For the complete documentation index optimized for AI agents, see llms.txt.
Install, refresh, and inspect the Helix agent skills — the query-authoring skills
(helix-query-typescript, helix-query-rust, helix-memory-system, and friends) that
coding agents like Claude Code use to write correct HelixDB queries. They are installed
with the skills CLI under the hood
(npx skills add HelixDB/skills), so this command requires Node.js/npm (npx) on your PATH.
helix init and helix chef install these skills for you; helix skills is how you
manage them afterwards. They install globally by default (~/.agents/skills, shared
across projects) — pass --project to operate on the current project instead.
Usage
helix skills <SUBCOMMAND>
Available sub-commands
| Sub-command | Description |
|---|
install | Install the Helix agent skills (interactive). |
update | Refresh installed Helix skills to the latest version. |
list | List installed agent skills. |
Available flags
| Flag | Type | Description | Default |
|---|
--project | Boolean | Operate on the current project (.<agent>/skills) instead of globally. | Global |
helix skills update re-fetches the skills from source and overwrites their files,
so any local edits to the installed skills are discarded.
Update notifications
When skills are installed, the CLI checks once every 24 hours (the same cadence and
HELIX_NO_UPDATE_CHECK opt-out as the CLI version check) whether the Helix skills are out
of date, and prints a one-line notice pointing you at helix skills update. It is
notify-only — it never rewrites skill files on a routine command. Running
helix update also refreshes installed skills.
Examples
# Install the Helix skills globally
helix skills install
# Refresh installed skills to the latest version
helix skills update
# Install into the current project instead of globally
helix skills install --project
# List installed skills
helix skills list
