HelixDB: an open-source graph-vector database written in Rust built for RAG and AI applications.

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Launch YC: HelixDB - The Database for Intelligence

HelixDB is a high-performance graph-vector database designed with a focus on developer experience and performance. Built in Rust and powered by LMDB as its storage engine, it combines the reliability of a proven storage layer with modern features tailored for AI and vector-based applications. We are currently using LMDB via Heed3, a rust wrapper built by the amazing team over at [Meilisearch](https://github.com/meilisearch/heed). ## Key Features - **Fast & Efficient**: Built for performance we're currently 1000x faster than Neo4j, 100x faster than TigerGraph and on par with Qdrant for vectors. - **RAG-First**: Native support for graph and vector data types, making it ideal for RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) and AI applications - **Graph-Vector**: Easiest database for storing relationships between nodes, vectors, or nodes AND vectors. - **Reliable Storage**: Powered by LMDB (Lightning Memory-Mapped Database) for robust and efficient data persistence - **ACID Compliant**: Ensures data integrity and consistency ## Getting Started #### Helix CLI The Helix CLI tool can be used to check, compile and deploy Helix locally. 1. Install CLI ```bash curl -sSL "https://install.helix-db.com" | bash ``` 2. Install Helix ```bash helix install ``` 3. Setup ```bash helix init --path ``` 4. Write queries Open your newly created `.hx` files and start writing your schema and queries. Head over to [our docs](https://docs.helix-db.com/introduction/cookbook/basic) for more information about writing queries ```js QUERY addUser(name: String, age: I64) => user <- AddN user <- N helix check ``` 7. Deploy your queries ```bash # in ./ helix deploy ``` 8. Start calling them using our [TypeScript SDK](https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-ts) or [Python SDK](https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-py). For example: ```typescript import HelixDB from "helix-ts"; // Create a new HelixDB client // The default port is 6969 const client = new HelixDB(); // Query the database await client.query("addUser", { name: "John", age: 20 }); // Get the created user const user = await client.query("getUser", { user_name: "John" }); console.log(user); ``` Other commands: - `helix instances` to see all your local instances. - `helix stop ` to stop your local instance with specified id. - `helix stop --all` to stop all your local instances. ## Roadmap Our current focus areas include: - Expanding vector data type capabilities for RAG applications - Implementing a test suite to enable end-to-end testing of queries before deployment - Building a Deterministic Simulation Testing engine enabling us to robustly iterate faster - Binary quantisation for even better performance Long term projects: - In-house graph-vector storage engine (to replace LMDB) - In-house network protocol & serdes libraries (similar to protobufs/gRPC) ## Our Software DNA 🧬 - All code should be well-documented so no additional documentation is needed. - All code should be well-tested (DST coming soon). - If you can build it yourself, do it. Reduce dependencies. - If it doesn't need to exist, don't build it. - Don't lose users' data. - Use asserts in production: make an effort towards putting asserts anywhere you see fit even if the assert should always obviously be true. - If there is a more functional way to write a piece of code, do so. ie. pattern matching over if statements, iterators+combinators over loops, closures over small 1-2 line functions, etc. - When optimizing pieces of software, first write an eval/benchmark so that you can measure an exact metric for performance change ## License HelixDB is licensed under the The AGPL (Affero General Public License). ## Commercial Support HelixDB is available as a managed service for selected users, if you're interested in using Helix's managed service or want enterprise support, [contact](mailto:founders@helix-db.com) us for more information and deployment options.