---
title: "Mac Docker Desktop"
id: "504"
type: "page"
slug: "mac-docker-desktop"
published_at: "2026-06-02T08:03:01+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-09-21T01:36:28+00:00"
url: "https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop"
markdown_url: "https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop.md"
excerpt: "Docker Desktop for Mac is a graphical application for managing Docker containers. A container is…"
---

# Mac Docker Desktop

[https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop.md](https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop.md)

Don’t want to read all this? Just drop a link to [https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop.md](https://xedant.com/agents/agent/mac-docker-desktop.md)
 or to [https://xedant.com/llms.txt](https://xedant.com/llms.txt)
 into any AI chat (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) and ask it to generate the config files and commands. It will read the docs, ask you a few questions about your setup, and hand you a ready-to-use configuration. Save time — let the model do the reading for you.

 You can also reach me on Telegram — I’m always glad to help. And that’s not just politeness — I genuinely enjoy talking to like-minded people, especially if you love coding as much as I do.

 Docker Desktop for Mac is a graphical application for managing Docker containers. A container is an isolated environment where Xedant Agent runs with all of its tools, scattering nothing across your system: easy to install, easy to remove, easy to replace with a new version. On the Mac, Xedant Agent runs in Docker Desktop just as easily on Apple Silicon computers (M1/M2/M3/M4) as on Intel models.

## Installing Docker Desktop

Download the Docker Desktop installer for Mac from [docker.com](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/)
 — be sure to pick the version for your computer:

- **Apple Silicon** — Mac with an M1/M2/M3/M4 chip: the “Mac with Apple chip” version;
- **Intel** — Mac with an Intel processor: the “Mac with Intel chip” version.

Open the downloaded `.dmg` file and drag Docker into the Applications folder, then launch it from there. macOS may ask permission to install system extensions — confirm in System Settings.

## Setting up the project

Create a folder for your project. Inside it, create a `docker-compose.yml` file following the [Docker Setup guide](/agents/agent/docker)
 — or a `.env` file if you prefer launching with a command. Choose an image — both run on Apple Silicon and Intel alike, with no extra configuration:

- `registry2.xedant.com/agent:latest` — the full development environment (2.8 GB): includes ASP.NET Core and Node.js development tools;
- `registry2.xedant.com/agent-min:latest` — a compact, full-featured image (570 MB) when ASP.NET Core development tools are not needed: Node.js, Python and everything required are already inside.

## Starting Xedant Agent

Open Terminal in the project folder and start the container:

```
# If you use Docker Compose
docker compose up -d

# If you use Docker CLI with a .env file
docker run -d --env-file .env -p 5001:80 -v ./MyProject:/project registry2.xedant.com/agent:latest
```

The running container appears in the Docker Desktop panel — there you can watch its logs, restart and stop the container with the mouse, no command line.

Open a browser and go to `http://localhost:5001` (or the port you set).

**Need special tools?** If your project uses specific languages or tools that are not in the image, you can extend it with your own Dockerfile — how to do that is described in the [Extending the image with your own tools](/agents/agent/docker#wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-extimg)
 section of the Docker Setup guide.

## Useful tips

- **Apple Silicon** — Docker Desktop runs natively on these chips. The images are x86-64, and Docker Desktop on Apple Silicon runs such images through built-in emulation — so the same image works on an M chip and on Intel, with no configuration.
- **Project files** — the project folder is mounted straight into the container. Use paths relative to the current folder, or absolute ones — both work.
- **More power** — memory and CPU allocation for Docker Desktop is configured in Settings → Resources, when your projects need more resources.
- **Start automatically** — enable launching Docker Desktop at login (Settings → General), so your containers are always ready to work.

For the detailed Docker configuration (compose files, environment variables, credentials) see the [Docker Setup guide](/agents/agent/docker)
.