Podman MCP Server
Multi-runtime MCP for Podman and Docker. Auto-detects runtime: Podman REST API via Unix socket preferred, Docker CLI fallback. Apache-2.0, triple distribution (npm, PyPI, binaries), three transport modes. Maintained by Marc Nuri (also operates containers/kubernetes-mcp-server (1,500 stars, top-ranked Kubernetes MCP in our directory)).
“Replacement for ckreiling/mcp-server-docker (last commit June 2025). Handles both Podman and Docker via a unified runtime API plus CLI fallback, ships binaries to npm and PyPI, and is built by Marc Nuri (also maintainer of containers/kubernetes-mcp-server, the highest-ranked Kubernetes MCP in our directory at 1,500 stars). Pick this when you want a container-runtime MCP server under Apache-2.0 licensing for redistribution. Auto-detects runtime: Podman REST API via Unix socket first, Docker CLI fallback. Three transport modes: stdio (default), HTTP at /mcp plus SSE at /sse, legacy SSE-only.”
INSTALL THIS SERVER
{
"mcpServers": {
"podman": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"podman-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"podman": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"podman-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"podman": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"podman-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"podman": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"podman-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"podman": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"podman-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
8 SELECTED TOOLS
OUR ASSESSMENT
Multi-runtime container MCP for Podman and Docker. Apache-2.0 licensed, distributed via npm `podman-mcp-server`, PyPI, and binary releases. 70 GitHub stars, 17 forks. Latest release v0.0.15 (2026-02-27), 15 releases shipped, 3 commits on main in the last 30 days. Maintainer Marc Nuri operates containers/kubernetes-mcp-server (1,500 stars, top-ranked Kubernetes MCP in our directory) (already in our directory) and Goose CLI. mcp-name registered: io.github.manusa/podman-mcp-server.
- Apache-2.0 licence; friction-free for redistribution.
- Multi-runtime: Podman REST API (preferred via Unix socket) with Docker CLI fallback. Auto-detects.
- Triple distribution: npm `podman-mcp-server`, PyPI, binary releases.
- Active maintenance: 15 releases in 14 months, 3 commits on main in the last 30 days.
- Three transport modes documented: stdio (default), HTTP (Streamable HTTP at /mcp plus SSE at /sse), legacy SSE-only.
- Compact tool surface organised around containers, images, networks, volumes.
- VS Code one-click install URL provided.
- `mcp-name: io.github.manusa/podman-mcp-server` registered for canonical addressing.
- Maintainer (Marc Nuri) operates containers/kubernetes-mcp-server (1,500 stars, top-ranked Kubernetes MCP in our directory) and Goose CLI; established Red Hat-aligned open-source track record.
- Lower star count (70) reflects newer status relative to the stale-but-popular ckreiling/Docker alternative (708 stars).
- Tool surface is narrower than ckreiling: no `docker_compose` natural-language prompt yet (Epic #75 "Evaluation Framework" is the active workstream).
- No `exec` tool yet (#109 feature request); limits "shell into container" agent flows.
- Multi-engine support (#102 Epic) is signalled as roadmap intent and remains a backlog item.
- Single-maintainer governance, mitigated by maintainer broader open-source track record.
The server inherits permissions from the local Podman or Docker socket. Run with the lowest-privileged container-runtime user available. HTTP mode binds to --port; expose only via a reverse proxy with TLS termination and authentication middleware. Stdio mode is the default and the safest for local-host operation.
Developers and platform teams running Podman locally (or Docker as fallback), Apache-2.0-only enterprise environments where the legacy GPL-3.0 ckreiling alternative was a blocker, and VS Code users wanting a one-click MCP install for container runtimes.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
RECORDED ADOPTION METRICS
Saved directory snapshots. Record last checked MAY 1, 2026. The review date above does not refresh these figures.
// Recorded note70 stars and 17 forks. Editorial weight is the Apache-2.0 licence (vs GPL-3.0 alternatives) and maintainer credibility (operates containers/kubernetes-mcp-server (1,500 stars, top-ranked Kubernetes MCP in our directory)).
// Recorded noteNinth-ranked in infrastructure. Direct replacement for the stale ckreiling/mcp-server-docker; pair with kubectl-mcp-server or AKS for full container-to-cluster workflows.
SOURCES & RECORDED CHECKS
These are the directory listings and check details held in this record. Client compatibility, directory listings and installation testing are separate signals. Recorded client names describe the scope of a check; they do not establish a security assessment or a recurring test schedule.
The same server, 5 different lenses. We reconcile these signals into our editorial score, which is why our number sometimes diverges from a directory-aggregate star count.
| Source | Their rating | Their star count | Their downloads | Last synced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutomationSwitch This page | 3.8editorial | 70 | — | MAY 1, 2026 |
| PulseMCP | — unrated | unavailable | unavailable | MAY 1, 2026 |
| MCP.so | — unrated | unavailable | unavailable | MAY 1, 2026 |
| Glama | — unrated | unavailable | unavailable | MAY 1, 2026 |
| Smithery | — unrated | unavailable | unavailable | MAY 1, 2026 |
| Official MCP Registry | — unrated | unavailable | unavailable | MAY 1, 2026 |
// Counts are directory-reported; we don't adjust them. Discrepancies usually come from different snapshot times or star-caching.
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