How to integrate Docker hub MCP with CrewAI

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Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting Docker hub to CrewAI using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Docker hub agent that can create a new docker hub repository, add a member to my docker organization, delete an old image from a repository, set up a webhook for repository updates through natural language commands.

This guide will help you understand how to give your CrewAI agent real control over a Docker hub account through Composio's Docker hub MCP server.

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
  • Get a Composio API key and configure your Docker hub connection
  • Set up CrewAI with an MCP enabled agent
  • Create a Tool Router session or standalone MCP server for Docker hub
  • Build a conversational loop where your agent can execute Docker hub operations

What is CrewAI?

CrewAI is a powerful framework for building multi-agent AI systems. It provides primitives for defining agents with specific roles, creating tasks, and orchestrating workflows through crews.

Key features include:

  • Agent Roles: Define specialized agents with specific goals and backstories
  • Task Management: Create tasks with clear descriptions and expected outputs
  • Crew Orchestration: Combine agents and tasks into collaborative workflows
  • MCP Integration: Connect to external tools through Model Context Protocol

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.

Supported Tools & Triggers

Tools
Add Organization MemberTool to send an invitation for a user to join a Docker Hub organization.
Create Docker Hub OrganizationTool to create a Docker Hub organization.
Create Docker Hub RepositoryTool to create a Docker Hub repository under a namespace.
Create Docker Hub WebhookTool to create a webhook on a Docker Hub repository.
Delete Repository ImageTool to delete a specific image within a Docker Hub repository.
Delete Docker Hub OrganizationTool to delete a specific Docker Hub organization.
Delete Docker Hub RepositoryTool to delete a specific Docker Hub repository.
Delete Repository TagTool to delete a specific tag from a Docker Hub repository.
Delete Docker Hub TeamTool to delete a specific team from an organization.
Delete Docker Hub repository webhookTool to delete a specific webhook from a repository.
Get Docker Hub ImageTool to retrieve detailed information about a specific image within a Docker Hub repository.
Get Organization DetailsTool to retrieve details of a specific organization namespace.
Get Docker Hub RepositoryTool to retrieve details of a specific Docker Hub repository.
Get Docker Hub TagTool to retrieve details of a specific Docker Hub repository tag.
Get Docker Hub TeamTool to retrieve a specific Docker Hub team.
Get Docker Hub WebhookTool to retrieve details of a specific Docker Hub webhook.
List Repository ImagesTool to list image variants for a specific Docker Hub repository.
List Docker Hub OrganizationsTool to list organizations (namespaces) for the authenticated user.
List Docker Hub Organization MembersTool to list members of a Docker Hub organization.
List Docker Hub RepositoriesTool to list repositories under a namespace.
List Repository TagsTool to list tags for a Docker Hub repository.
List Team MembersTool to list members of a Docker Hub team.
List Organization TeamsTool to list teams in a specific organization.
List Docker Hub repository webhooksTool to list webhooks for a Docker Hub repository.
Remove Organization MemberTool to remove a user from a Docker Hub organization.
Remove Team MemberTool to remove a user from a Docker Hub team.

What is the Composio tool router, and how does it fit here?

What is Tool Router?

Composio's Tool Router helps agents find the right tools for a task at runtime. You can plug in multiple toolkits (like Gmail, HubSpot, and GitHub), and the agent will identify the relevant app and action to complete multi-step workflows. This can reduce token usage and improve the reliability of tool calls. Read more here: Getting started with Tool Router

The tool router generates a secure MCP URL that your agents can access to perform actions.

How the Tool Router works

The Tool Router 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

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Python 3.9 or higher
  • A Composio account and API key
  • A Docker hub connection authorized in Composio
  • An OpenAI API key for the CrewAI LLM
  • Basic familiarity with Python

Getting API Keys for OpenAI and Composio

OpenAI API Key
  • Go to the OpenAI dashboard and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models, or you can connect to another model provider.
  • Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key
  • Log in to the Composio dashboard.
  • Navigate to your API settings and generate a new API key.
  • Store this key securely as you'll need it for authentication.

Install dependencies

bash
pip install composio crewai crewai-tools python-dotenv
What's happening:
  • composio connects your agent to Docker hub via MCP
  • crewai provides Agent, Task, Crew, and LLM primitives
  • crewai-tools includes MCP helpers
  • python-dotenv loads environment variables from .env

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

Create a .env file in your project root.

What's happening:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio
  • USER_ID scopes the session to your account
  • OPENAI_API_KEY lets CrewAI use your chosen OpenAI model

Import dependencies

python
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, LLM
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter  # optional import if you plan to adapt tools
from composio import Composio
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os
from crewai.mcp import MCPServerHTTP

load_dotenv()
What's happening:
  • CrewAI classes define agents and tasks, and run the workflow
  • MCPServerHTTP connects the agent to an MCP endpoint
  • Composio will give you a short lived Docker hub MCP URL

Create a Composio Tool Router session for Docker hub

python
composio = Composio(api_key=os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY"))
session = composio.create(
    user_id=os.getenv("USER_ID"),
    toolkits=["docker_hub"],
)
url = session.mcp.url
What's happening:
  • You create a Docker hub only session through Composio
  • Composio returns an MCP HTTP URL that exposes Docker hub tools

Configure the LLM

python
llm = LLM(
    model="gpt-5-mini",
    api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
)
What's happening:
  • CrewAI will call this LLM for planning and responses
  • You can swap in a different model if needed

Attach the MCP server and create the agent

python
toolkit_agent = Agent(
    role="Docker hub Assistant",
    goal="Help users interact with Docker hub through natural language commands",
    backstory=(
        "You are an expert assistant with access to Docker hub tools. "
        "You can perform various Docker hub operations on behalf of the user."
    ),
    mcps=[
        MCPServerHTTP(
            url=url,
            streamable=True,
            cache_tools_list=True,
            headers={"x-api-key": os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")},
        ),
    ],
    llm=llm,
    verbose=True,
    max_iter=10,
)
What's happening:
  • MCPServerHTTP connects the agent to the Docker hub MCP endpoint
  • cache_tools_list saves a tools catalog for faster subsequent runs
  • verbose helps you see what the agent is doing

Add a REPL loop with Task and Crew

python
print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end.\n")
print("Try asking the agent to perform Docker hub operations.\n")

conversation_context = ""

while True:
    user_input = input("You: ").strip()

    if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
        print("\nGoodbye!")
        break

    if not user_input:
        continue

    conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
    print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

    task = Task(
        description=(
            f"Based on the conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
            f"Current user request: {user_input}\n\n"
            f"Please help the user with their Docker hub related request."
        ),
        expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
        agent=toolkit_agent,
    )

    crew = Crew(
        agents=[toolkit_agent],
        tasks=[task],
        verbose=False,
    )

    result = crew.kickoff()
    response = str(result)

    conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
    print(f"Agent: {response}\n")
What's happening:
  • You build a simple chat loop and keep a running context
  • Each user turn becomes a Task handled by the same agent
  • Crew executes the task and returns a response

Run the application

python
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
What's happening:
  • Standard Python entry point so you can run python crewai_docker_hub_agent.py

Complete Code

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

python
# file: crewai_docker_hub_agent.py
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, LLM
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter  # optional
from composio import Composio
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os
from crewai.mcp import MCPServerHTTP

load_dotenv()

def main():
    # Initialize Composio and create a Docker hub session
    composio = Composio(api_key=os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY"))
    session = composio.create(
        user_id=os.getenv("USER_ID"),
        toolkits=["docker_hub"],
    )
    url = session.mcp.url

    # Configure LLM
    llm = LLM(
        model="gpt-5-mini",
        api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
    )

    # Create Docker hub assistant agent
    toolkit_agent = Agent(
        role="Docker hub Assistant",
        goal="Help users interact with Docker hub through natural language commands",
        backstory=(
            "You are an expert assistant with access to Docker hub tools. "
            "You can perform various Docker hub operations on behalf of the user."
        ),
        mcps=[
            MCPServerHTTP(
                url=url,
                streamable=True,
                cache_tools_list=True,
                headers={"x-api-key": os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")},
            ),
        ],
        llm=llm,
        verbose=True,
        max_iter=10,
    )

    print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end the conversation.\n")
    print("Try asking the agent to perform Docker hub operations.\n")

    conversation_context = ""

    while True:
        user_input = input("You: ").strip()

        if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
            print("\nGoodbye!")
            break

        if not user_input:
            continue

        conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
        print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

        task = Task(
            description=(
                f"Based on the conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
                f"Current user request: {user_input}\n\n"
                f"Please help the user with their Docker hub related request."
            ),
            expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
            agent=toolkit_agent,
        )

        crew = Crew(
            agents=[toolkit_agent],
            tasks=[task],
            verbose=False,
        )

        result = crew.kickoff()
        response = str(result)

        conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
        print(f"Agent: {response}\n")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Conclusion

You now have a CrewAI agent connected to Docker hub through Composio's Tool Router. The agent can perform Docker hub operations through natural language commands. Next steps:
  • Add role-specific instructions to customize agent behavior
  • Plug in more toolkits for multi-app workflows
  • Chain tasks for complex multi-step operations

How to build Docker hub MCP Agent with another framework

OpenAI Agents SDK

OpenAI Agents SDK

Use Docker hub MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK

Claude Agent SDK

Claude Agent SDK

Use Docker hub MCP with Claude Agent SDK

Google ADK

Google ADK

Use Docker hub MCP with Google ADK

LangChain

LangChain

Use Docker hub MCP with LangChain

Vercel AI SDK

Vercel AI SDK

Use Docker hub MCP with Vercel AI SDK

Mastra AI

Mastra AI

Use Docker hub MCP with Mastra AI

LlamaIndex

LlamaIndex

Use Docker hub MCP with LlamaIndex

FAQ

What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and Docker hub MCP?

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.

Can I use Tool Router MCP with CrewAI?

Yes, you can. CrewAI 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.

Can I manage the permissions and scopes for Docker hub while using Tool Router?

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.

How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

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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