helix chef

Reference

For the complete documentation index optimized for AI agents, see llms.txt.

Bootstrap a first HelixDB app for a coding agent. helix chef installs agent context, scaffolds a local project, starts the local database, seeds starter data, writes a build prompt, and launches your coding agent to generate the app.

Usage

helix chef

helix cook is an alias for helix chef. The command takes no flags — it is fully interactive (and falls back to sensible defaults when run without a TTY).

helix chef uses npx, so Node.js/npm must be on PATH for the skills and docs-MCP install, and it needs Docker or Podman running to start the local database. It is intended for local development inside a coding-agent environment.

Authentication

helix chef is a local workflow and does not require Cloud authentication. It neither uploads a project snapshot nor reads Cloud credentials. Use helix auth login separately only when you later run a Cloud command.

What it does

1. Installs the Helix skills (npx skills add HelixDB/skills) and docs MCP.
2. Initializes a local project (helix init local) with a dev instance on port 6969, then starts it in-memory.
3. Writes HELIX_CHEF_PROMPT.md (your build intent, or a Personal CRM default) and, for the default build, starter query files under examples/ — then seeds the data.
4. Detects an installed coding agent (Claude Code → OpenAI Codex → OpenCode → Cursor Agent), asks for a permission mode, and launches it against the build prompt.
5. Opens the generated app at http://localhost:3000 once the agent’s frontend is running.

helix chef does not start a local dashboard — port 3000 is reserved for the Next.js app the agent builds.

Interactive mode

Running helix chef in a terminal prompts first for:

What do you want to build?

Leave this blank to use the default Personal CRM build. If you provide an app idea, it is written into HELIX_CHEF_PROMPT.md and used to drive the agent.

Next, choose a setup mode:

Mode	Behavior
Automatic setup	Runs every setup step with defaults.
Manual setup	Lets you choose the project path and confirm each setup step.

Examples

# Interactive setup
helix chef

# Alias
helix cook

Related

• helix init — initialize a project without agent setup.
• helix start — start a local instance.
• helix query — send dynamic JSON requests.