How to use the Docker Desktop Extensions mechanism to create custom plugins and extend the interface?

Docker Desktop Extensions provide developers with a powerful tool for integrating third-party tools directly into the graphical container management interface. Creating a custom extension allows automating routine operations, adding new monitoring panels, or simplifying the deployment of specific services for the entire development team.

To create a basic extension, the Docker CLI command-line tool is used, which generates the initial project structure. The development process involves creating a frontend part using modern web technologies such as React or Vue, and a backend component that can be written in any programming language and packaged as a standard Docker container.

The extension interface interacts with the host system and the Docker daemon via a special API provided by Docker Desktop. This allows executing commands, managing containers, networks, and volumes directly from the plugin's graphical shell, ensuring a seamless user experience without the need to constantly switch between the terminal and the graphical interface.

Once development is complete, the plugin can be packaged into a single image and published on Docker Hub or distributed within the company via private registries. Installing the extension locally is done with one simple command through the terminal, after which it automatically integrates into the Docker Desktop sidebar menu and becomes available to all workstation users.