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Checkly provides different agent images:
  • Standard: The full agent image, supporting all check types
  • Dev: The standard image with build tools for compiling npm packages with native dependencies
  • Uptime: A lightweight image for running uptime monitors only

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Image Tag Format

Image tags define which agent variant and version you run. 
# Standard
docker pull checkly/agent:X.Y.Z

# Dev (with build tools)
docker pull checkly/agent-dev:X.Y.Z

# Uptime
docker pull checkly/agent-uptime:X.Y.Z
Use versioned tags for reproducible deployments. Floating tags (like :latest) may change between pulls. Browse available versions on Docker Hub.

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Standard Image

The standard image (checkly/agent:X.Y.Z) is the default and recommended option for most setups. It supports the full range of Checkly monitors: Use the standard image unless you have a specific need for the dev or uptime variants.

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Uptime Image

The uptime image (checkly/agent-uptime:X.Y.Z) is a lightweight version of the agent designed for uptime monitoring only. It supports URL, DNS, TCP, ICMP and Heartbeat monitors.

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Dev Image

If any of the checks you run on Private Locations rely on npm packages with native code, those packages need to be compiled during installation. The standard agent is optimized for size and doesn’t ship with build tools. In those cases, you’ll need to use the dev image instead.

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When to Use the Dev Image

Use the dev image (checkly/agent-dev:X.Y.Z) when your checks require npm packages with native dependencies that need compilation. Common examples include:
  • sqlite3 - SQLite database
  • zookeeper - Apache ZooKeeper client
If your checks only use pure JavaScript packages, the standard runtime image is recommended for its smaller size and faster startup.

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What’s Included in the Dev Image

The dev agent works exactly like the standard agent, but includes the build tools required to compile native modules. It adds the following to the standard image:
ToolPurpose
gcc, g++, makeCompile native extensions
python3Required by node-gyp
These tools enable compilation of native Node.js modules during npm install.

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FAQ

Yes, the dev image is production-ready. It contains the same runtime as the standard image, plus build tools. The only tradeoff is a larger image size.
No. Playwright and its dependencies are pre-installed in both variants. You only need the dev image if your check code imports npm packages with native dependencies.
If npm install fails with errors about node-gyp, python, gcc, or “compilation failed”, you likely need the dev image.