page_title: Automated Builds on Docker Hub
page_description: Docker Hub Automated Builds
page_keywords: Docker, docker, registry, accounts, plans, Dockerfile, Docker Hub, docs, documentation, trusted, builds, trusted builds, automated builds

# Automated Builds on Docker Hub

## About Automated Builds

*Automated Builds* are a special feature of Docker Hub which allow you to
use [Docker Hub's](https://hub.docker.com) build clusters to automatically
create images from a specified `Dockerfile` and a GitHub or Bitbucket repo
(or "context"). The system will clone your repository and build the image
described by the `Dockerfile` using the repository as the context. The
resulting automated image will then be uploaded to the Docker Hub registry
and marked as an *Automated Build*.

Automated Builds have several advantages:

* Users of *your* Automated Build can trust that the resulting
image was built exactly as specified.

* The `Dockerfile` will be available to anyone with access to
your repository on the Docker Hub registry. 

* Because the process is automated, Automated Builds help to
make sure that your repository is always up to date.

Automated Builds are supported for both public and private repositories
on both [GitHub](http://github.com) and [Bitbucket](https://bitbucket.org/).

To use Automated Builds, you must have an [account on Docker Hub](
http://docs.docker.com/userguide/dockerhub/#creating-a-docker-hub-account)
and on GitHub and/or Bitbucket. In either case, the account needs
to be properly validated and activated before you can link to it.

## Setting up Automated Builds with GitHub

In order to set up an Automated Build, you need to first link your
[Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com) account with a GitHub account.
This will allow the registry to see your repositories.

> *Note:* 
> Automated Builds currently require *read* and *write* access since
> [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com) needs to setup a GitHub service
> hook. We have no choice here, this is how GitHub manages permissions, sorry! 
> We do guarantee nothing else will be touched in your account.

To get started, log into your Docker Hub account and click the
"+ Add Repository" button at the upper right of the screen. Then select
[Automated Build](https://registry.hub.docker.com/builds/add/).

Select the [GitHub service](https://registry.hub.docker.com/associate/github/).

Then follow the onscreen instructions to authorize and link your
GitHub account to Docker Hub. Once it is linked, you'll be able to
choose a repo from which to create the Automatic Build.

### Creating an Automated Build

You can [create an Automated Build](
https://registry.hub.docker.com/builds/github/select/) from any of your
public or private GitHub repositories with a `Dockerfile`.

### GitHub Submodules

If your GitHub repository contains links to private submodules, you'll
need to add a deploy key from your Docker Hub repository. 

Your Docker Hub deploy key is located under the "Build Details"
menu on the Automated Build's main page in the Hub. Add this key
to your GitHub submodule by visiting the Settings page for the
repository on GitHub and selecting "Deploy keys".

<table class="table table-bordered">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Screenshot</th>
      <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/deploy_key.png"></td>
      <td>Your automated build's deploy key is in the "Build Details" menu 
under "Deploy keys".</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/github_deploy_key.png"></td>
      <td>In your GitHub submodule's repository Settings page, add the 
deploy key from your Docker Hub Automated Build.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
     
### GitHub Organizations

GitHub organizations will appear once your membership to that organization is
made public on GitHub. To verify, you can look at the members tab for your
organization on GitHub.

### GitHub Service Hooks

Follow the steps below to configure the GitHub service
hooks for your Automated Build:

<table class="table table-bordered">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Screenshot</th>
      <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/gh_settings.png"></td>
      <td>Log in to Github.com, and go to your Repository page. Click on "Settings" on
      the right side of the page. You must have admin privileges to the repository in order to do this.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/gh_menu.png" alt="Webhooks & Services"></td>
      <td>Click on "Webhooks & Services" on the left side of the page.</td></tr>
      <tr><td>3.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/gh_service_hook.png" alt="Find the service labeled Docker"></td><td>Find the service labeled "Docker" and click on it.</td></tr>
      <tr><td>4.</td><td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/gh_docker-service.png" alt="Activate Service Hooks"></td>
      <td>Make sure the "Active" checkbox is selected and click the "Update service" button to save your changes.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

## Setting up Automated Builds with Bitbucket

In order to setup an Automated Build, you need to first link your
[Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com) account with a Bitbucket account.
This will allow the registry to see your repositories.

To get started, log into your Docker Hub account and click the
"+ Add Repository" button at the upper right of the screen. Then
select [Automated Build](https://registry.hub.docker.com/builds/add/).

Select the [Bitbucket source](
https://registry.hub.docker.com/associate/bitbucket/).

Then follow the onscreen instructions to authorize and link your
Bitbucket account to Docker Hub. Once it is linked, you'll be able
to choose a repo from which to create the Automatic Build.

### Creating an Automated Build

You can [create an Automated Build](
https://registry.hub.docker.com/builds/bitbucket/select/) from any of your
public or private Bitbucket repositories with a `Dockerfile`.

### Adding a Hook

When you link your Docker Hub account, a `POST` hook should get automatically
added to your Bitbucket repo. Follow the steps below to confirm or modify the
Bitbucket hooks for your Automated Build:

<table class="table table-bordered">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Screenshot</th>
      <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/bb_menu.png" alt="Settings" width="180"></td>
      <td>Log in to Bitbucket.org and go to your Repository page. Click on "Settings" on
      the far left side of the page, under "Navigation". You must have admin privileges
      to the repository in order to do this.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/bb_hooks.png" alt="Hooks" width="180"></td>
      <td>Click on "Hooks" on the near left side of the page, under "Settings".</td></tr>
    <tr>
      <td>3.</td>
      <td><img src="/docker-hub/hub-images/bb_post-hook.png" alt="Docker Post Hook"></td><td>You should now see a list of hooks associated with the repo, including a <code>POST</code> hook that points at
      registry.hub.docker.com/hooks/bitbucket.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>


## The Dockerfile and Automated Builds

During the build process, Docker will copy the contents of your `Dockerfile`.
It will also add it to the [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com) for the Docker
community (for public repos) or approved team members/orgs (for private repos)
to see on the repository page.

### README.md

If you have a `README.md` file in your repository, it will be used as the
repository's full description.The build process will look for a
`README.md` in the same directory as your `Dockerfile`.

> **Warning:**
> If you change the full description after a build, it will be
> rewritten the next time the Automated Build has been built. To make changes,
> modify the `README.md` from the Git repository.

### Build triggers

If you need a way to trigger Automated Builds outside of GitHub or Bitbucket,
you can set up a build trigger. When you turn on the build trigger for an
Automated Build, it will give you a URL to which you can send POST requests.
This will trigger the Automated Build, much as with a GitHub webhook.

Build triggers are available under the Settings menu of each Automated Build
repo on the Docker Hub.

> **Note:** 
> You can only trigger one build at a time and no more than one
> every five minutes. If you already have a build pending, or if you
> recently submitted a build request, those requests *will be ignored*.
> To verify everything is working correctly, check the logs of last
> ten triggers on the settings page .

### Webhooks

Automated Builds also include a Webhooks feature. Webhooks can be called
after a successful repository push is made.

The webhook call will generate a HTTP POST with the following JSON
payload:

```
{
   "push_data":{
      "pushed_at":1385141110,
      "images":[
         "imagehash1",
         "imagehash2",
         "imagehash3"
      ],
      "pusher":"username"
   },
   "repository":{
      "status":"Active",
      "description":"my docker repo that does cool things",
      "is_automated":false,
      "full_description":"This is my full description",
      "repo_url":"https://registry.hub.docker.com/u/username/reponame/",
      "owner":"username",
      "is_official":false,
      "is_private":false,
      "name":"reponame",
      "namespace":"username",
      "star_count":1,
      "comment_count":1,
      "date_created":1370174400,
      "dockerfile":"my full dockerfile is listed here",
      "repo_name":"username/reponame"
   }
}
```

Webhooks are available under the Settings menu of each Automated
Build's repo.

> **Note:** If you want to test your webhook out we recommend using
> a tool like [requestb.in](http://requestb.in/).


### Repository links

Repository links are a way to associate one Automated Build with
another. If one gets updated,the linking system triggers a rebuild
for the other Automated Build. This makes it easy to keep all your
Automated Builds up to date.

To add a link, go to the repo for the Automated Build you want to
link to and click on *Repository Links* under the Settings menu at
right. Then, enter the name of the repository that you want have linked.

> **Warning:**
> You can add more than one repository link, however, you should
> do so very carefully. Creating a two way relationship between Automated Builds will
> cause an endless build loop.