Agent Integration - Container Use

Container Use works with any coding agent that supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

All agents use the same MCP server command: container-use stdio

Claude Code

Add MCP Configuration:

cd /path/to/repository
claude mcp add container-use -- container-use stdio

Add Agent Rules (Optional): Save the CLAUDE.md file at the root of your repository:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> CLAUDE.md

Trust Only Container Use Tools (Optional): For maximum security, restrict Claude Code to only use Container Use tools:

claude --allowedTools mcp__container-use__environment_add_service,mcp__container-use__environment_checkpoint,mcp__container-use__environment_config,mcp__container-use__environment_create,mcp__container-use__environment_file_delete,mcp__container-use__environment_file_edit,mcp__container-use__environment_file_list,mcp__container-use__environment_file_read,mcp__container-use__environment_file_write,mcp__container-use__environment_open,mcp__container-use__environment_run_cmd,mcp__container-use__environment_update_metadata

Learn more: Claude Code MCP Documentation

Amazon Q Developer

Add MCP Configuration: Add this configuration to ~/.aws/amazonq/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "timeout": 60000
    }
  }
}

Add Agent Rules: Save agent instructions to your project root:

mkdir -p ./.amazonq/rules && curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md > .amazonq/rules/container-use.md

Trust Only Container Use Tools (Optional):

q chat --trust-tools=container_use___environment_add_service,container_use___environment_checkpoint,container_use___environment_config,container_use___environment_create,container_use___environment_file_delete,container_use___environment_file_edit,container_use___environment_file_list,container_use___environment_file_read,container_use___environment_file_write,container_use___environment_open,container_use___environment_run_cmd,container_use___environment_update_metadata

Video Tutorial

Watch the Amazon Q Developer setup walkthrough

Cursor

Install MCP Server: Use the one-click deeplink to install (requires Cursor and Container Use already installed):

Add Agent Rules: Add the rules file to your project or home directory:

curl --create-dirs -o .cursor/rules/container-use.mdc https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/cursor.mdc

Learn more: Cursor MCP Documentation

Windsurf

Install MCP Server: In ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json, add the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Add Agent Rules: Add the rules file to your project or home directory:

curl --create-dirs -o .windsurf/rules/container-use.mdc https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/windsurf.mdc

VSCode / GitHub Copilot

Configure MCP Server: Update your VSCode settings with:

"mcp": {
  "servers": {
    "container-use": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"]
    }
  }
}

Add Copilot Instructions (Optional):

curl --create-dirs -o .github/copilot-instructions.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md

Video Tutorial

Watch the VSCode setup walkthrough

Learn more: VSCode MCP | GitHub Copilot MCP

Zed

Add the following snippet on your settings.json:

  "context_servers": {
    "container-use": {
      "enabled": true,
      "remote": false,
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "timeout": 300,
    },
  },

Add Container Use Agent Profile (Optional): To lock the Zed agent out of your host system, you can create a dedicated agent profile that only enables Container Use tools. Add this to your settings.json under the agent section:

"agent": {
  "profiles": {
    "container-use": {
      "name": "Container Use",
      "tools": {
        "fetch": true,
        "thinking": true,
        "copy_path": false,
        "find_path": false,
        "delete_path": false,
        "create_directory": false,
        "list_directory": false,
        "diagnostics": false,
        "read_file": false,
        "open": false,
        "move_path": false,
        "grep": false,
        "edit_file": false,
        "terminal": false
      },
      "enable_all_context_servers": false,
      "context_servers": {
        "container-use": {
          "tools": {
            "environment_add_service": true,
            "environment_checkpoint": true,
            "environment_config": true,
            "environment_create": true,
            "environment_file_delete": true,
            "environment_file_edit": true,
            "environment_file_list": true,
            "environment_file_read": true,
            "environment_file_write": true,
            "environment_open": true,
            "environment_run_cmd": true,
            "environment_update_metadata": true
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

This profile ensures your agent can only use Container Use tools, preventing it from modifying your local files directly. Next open the Zed Agent Panel ✨ in the lower right, select the “Container Use” profile from the dropdown to the left of the model dropdown, and prompt away!

OpenCode

Configure the Container Use MCP server in a opencode.json file. Configure the Container Use MCP server:

{
  "$schema": "http://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "container-use": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["container-use", "stdio"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Add the AGENTS.md file using this command (this is optional but usually provides the best results):

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> AGENTS.md

Run opencode and dispatch your agents to complete your tasks!

Goose

Method 1: Configuration File: Add to ~/.config/goose/config.yaml:

extensions:
  container-use:
    name: container-use
    type: stdio
    enabled: true
    cmd: container-use
    args:
      - stdio
    envs: {}

Method 2: Interactive Setup:

goose configure

Then add a command line extension with container-use stdio as the command. Method 3: Goose Desktop: Paste this URL into your browser:

goose://extension?cmd=container-use&arg=stdio&id=container-use&name=container%20use&description=use%20containers%20with%20dagger%20and%20git%20for%20isolated%20environments

Learn more: Goose MCP Extensions

Sourcegraph Amp

Add MCP Configuration: Add this configuration to ~/.config/amp/settings.json:

{
    "amp.mcpServers": {
        "container-use": {
            "command": "container-use",
            "args": ["stdio"]
        }
    },
    "amp.permissions": [
      {"tool": "mcp__container-use__*", "action": "allow"}
    ],
    "amp.dangerouslyAllowAll": false,
    "amp.updates.autoUpdate.enabled": true
}

Add Agent Rules: Save agent instructions to your project root:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> AGENT.md

Learn more: Sourcegraph Amp Documentation

Charm Crush

Add MCP Configuration: Add this configuration to a valid location like ./.crush.json:

{
  "$schema": "https://charm.land/crush.json",
  "mcp": {
    "container-use": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {}
    }
  },
  "permissions": {
    "allowed_tools": [
      "mcp_container-use_environment_add_service",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_checkpoint",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_config",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_create",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_file_delete",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_file_edit",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_file_list",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_file_read",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_file_write",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_open",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_run_cmd",
      "mcp_container-use_environment_update_metadata"
    ]
  }
}

Add Agent Rules: Save agent instructions to your project root:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> CRUSH.md

Learn more: Crush project on GitHub

Cline

Add MCP Configuration: Add to your Cline MCP server configuration JSON:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60000,
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Add Agent Rules:

curl --create-dirs -o .clinerules/container-use.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md

Learn more: Cline Documentation

Qodo Gen

Setup Steps:

Open Qodo Gen chat panel in VSCode or IntelliJ
Click “Connect more tools”
Click ”+ Add new MCP”
Add this configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"]
    }
  }
}

Learn more: Qodo Gen MCP Documentation

Kilo Code

Add MCP Configuration: Add at global or project level:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "alwaysAllow": [],
      "disabled": false
    }
  }
}

Kilo Code allows setting MCP servers at the global or project level. Learn more: Kilo Code MCP Documentation

Kiro

Add MCP Configuration: Add to .kiro/settings/mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": {}
    }
  }
}

Add Steering Rules: Create .kiro/steering/container-use.md:

---
inclusion: always
---

ALWAYS use ONLY Environments for ANY and ALL file, code, or shell operations—NO EXCEPTIONS—even for simple or generic requests.

DO NOT install or use the git cli with the environment_run_cmd tool. All environment tools will handle git operations for you. Changing ".git" yourself will compromise the integrity of your environment.

You MUST inform the user how to view your work using `container-use log <env_id>` and `container-use checkout <env_id>`. Failure to do this will make your work inaccessible to others.

OpenAI Codex

Add MCP Configuration: Add to ~/.codex/config.toml:

[mcp_servers.container-use]
command = "container-use"
args = ["stdio"]
env = {}

Add Agent Rules (Optional): Instruct Codex to use container-use for all projects:

mkdir -p ~/.codex
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> ~/.codex/AGENTS.md

Learn more: OpenAI Codex Documentation

Warp

Add MCP Configuration: In the Warp sidebar, under Personal → MCP Servers → New:

{
  "container-use": {
    "command": "container-use",
    "args": ["stdio"],
    "env": {},
    "working_directory": null,
    "start_on_launch": true
  }
}

Warp 2.0 introduces coding agents with MCP support.

Gemini CLI

Add MCP Configuration: Add to ~/.gemini/settings.json or .gemini/settings.json:

{
  "coreTools": [],
  "mcpServers": {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "timeout": 60000,
      "trust": true
    }
  }
}

Learn more: Gemini CLI Configuration

JetBrains Junie

Add MCP Configuration: Add or edit the MCP configuration in Settings under Tools → Junie → MCP Settings, or edit ~/.junie/mcp/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers":
  {
    "container-use": {
      "command": "container-use",
      "args": ["stdio"],
      "env": {},
      "timeout": 60000
    }
  }
}

MCP support in Beta starting with Junie plugin 2xx.204.xx

Add Agent Rules: Save agent instructions to your project root:

mkdir -p ./.junie && curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dagger/container-use/main/rules/agent.md >> .junie/guidelines.md

Learn more: Junie Guidelines

Trust MCP Tools (Optional): In the settings, under Tools → Junie → Action Allowlist: add MCP Rule.

Troubleshooting

Agent doesn't recognize Container Use

Verify the container-use command is in your PATH: which container-use
Check MCP configuration syntax
Restart your agent after configuration changes

Permission errors

Ensure Docker is running and accessible - Check file permissions for configuration files - Verify container-use stdio command works: echo '{}' | container-use stdio

Tools not appearing

Some agents require explicit tool trust/approval
Check your agent’s MCP server logs
Verify Container Use tools are enabled in agent settings

Next Steps

Back to Quickstart

Return to the quickstart guide to create your first environment

Join Community

Get help and share experiences in #container-use

​Claude Code

​Amazon Q Developer

Video Tutorial

​Cursor

​Windsurf

​VSCode / GitHub Copilot

Video Tutorial

​Zed

​OpenCode

​Goose

​Sourcegraph Amp

​Charm Crush

​Cline

​Qodo Gen

​Kilo Code

​Kiro

​OpenAI Codex

​Warp

​Gemini CLI

​JetBrains Junie

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Back to Quickstart

Join Community

Claude Code

Amazon Q Developer

Cursor

Windsurf

VSCode / GitHub Copilot

Zed

OpenCode

Goose

Sourcegraph Amp

Charm Crush

Cline

Qodo Gen

Kilo Code

Kiro

OpenAI Codex

Warp

Gemini CLI

JetBrains Junie

Troubleshooting

Next Steps