Summary

HelixDB has made it easier than ever to deploy their unified graph-vector database locally with a new Docker integration, responding directly to user requests for a more streamlined setup. By simply running helix dockerdev run with the latest Helix CLI and Docker installed, developers can quickly launch a local HelixDB instance for rapid prototyping of RAG and agentic AI workflows. The tutorial, authored by the HelixDB founders, provides clear prerequisites and step-by-step instructions, along with commands for managing the Docker container and data persistence. This update underscores HelixDB’s ongoing commitment to developer experience and simplicity. Comprehensive documentation and active community support are available for further guidance.

How do I deploy HelixDB locally using Docker? * Run helix dockerdev run in your queries directory after ensuring you have the latest Helix CLI and Docker installed (installation steps).
What are the prerequisites for Docker deployment? * You need Helix CLI version >v1.0.134 and Docker installed and running on your machine.
How can I manage the Docker container for HelixDB? * Use commands like helix dockerdev run --background to run in the background, helix dockerdev logs to view logs, helix dockerdev stop to stop, and helix dockerdev delete to remove the instance and its data.
Will my data persist between deployments? * Yes, data is persisted within the Docker container unless you explicitly delete it using helix dockerdev delete.
Where can I find more information or support? * Visit the official documentation, join the HelixDB Discord, or check out their GitHub repository for community and support.

“We have finally made a super simple and easy docker integration to run Helix locally!” — Founders, HelixDB (August 29, 2025)

Try HelixDB locally today: follow the installation guide and join the community for support and updates.
Explore more at HelixDB or review the blog for additional tutorials.

Deploy Helix with Docker via the Helix CLI

Founders HelixDB

August 29, 2025

TutorialDockerCLI

We have had a lot of feedback asking for an easier and simpler way of deploying Helix via docker. We have finally made a super simple and easy docker integration to run Helix locally!

TL;DR

Run helix dockerdev run to deploy Helix locally to Docker.

Pre-requisites

Ensure you have the most up-to-date version of the Helix CLI (>v1.0.134) installed
- see installation steps for installation steps
- if already installed: run helix update
Ensure you have docker installed, and the docker daemon running
- Docker desktop installation
- Docker engine installation
Write your HelixQL queries.
- See HelixQL documentation for more information about HelixQL.
- See Social Network project walk through for a project walk through.

Steps

Run cd path/to/queries_dir
Run helix dockerdev run

Note that running the helix dockerdev run command in a different queries directory overwrite the queries being run in the container but the data will be persisted within the container between deployments. Run helix dockerdev delete before running helix dockerdev run again to wipe the data in the container.

Other commands

helix dockerdev run --background to run the docker container in the background.
helix dockerdev logs to view Docker container logs.
helix dockerdev stop to stop the Docker development instance.

helix dockerdev delete to remove the Docker development instance and data.