macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install helix-dblocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install helixMacPorts ports tree · editors/helix/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install helix-db with Homebrew, Nix, apk, chocolatey, dnf, MacPorts, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper
Open-source graph-vector database built from scratch in Rust. Version 3.0.8 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-05.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#helix-dbnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/he/helix-db/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add helixAlpine Linux edge package indexes · helix · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install helixFedora Rawhide package metadata · helix · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S helixArch Linux sync databases · helix · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install helixopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · helix · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install helixChocolatey community package catalog · helix · source: community.chocolatey.org
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/helixScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/helix.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id Helix.Helix -eWindows Package Manager source index · Helix.Helix · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
Open-source graph-vector database built from scratch in Rust
Project links
Commands and aliases
- helix
history
Project history and usage
HelixDB is a young graph-vector database project built in Rust for knowledge graphs, AI memory, RAG-style retrieval, and agent data workflows. The Homebrew package installs the `helix` CLI, which scaffolds projects, runs local instances, sends dynamic queries, and connects to Helix Cloud.
Project history
GitHub repository metadata records the HelixDB public repository from November 2024. The README describes HelixDB as a graph-vector database for knowledge graphs and AI memory, built from scratch in Rust, with SDKs and a CLI for local and cloud workflows.
The official documentation describes an architectural shift between the earlier open-source v1 LMDB-based implementation and Helix Cloud's object-storage-backed architecture. The docs present Helix Cloud as combining a property graph engine with approximate vector search and BM25 full-text search, with gateways, a single writer, auto-scaling readers, durable object storage, and cache layers.
The project also launched publicly through Y Combinator's Launch YC in 2025, where the founders positioned it as an open-source graph-vector database for RAG and AI applications. That launch framing matches the repository and docs: reduce the need to stitch together separate vector databases, graph databases, and sync layers.
Adoption history
HelixDB's adoption history is early-stage but visible: the repository metadata records thousands of GitHub stars, the README links to docs, Discord, and Launch YC, and GitHub releases show active versioned release packaging. The input facts record Homebrew packaging for `helix-db`, giving developers a package-manager route to the CLI rather than only a shell installer.
Because the project is young, its package-manager significance is more about experimentation and developer onboarding than long-standing distro integration. The CLI is the adoption surface: install it, initialize a project, run a local database, query via SDK-generated JSON, or authenticate to Helix Cloud.
How it is used
The README and docs show the CLI installing via `install.helix-db.com`, then using commands such as `helix init`, `helix start dev`, `helix query`, `helix stop`, and cloud-oriented commands for authentication, workspace/project selection, sync, and querying. Local development can run an in-memory containerized instance, while cloud use pulls endpoint and auth details into project configuration.
Queries are authored through Rust, TypeScript, Go, or Python DSLs or sent as dynamic JSON over HTTP. The docs emphasize graph, vector, text search, dynamic query bundles, serializable snapshot isolation, and a workflow where applications can send query definitions directly to a running instance.
Why package nerds care
For package nerds, HelixDB is interesting because it packages a database workflow as a CLI-first developer experience. The Homebrew formula gives a single `helix` command that can scaffold files such as `helix.toml`, create a `.helix` workspace, run a local database, seed examples, and query a service without manually assembling database binaries and SDKs.
It also shows a broader package trend around AI infrastructure: graph, vector, full-text, cloud auth, local containers, SDK code generation, and agent-oriented project scaffolding are being folded into one command-line tool.
Timeline
- 2024: GitHub repository metadata records the HelixDB source repository.
- 2025: Launch YC published HelixDB as a database for RAG and AI.
- 2026: GitHub releases show a v3.0 series and continued CLI/database packaging work.
- Package-manager era: The input package facts record Homebrew packaging as `helix-db`.
Related projects
- HelixDB is related to graph databases, vector databases, BM25/full-text engines, RAG infrastructure, knowledge-graph tools, object-storage-backed databases, Docker/Podman local development, and SDK-driven query builders in Rust, TypeScript, Go, and Python.
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/HelixDB/helix-db
- https://api.github.com/repos/HelixDB/helix-db/releases
- https://docs.helix-db.com/
- https://docs.helix-db.com/llms.txt
- https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HelixDB/helix-db/main/README.md
- https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/Naz-helixdb-the-database-for-rag-ai
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for helix-db. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
helix.toml~/.helix/config
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.helix/credentials
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
helix | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version3.0.8
manager updated2026-07-05
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv3.0.8
https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:helix-db |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.0.8 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/helix-db |
| Homepage | https://helix-db.com |
| Repository | https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db |
| Upstream docs | https://docs.helix-db.com/ |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Source archive | https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db/archive/refs/tags/v3.0.8.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-07-05T23:54:57Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | rust |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | helix-db |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
helix-db
nix profile install nixpkgs#helix-db- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Helix Db
MacPorts94%
helix
sudo port install helix- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
Nix92%
helix
nix profile install nixpkgs#helix- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix 25.07.1-r3
A post-modern modal text editor
sudo apk add helix- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix-bash-completion 25.07.1-r3
Bash completions for helix
sudo apk add helix-bash-completion- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix-fish-completion 25.07.1-r3
Fish completions for helix
sudo apk add helix-fish-completion- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix-tree-sitter-system 25.07.1-r3
A post-modern modal text editor
sudo apk add helix-tree-sitter-system- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix-tree-sitter-vendor 25.07.1-r3
A post-modern modal text editor
sudo apk add helix-tree-sitter-vendor- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
apk92%
helix-zsh-completion 25.07.1-r3
Zsh completions for helix
sudo apk add helix-zsh-completion- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
dnf92%
helix 25.07.1-10.fc45
A post-modern modal text editor written in Rust
sudo dnf install helix- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND Unicode-DFS-2016 AND Apache-2.0 AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 WITH
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 5 dependencies
- 4 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
dnf92%
helix-parsers 25.07.1-10.fc45
Prebuilt tree-sitter parsers for Helix
sudo dnf install helix-parsers- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND Unicode-DFS-2016 AND Apache-2.0 AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 WITH
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 6 dependencies
- 3 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
dnf92%
helix-themes 25.07.1-10.fc45
Helix themes
sudo dnf install helix-themes- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND Unicode-DFS-2016 AND Apache-2.0 AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 WITH
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
pacman92%
helix 25.07.1-1
A post-modern modal text editor
sudo pacman -S helix- License: MPL-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- 3 dependencies
- 26 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
zypper92%
helix 25.07.1-1.3
A post-modern modal text editor written in Rust
https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
sudo zypper install helix- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT OR Zlib) AND (MIT OR Unlicense) AND (Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: helix
- 5 dependencies
- 4 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
zypper92%
helix-bash-completion 25.07.1-1.3
Bash Completion for helix
https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
sudo zypper install helix-bash-completion- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT OR Zlib) AND (MIT OR Unlicense) AND (Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: helix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
zypper92%
helix-fish-completion 25.07.1-1.3
Fish Completion for helix
https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
sudo zypper install helix-fish-completion- License: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND BSD-3-Clause AND (Apache-2.0 OR BSL-1.0) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT) AND (Apache-2.0 OR MIT OR Zlib) AND (MIT OR Unlicense) AND (Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: helix
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Helix
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment