Docker AI (Gordon) Setup Skill

Quick Start

• Verify Docker Desktop - Version 4.53+ required

• Enable Gordon - Settings → Beta features → Toggle "Docker AI"

• Test Gordon - Run docker ai "What can you do?"

• Use Gordon - For building, debugging, and optimizing containers

What is Docker AI (Gordon)?

Docker AI (codenamed Gordon) is an AI-powered assistant built into Docker Desktop that helps with:

• Building containers - Generate Dockerfiles from requirements

• Debugging issues - Analyze logs and errors

• Optimizing images - Reduce size and improve performance

• Scanning vulnerabilities - Security analysis

• Explaining commands - Learn Docker and Kubernetes

Enabling Docker AI

Docker Desktop 4.53+

• Open Docker Desktop

• Go to Settings → Beta features

• Toggle on "Docker AI"

• Click "Get started" or "Enable"

• Accept terms and conditions

Alternative: Docker CLI Extension

If not using Docker Desktop, try CLI extension

(Note: Gordon is primarily in Docker Desktop)

docker context list

See if AI context is available

Gordon Commands Reference

Building Containers

Generate Dockerfile from requirements

docker ai "Create a Dockerfile for FastAPI application with Python 3.13"

Optimize existing Dockerfile

docker ai "Optimize this Dockerfile for smaller image size" < Dockerfile

Create multi-stage Dockerfile

docker ai "Convert this to a multi-stage Dockerfile" < Dockerfile

Generate docker-compose.yml

docker ai "Create a docker-compose file with frontend, backend, and mcp-server services"

Debugging Issues

Analyze startup failures

docker ai "Why is my container exiting immediately?"

Debug build errors

docker ai "Fix this Docker build error" < error.log

Troubleshoot networking

docker ai "Why can't container1 connect to container2?"

Analyze logs

docker ai "Analyze these container logs for issues" < logs.txt

Image Optimization

Reduce image size

docker ai "Make this Dockerfile produce a smaller image"

Optimize layer caching

docker ai "Optimize layer caching in this Dockerfile"

Security scan

docker ai "Scan this image for security vulnerabilities" todo-backend:latest

Best practices review

docker ai "Review this Dockerfile for security best practices"

Multi-Service Orchestration

Generate compose file

docker ai "Create docker-compose for Next.js frontend, FastAPI backend, PostgreSQL"

Add health checks

docker ai "Add health checks to this docker-compose file"

Configure networking

docker ai "Set up bridge networking for these 3 containers"

Gordon Examples for Todo Project

Frontend Dockerfile Generation

Ask Gordon to create Next.js Dockerfile

docker ai "Create a production-ready Dockerfile for Next.js 16 with TypeScript, using multi-stage build, with nginx or standalone server"

Expected output from Gordon:

Gordon will generate optimized Dockerfile

Review and save to frontend/Dockerfile

Backend Dockerfile Generation

docker ai "Create a multi-stage Dockerfile for FastAPI with Python 3.13, SQLModel, and OpenAI dependencies"

MCP Server Dockerfile

docker ai "Create a minimal Dockerfile for Python FastMCP server with minimal dependencies"

Docker Compose Generation

docker ai "Create a docker-compose.yml file for:

• Frontend: Next.js on port 3000
• Backend: FastAPI on port 8000
• MCP Server: Python on port 8001
• Network: todo-network
• Health checks for all services
• Environment variables from .env file"

Debug Build Issues

If build fails, paste the error

docker ai "I'm getting this error when building: Error: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'fastapi' How do I fix this?"

Or redirect error file

docker ai "Fix the errors in this build log" < build-error.log

Gordon Limitations

Limitation Notes

Cloud-only features Some features require Docker Desktop Pro/Team

Context awareness Gordon has limited context of your project structure

Complex networking May struggle with advanced networking scenarios

Security scanning Basic scanning only - use dedicated tools for production

Gordon vs Manual Docker

Task Gordon Manual Docker

Simple Dockerfile Faster, optimized More control

Debugging Excellent - analyzes context Requires manual investigation

Learning Great for learning Requires documentation

Production-ready Good, but review manually Full control

Custom requirements May need manual edit Full control

Best Practices with Gordon

• Always review output - Gordon generates good code, but review before saving

• Iterative refinement - Use follow-up prompts to refine Gordon's output

• Test locally - Always test Dockerfiles generated by Gordon

• Version control - Save Gordon's suggestions and iterate

• Learn from Gordon - Understand why Gordon suggests certain patterns

Integration with Other Skills

Combine Gordon with:

• @docker-containerization-builder - Use Gordon for Dockerfile, agent for full setup

• @devops-kubernetes-builder - Gordon helps debug K8s container issues

• @aiops-helm-builder - Use Gordon for chart image optimization

Gordon Troubleshooting

Issue Fix

Gordon not available Update Docker Desktop to 4.53+

"Beta features" missing Sign out and sign in to Docker Desktop

Gordon gives errors Check Docker Desktop logs, try reinstall

Limited functionality Check Docker subscription tier

Example Gordon Workflows

Workflow 1: Generate Dockerfile

Step 1: Ask Gordon

docker ai "Create Dockerfile for Next.js with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS"

Step 2: Save output to file

Copy Gordon's response to Dockerfile

Step 3: Build and test

docker build -t test-image . docker run --rm test-image

Workflow 2: Debug Container Issue

Step 1: Get container logs

docker logs <container-name> > logs.txt

Step 2: Ask Gordon

docker ai "Analyze this log file and tell me what's wrong" < logs.txt

Step 3: Apply fix

Update Dockerfile or code based on Gordon's suggestion

Step 4: Rebuild and test

docker build -t fixed-image . docker run --rm fixed-image

Workflow 3: Optimize Production Image

Step 1: Build initial image

docker build -t todo-backend:latest ./backend

Step 2: Check size

docker images todo-backend

Step 3: Ask Gordon to optimize

docker ai "Reduce the size of this Dockerfile while maintaining all functionality" < backend/Dockerfile

Step 4: Compare

docker build -t todo-backend:optimized ./backend docker images | grep todo-backend

Verification Checklist

After using Gordon:

• Gordon output reviewed and understood

• Generated files are saved with correct names

• Dockerfiles build without errors

• Containers start and run correctly

• Health checks pass

• Services can communicate

• Image size is reasonable

• Security scan shows no critical vulnerabilities

Next Steps

After successful Docker setup with Gordon:

• Test with docker-compose up -d

• Load images to Minikube

• Deploy with Kubernetes manifests

• Convert to Helm charts

References

• Docker AI Documentation

• Docker Desktop Release Notes

• Docker Best Practices

• Phase 4 Constitution

• Phase 4 Plan