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56 changes: 29 additions & 27 deletions docs/commands.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -30,21 +30,22 @@ agentcore create --name MyProject --no-agent
agentcore create --name MyProject --defaults --dry-run
```

| Flag | Description |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--name <name>` | Project name (alphanumeric, max 23 chars) |
| `--defaults` | Use defaults (Python, Strands, Bedrock, no memory) |
| `--no-agent` | Skip agent creation |
| `--language <lang>` | `Python` or `TypeScript` |
| `--framework <fw>` | `Strands`, `LangChain_LangGraph`, `GoogleADK`, `OpenAIAgents` |
| `--model-provider <p>` | `Bedrock`, `Anthropic`, `OpenAI`, `Gemini` |
| `--api-key <key>` | API key for non-Bedrock providers |
| `--memory <opt>` | `none`, `shortTerm`, `longAndShortTerm` |
| `--output-dir <dir>` | Output directory |
| `--skip-git` | Skip git initialization |
| `--skip-python-setup` | Skip venv setup |
| `--dry-run` | Preview without creating |
| `--json` | JSON output |
| Flag | Description |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--name <name>` | Project name (alphanumeric, max 23 chars) |
| `--defaults` | Use defaults (Python, Strands, Bedrock, no memory) |
| `--no-agent` | Skip agent creation |
| `--language <lang>` | `Python` or `TypeScript` |
| `--framework <fw>` | `Strands`, `LangChain_LangGraph`, `GoogleADK`, `OpenAIAgents` |
| `--model-provider <p>` | `Bedrock`, `Anthropic`, `OpenAI`, `Gemini` |
| `--build <type>` | `CodeZip` (default) or `Container` (see [Container Builds](container-builds.md)) |
| `--api-key <key>` | API key for non-Bedrock providers |
| `--memory <opt>` | `none`, `shortTerm`, `longAndShortTerm` |
| `--output-dir <dir>` | Output directory |
| `--skip-git` | Skip git initialization |
| `--skip-python-setup` | Skip venv setup |
| `--dry-run` | Preview without creating |
| `--json` | JSON output |

### deploy

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -117,18 +118,19 @@ agentcore add agent \
--model-provider Bedrock
```

| Flag | Description |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------- |
| `--name <name>` | Agent name |
| `--type <type>` | `create` (default) or `byo` |
| `--language <lang>` | `Python`, `TypeScript`, `Other` (BYO) |
| `--framework <fw>` | Agent framework |
| `--model-provider <p>` | Model provider |
| `--api-key <key>` | API key for non-Bedrock |
| `--memory <opt>` | Memory option (create only) |
| `--code-location <path>` | Code path (BYO only) |
| `--entrypoint <file>` | Entry file (BYO only) |
| `--json` | JSON output |
| Flag | Description |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--name <name>` | Agent name |
| `--type <type>` | `create` (default) or `byo` |
| `--build <type>` | `CodeZip` (default) or `Container` (see [Container Builds](container-builds.md)) |
| `--language <lang>` | `Python`, `TypeScript`, `Other` (BYO) |
| `--framework <fw>` | Agent framework |
| `--model-provider <p>` | Model provider |
| `--api-key <key>` | API key for non-Bedrock |
| `--memory <opt>` | Memory option (create only) |
| `--code-location <path>` | Code path (BYO only) |
| `--entrypoint <file>` | Entry file (BYO only) |
| `--json` | JSON output |

### add memory

Expand Down
104 changes: 104 additions & 0 deletions docs/container-builds.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
# Container Builds

Container builds package your agent as a Docker container image instead of a code ZIP. Use containers when you need
system-level dependencies, custom native libraries, or full control over the runtime environment.

## Prerequisites

A container runtime is required for local development (`agentcore dev`) and packaging (`agentcore package`). Supported
runtimes:

1. [Docker](https://docker.com)
2. [Podman](https://podman.io)
3. [Finch](https://runfinch.com)

The CLI auto-detects the first working runtime in the order listed above. If multiple are installed, the
highest-priority one wins.

> A local runtime is **not** required for `agentcore deploy` — AWS CodeBuild builds the image remotely.

## Getting Started

```bash
# New project with container build
agentcore create --name MyProject --build Container

# Add container agent to existing project
agentcore add agent --name MyAgent --build Container --framework Strands --model-provider Bedrock
```

Both commands generate a `Dockerfile` and `.dockerignore` in the agent's code directory:

```
app/MyAgent/
├── Dockerfile
├── .dockerignore
├── pyproject.toml
└── main.py
```

## Generated Dockerfile

The template uses `ghcr.io/astral-sh/uv:python3.12-bookworm-slim` as the base image with these design choices:

- **Layer caching**: Dependencies (`pyproject.toml`) are installed before copying application code
- **Non-root**: Runs as `bedrock_agentcore` (UID 1000)
- **Observability**: Default CMD wraps the agent with `opentelemetry-instrument`
- **Fast installs**: Uses `uv pip install` for dependency resolution

You can customize the Dockerfile freely — add system packages, change the base image, or use multi-stage builds.

## Configuration

In `agentcore.json`, set `"build": "Container"`:

```json
{
Comment on lines +53 to +56
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If they do this for an existing Agent, they'll need a Dockerfile too right?

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@notgitika notgitika Feb 18, 2026

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yes. good point. added a note

"type": "AgentCoreRuntime",
"name": "MyAgent",
"build": "Container",
"entrypoint": "main.py",
"codeLocation": "app/MyAgent/",
"runtimeVersion": "PYTHON_3_12"
}
```

All other fields work the same as CodeZip agents.

> **Converting an existing CodeZip agent?** Changing the `build` field in `agentcore.json` alone is not enough — you
> must also add a `Dockerfile` and `.dockerignore` to the agent's code directory. The easiest way is to create a
> throwaway container agent with `agentcore add agent --build Container` and copy the generated files.

## Local Development

```bash
agentcore dev
```

For container agents, the dev server:

1. Builds the container image and adds a dev layer with `uvicorn`
2. Runs the container with your source directory volume-mounted at `/app`
3. Enables hot reload via `uvicorn --reload` — code changes apply without rebuilding

AWS credentials are forwarded automatically (environment variables and `~/.aws` mounted read-only).

## Packaging and Deployment

```bash
agentcore package # Build image locally, validate < 1 GB
agentcore deploy -y --progress # Build via CodeBuild, push to ECR
```

Local packaging validates the image size (1 GB limit). If no local runtime is available, packaging is skipped and
deployment handles the build remotely.

## Troubleshooting

| Error | Fix |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No container runtime found | Install Docker, Podman, or Finch |
| Runtime not ready | Docker: start Docker Desktop / `sudo systemctl start docker`. Podman: `podman machine start`. Finch: `finch vm init && finch vm start` |
| Dockerfile not found | Ensure `Dockerfile` exists in the agent's `codeLocation` directory |
| Image exceeds 1 GB | Use multi-stage builds, minimize packages, review `.dockerignore` |
| Build fails | Check `pyproject.toml` is valid; verify network access for dependency installation |
7 changes: 7 additions & 0 deletions docs/local-development.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -95,6 +95,13 @@ uv sync
The dev server watches for file changes and automatically reloads. Edit your agent code and the changes take effect
immediately.

### Container Agents

For container agents, the dev server builds a Docker image and runs it with your source directory mounted as a volume.
Changes to your code are picked up by uvicorn's `--reload` inside the container — no image rebuild needed.

See [Container Builds](container-builds.md) for full details on container development.

## Dev vs Deployed Behavior

| Aspect | Local Dev | Deployed |
Expand Down
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