docker-mcp

What this skill does

# Docker MCP Dynamic Tools Skill

This skill provides expert guidance on using Docker MCP Toolkit's Dynamic MCP capabilities to discover and add MCP servers on-demand during conversations.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:
- User mentions "MCP", "mcp", "MCP server", or "dynamic tools"
- You need database access (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, etc.)
- You need Git/Cloud services (GitHub, GitLab, AWS, Cloudflare, etc.)
- You need web scraping or API integration (Apify, OpenAPI, etc.)
- You need specialized tools beyond base capabilities
- User asks about available integrations or external services

## What is Dynamic MCP?

Dynamic MCP enables AI agents to discover and add MCP servers on-demand during conversations, without manual pre-configuration. Instead of pre-configuring every MCP server before starting a session, you can search the MCP Catalog (~170 servers) and add servers as needed.

**Key Benefits:**
- ✅ **No pre-configuration needed** - Add servers during conversation
- ✅ **~170 official Docker servers** - All built, signed, and maintained by Docker
- ✅ **Containerized & secure** - Servers run in isolated containers
- ✅ **Session-scoped** - Added servers last for current conversation
- ✅ **Just-in-time capabilities** - Only load what you need

## Available Management Tools

When connected to MCP Gateway, you have access to these primordial tools:

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `mcp-find` | Search for MCP servers in catalog by name or description |
| `mcp-add` | Add a new MCP server to current session |
| `mcp-config-set` | Configure settings for an MCP server |
| `mcp-remove` | Remove an MCP server from session |
| `mcp-exec` | Execute a tool by name that exists in current session |
| `code-mode` | Create JavaScript tool combining multiple MCP servers (experimental) |

## Basic Workflow

### 1. Search for Servers

```typescript
// Search using descriptive terms
mcp-find query="postgres" limit=10
mcp-find query="github" limit=5
mcp-find query="database" limit=20

// Common search terms:
// - Databases: "database", "postgres", "mysql", "sqlite", "mongo", "redis"
// - Git: "git", "github", "gitlab"
// - Cloud: "cloud", "aws", "cloudflare", "azure", "gcp"
// - APIs: "api", "openapi", "rest"
// - Web: "web", "scraping", "browser", "fetch"
```

**Important:**
- `query` parameter is **required** (can't list all servers)
- Server names are **case-sensitive**
- Results include `required_secrets` and `config_schema` info

### 2. Check Requirements

Look at search results for:
- **`required_secrets`**: API keys, tokens, connection strings needed
- **`config_schema`**: Additional configuration requirements
- **`description`**: What the server does

### 3. Add Server to Session

```typescript
// Add server (case-sensitive name from search)
mcp-add name="SQLite" activate=false

// Server is immediately available
// Tools appear in your tool list
```

### 4. Configure (If Needed)

```typescript
// Only for servers with config_schema
mcp-config-set server="postgres" key="url" value="postgresql://..."

// Secrets handled separately by Docker
// Docker will prompt user for required secrets
```

### 5. Use the Tools

After adding, tools are immediately available. Use them directly in conversation.

## Real-World Examples

### Example 1: SQLite Database

```typescript
// User asks: "Can you query my SQLite database?"

// 1. Find SQLite servers
mcp-find query="sqlite" limit=3
// Returns: SQLite, sqlite-mcp-server, simplechecklist

// 2. Add the simple one
mcp-add name="SQLite"
// Adds 6 tools: read_query, write_query, create_table,
//                list_tables, describe_table, append_insight

// 3. Use tools
// "read_query" - Execute SELECT queries
// "write_query" - INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
// "create_table" - Create tables
// "list_tables" - See all tables
// "describe_table" - Get table schema
```

### Example 2: GitHub Integration

```typescript
// User asks: "Create a GitHub issue for this bug"

// 1. Find GitHub servers
mcp-find query="github" limit=5
// Returns: github, github-chat, github-official, deepwiki, hoverfly-mcp-server

// 2. Add GitHub server
mcp-add name="github"
// Requires: github.personal_access_token secret
// Docker will prompt user for token

// 3. Use GitHub tools
// Now have: create_issue, search_repos, read_file, etc.
```

### Example 3: PostgreSQL Database

```typescript
// User asks: "Connect to my Postgres database"

// 1. Find Postgres servers
mcp-find query="postgres" limit=5
// Returns: postgres, prisma-postgres, dreamfactory-mcp, database-server

// 2. Add Postgres server
mcp-add name="postgres"
// Requires: postgres.url secret (connection string)

// 3. Use tools
// Read-only access: schema inspection, SELECT queries
// Security: No write access by default
```

### Example 4: Multi-Server Workflow

```typescript
// User asks: "Scrape a website and store results in database"

// 1. Add web scraping
mcp-find query="scraping" limit=5
mcp-add name="apify"

// 2. Add database
mcp-find query="sqlite" limit=3
mcp-add name="SQLite"

// 3. Use both
// Scrape with Apify tools → Store with SQLite tools
```

## Common Server Categories

### Databases (20+ servers)
- **postgres** - Read-only PostgreSQL access
- **mysql** - MySQL database operations
- **SQLite** - SQLite database with BI capabilities
- **mongodb** - MongoDB operations
- **redis** - Redis key-value store
- **neo4j-memory** - Graph database for persistent memory
- **database-server** - Multi-database (SQLite, Postgres, MySQL)

### Git & Version Control (5+ servers)
- **git** - Git repository automation
- **github** - GitHub API integration
- **gitlab** - GitLab API integration
- **gitmcp** - Git repository tools

### Cloud Platforms (15+ servers)
- **aws-api** - Comprehensive AWS API support
- **cloudflare-workers** - Cloudflare Workers development
- **cloudflare-browser-rendering** - Browser automation
- **gcp** - Google Cloud Platform tools

### Web & APIs (15+ servers)
- **apify** - Web scraping marketplace
- **openapi** - OpenAPI/Swagger spec tools
- **mcp-api-gateway** - Universal API integration
- **cloudflare-browser-rendering** - Browser automation

### Document Processing (5+ servers)
- **gemini-document-processing** - PDF analysis with Gemini
- **gemini-vision** - Image understanding
- **gemini-audio** - Audio transcription/TTS

### Development Tools (10+ servers)
- **schemacrawler-ai** - Database schema documentation
- **instant** - Real-time, offline-first database
- **neon** - Serverless Postgres

## Important Notes

### Session Scope
- ✅ Added servers only last for current conversation
- ✅ Start fresh session = no servers active
- ✅ Can add same servers again anytime

### Security Model
- ✅ All servers are official Docker-built images
- ✅ Servers run in isolated containers
- ✅ Restricted resources and privileges
- ✅ Credentials managed securely by gateway
- ✅ Code mode (experimental) runs in isolated sandbox

### Best Practices

1. **Search first, add second**
   - Always search to see what's available
   - Check requirements before adding
   - Choose the right server for your needs

2. **Case-sensitive names**
   - Use exact name from `mcp-find` results
   - "SQLite" ≠ "sqlite"

3. **Handle secrets gracefully**
   - Servers with `required_secrets` need credentials
   - Docker will prompt user securely
   - Never hardcode secrets

4. **Prefer MCP over manual**
   - If MCP server exists, use it
   - Don't ask user to install tools manually
   - More secure and reliable

5. **Remove when done**
   ```typescript
   mcp-remove name="SQLite"  // Clean up
   ```

6. **Check for errors**
   - Some servers need configuration
   - Read error messages carefully
   - Use `mcp-config-set` when needed

## Troubleshooting

### "Server not found"
- Check spelling (case-sensitive)
- Search again: `mcp-find query="term"`
- Verify server name from search results

### "Required secrets missing"
- Server needs API keys/tokens
- Docker wi