The landscape of AI development is rapidly evolving, and one of the most exciting developments in 2025 from Docker is the release of Docker cagent. cagent is Docker’s open-source multi-agent runtime that orchestrates AI agents through declarative YAML configuration. Rather than managing Python environments, SDK versions, and orchestration logic, developers define agent behavior in a single configuration file and execute it with cagent run.

In this article, we’ll explore how cagent’s integration with GitHub Models delivers true vendor independence, demonstrate building a real-world podcast generation agent that leverages multiple specialized sub-agents, and show you how to package and distribute your AI agents through Docker Hub. By the end, you’ll understand how to break free from vendor lock-in and build AI agent systems that remain flexible, cost-effective, and production-ready throughout their entire lifecycle.