Docker Desktop 4.16: Better Performance and Docker Extensions GA

Docker Desktop 4.16 is our first release of the new year and we’re excited to kick off 2023 with a bang. In this release, Docker Extensions moved from beta to GA. The Docker Extensions feature connects the Docker toolchain to your application development and deployment workflows. To make using Docker Extensions easier, we added the ability to search, install, and uninstall extensions right from the search bar. Also, we’re excited to announce that we’ve improved the performance of our image analysis — it’s 4x faster and requires 76% less memory (YAY!).

Let’s check out some highlights from Docker Desktop 4.16.

Docker Extensions now GA

In May 2022, Docker introduced Docker Extensions as a way to connect the Docker toolchain to application development and deployment workflows. And with Docker Desktop 4.16, Docker Extensions and the Docker Extensions SDK are now generally available on all platforms.

The Docker Extensions feature allows you to augment Docker Desktop with debugging, testing, security, networking, and many more functionalities. You can even build custom add-ons using the Extensions SDK.

Since its launch, the Extensions Marketplace has expanded from 15 initial extensions to over 30 — with more on the way. 

To help you get the most out of extensions, we’ve also:

• Improved discoverability with search, categories, listing the number of installs, and more.
• Added the Extensions Marketplace on Docker Hub so you can search extensions and images.
• Created a Build section in Docker Desktop to make it simpler for you to create your own.
• Made sharing new extensions easier with a Share button so you can share your extension with URL.
• And more!

Over the coming months, you can expect new functionality for Docker Extensions and the Docker Extensions SDK.

Performance improvements to image analysis

Now you can analyze an image for vulnerabilities up to 4x faster — and use up to 76% less memory while you do it. Rolling out as part of Docker Desktop 4.16, these performance improvements can make a big difference when you’re dealing with larger (5GB+) images.

To perform an analysis, select any image in the Images tab. You’ll automatically kick off an analysis so you can learn about vulnerabilities in your base images and dependencies.

Thanks to everyone who reached out and worked with us to make these performance improvements. Please keep the feedback coming!

Quick search now GA

In Docker Desktop 4.15, we launched an experimental quick search that brings the Hub experience into your local workflow so you can find, pull, and run any public or private remote images on Hub. We had a great response from the community, and quick search is now GA.

Launch Docker Desktop 4.16, and you’ll find lots of great features to jump right into your work without leaving Docker Desktop.

Search for local containers or compose apps

Now you can quickly find containers or compose apps on your local system. And once you find them, you can perform quick actions right from the search, including start, stop, delete, view logs, or start an interactive terminal session with a running container. You can even get a quick overview of the environment variables. 

Search for public Docker Hub images, local images, and images from remote repositories

Search through all images at your disposal, including Docker Hub and remote repositories, then filter by type to quickly narrow down the results. Depending on the category, you’ll have a variety of different quick actions to choose from:

• Docker Hub public images: Pull the image by tag, run it (which also pulls the image as the first step), view documentation, or go to Docker Hub for more details. 
• Local images: Run a new container using the image and get an overview of which containers use it.
• Remote images: Pull by tag or get quick info, like the last updated date, size, or vulnerabilities. 

Find new extensions easier with quick search

Now when you search in Docker Desktop, Docker Extensions will be included in the search results. From here, you can learn more about the extension and install it with a single click.

Check out the tips in the footer of the search module for more shortcuts and ways to use it. As always, we’d appreciate your feedback on the experience and suggestions for improvement.

Let us know what you think

Thanks for using Docker Desktop! Learn more about what’s in store with our public roadmap on GitHub, and let us know what other features you’d like to see.

Check out the release notes for a full breakdown of what’s new in Docker Desktop 4.16.