asking Claude Code to perform various Docker hub operations
  • Add more toolkits to your Tool Router session for multi-app workflows
  • Integrate this setup into your development workflow for increased productivity

You can extend this by adding more toolkits, implementing custom workflows, or building automation scripts that leverage Claude Code's capabilities.

TOOLS

Supported Tools

Every Docker hub action and event your agent gets out of the box.

Add Organization Member

Invite a user to join a Docker Hub organization.

Create Docker Hub Organization

Create a new Docker Hub organization.

Create Docker Hub Repository

Creates a new Docker Hub repository under the specified namespace.

Create Docker Hub Webhook

Create a webhook on a Docker Hub repository to receive notifications on image push events.

Delete Repository Images

Delete one or more images from your Docker Hub namespace using the bulk delete API.

Delete Docker Hub Organization

Permanently deletes a Docker Hub organization.

Delete Docker Hub Repository

Permanently deletes a Docker Hub repository and all its images/tags.

Delete Repository Tag

Permanently delete a specific tag from a Docker Hub repository.

Delete Docker Hub Team

Permanently deletes a team from a Docker Hub organization.

Delete Docker Hub repository webhook

Deletes a specific webhook from a Docker Hub repository.

Get Docker Hub Image

Retrieve details about a specific platform-specific image variant by its digest.

Get Docker Hub Repository

Retrieves detailed information about a specific Docker Hub repository.

Get Docker Hub Tag

Tool to retrieve details of a specific Docker Hub repository tag.

Get Docker Hub Team

Retrieve details of a specific team (group) within a Docker Hub organization.

Get Docker Hub Webhook

Retrieves details of a specific Docker Hub webhook by its ID.

List Organization Access Tokens

Tool to list all organization access tokens for a Docker Hub organization.

List Docker Hub Organizations

List Docker Hub organizations that the authenticated user belongs to.

List Docker Hub Organization Members

Lists members of a Docker Hub organization with their roles and details.

List Docker Hub Repositories

Tool to list repositories under a namespace.

List Team Members

List members of a Docker Hub team (group) within an organization.

List Organization Teams

List all teams (groups) within a Docker Hub organization.

List Docker Hub repository webhooks

Lists all webhooks configured for a Docker Hub repository.

Remove Organization Member

Remove a member from a Docker Hub organization.

Remove Team Member

Remove a user from a Docker Hub organization team (group).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

With a standalone Docker hub MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Docker hub tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Docker hub and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Yes, you can. Claude Code fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Docker hub tools.

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Docker hub scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Docker hub data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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