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HelixDB

The database for all knowledge work, built for agents and affordable at any scale.

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HelixDB is an open-source graph database written in Rust and built on object storage, designed to combine graph traversal with vector and full-text (BM25) search in a single request. Data lives as one labeled property graph, with vector, text, and secondary indexes serving as access paths over node and edge properties, eliminating the need to keep separate graph, vector, and search systems in sync. Each request runs as one ACID transaction with serializable snapshot isolation, so graph, vector, and text lookups share the same snapshot.

Official SDKs are available for Rust, TypeScript, Python, and Go, with queries built through typed SDK builders or JSON sent to an HTTP endpoint rather than a text query language. Prefiltered search lets a graph traversal or indexed tenant property define the candidate set before vector or BM25 ranking runs within it. The database can be embedded in-process, run as a local server in Docker or Podman on memory, disk, or S3-compatible storage, or used through Helix Cloud, which includes an MCP endpoint for agent access. Embeddings and result reranking are handled by the application.

HelixDB targets developers building agent memory, retrieval-augmented AI features, and connected knowledge applications. The repository is licensed under Apache 2.0, and self-hosting or embedding is free. Helix Cloud is usage-based, with plans metered on reads and writes and unlimited storage, including a dedicated cluster option billed by the hour.

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