Agents > Xedant Agent > Windows Docker Desktop

Windows Docker Desktop

Don’t want to read all this?

Just drop a link to https://xedant.com/agents/agent/windows-docker-desktop.md or to 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 is a graphical application for managing Docker containers on Windows. A container is an isolated environment where the app runs with its own tools and settings, scattering nothing across your system. Docker Desktop takes care of the routine: starting, stopping and viewing containers in an interface, with no command line. It is the simplest way to run Xedant Agent on Windows.

Installing Docker Desktop

Download Docker Desktop for Windows from docker.com and run the installer. From there it is simple:

  • during installation, enable WSL 2 — containers run faster that way;
  • restart the computer when prompted;
  • after the restart, Docker Desktop starts on its own.

Configuring Docker Desktop

Open Docker Desktop settings (the gear icon) and make sure WSL 2 is enabled:

  • General — the “Use the WSL 2 based engine” checkbox must be on;
  • Resources → WSL Integration — enable integration for your Linux distributions.

Setting up the project

Create a folder for your project. Inside it, create a docker-compose.yml file following the Docker Setup guide — or a .env file if you prefer launching with a command. Choose an image — a ready-made bundle of Xedant Agent with tools:

  • 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 a terminal (PowerShell, Command Prompt or WSL) 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 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 section of the Docker Setup guide.

Useful tips

  • What Docker Desktop runs on — on Windows it uses WSL 2 for better performance. If WSL 2 is not installed yet, the app offers to install it during setup.
  • Where to keep project files — for Docker speed, keep them in the WSL filesystem rather than on Windows drives. WSL files are reachable from Explorer through \\wsl$\.
  • The port won’t open — WSL 2 forwards ports into Windows on its own, but if localhost does not work, get the WSL IP address with hostname -I inside WSL and open the address with that IP.
  • More power — memory and CPU allocation for Docker Desktop is configured in Settings → Resources, when your projects need more resources.

For the detailed Docker configuration (compose files, environment variables, credentials) see the Docker Setup guide. To install through the native Windows installer, see the Windows Setup guide. To run Docker in WSL without Docker Desktop, see the WSL Setup guide.