Automatically clean up old Docker image tags and free up storage

Finds and deletes old container image versions on a schedule, then emails you a summary of what was removed.

How the work actually flows

A straight line.

Pattern: Sequence (1)

flowchart TD trig(["scheduled interval runs"]):::trigtime s0["list all image tags"]:::task s1["filter and sort old tags"]:::task s2["delete tags past keep limit"]:::task s3["run garbage collection"]:::task s4["email cleanup summary"]:::task trig --> s0 s0 --> s1 s1 --> s2 s2 --> s3 s3 --> s4 out[/"old image tags removed and storage reclaimed"/]:::out pay{{"registry stays clean without manual upkeep"}}:::pay s4 --> out out --> pay s2 -. "failures recorded, run continues" .-> out classDef task fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#34b8f0,color:#2c2a29 classDef svc fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#7c8795,color:#2c2a29 classDef mi fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29,stroke-width:2px classDef human fill:#fff,stroke:#0079a8,color:#0079a8 classDef store fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29 classDef trig fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigtime fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigdata fill:#8ad4f5,stroke:#0079a8,color:#06314c,font-weight:bold classDef gate fill:#fff,stroke:#e8a23d,color:#6b4708,font-weight:bold classDef out fill:#1f9d6b,stroke:#167a53,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef pay fill:#06314c,stroke:#021f33,color:#fff
Starts itA stepResultPayoff
Build size
Advanced

A larger build with multiple systems, AI reasoning, and custom rules.

Business functions
Email AutomationDevOps & IT Operations
Connects
DockerSSH

The problem it solves

Your container registry quietly fills up with old image versions nobody uses, eating storage and slowing everything down. Cleaning it up by hand is tedious, and it's easy to accidentally delete something you still need.

Who it fits

DevOps or IT teams responsible for keeping a container registry clean and running smoothly.

How it works

  1. A schedule runs the cleanup on your set interval
  2. All image tags in the registry are listed, sorted and filtered
  3. Old tags beyond your keep limit are deleted, with the latest version always preserved
  4. Garbage collection runs to reclaim storage space
  5. A summary email is sent confirming what was cleaned up, or flagging any errors
What you get

Storage emergencies that never happen

Your Docker registry stays clean and lean automatically, freeing up space before old image versions ever become a problem.

What you get

A cleaned-up container registry and an email report confirming what was removed.

What you need

Docker registry API access, SSH access to the registry server, and an SMTP email account.

We can build this. But should you?

The hard question is not how to build it. It is whether this is the right thing to build first.

That is what a Fractional Chief AI Officer figures out with you, before anyone writes a line of code.

Let's Talk Strategy

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