Helix v11.0

AI-Powered Full-Stack App Generator

Generate complete, working applications from natural language. Helix transforms a single prompt into a Next.js app with database, API routes, styled UI, and tests -- in about 60 seconds.

helix spawn "A recipe manager with ingredients and cook time"
# -> Full app: database, API, React UI, tests, ready to run

Features

• Natural language to full-stack apps -- Next.js + Prisma + Tailwind from a single prompt
• Self-healing builds -- AI detects and auto-fixes build errors during generation
• Pre-flight validation -- helix preflight catches blueprint issues before generation
• Theme engine -- --theme glassmorphism|professional|minimal|vibrant
• API validation, rate limiting, pagination -- built into every generated route
• Auto-generated test suites -- Vitest tests included out of the box
• Docker support -- helix snapshot --docker produces optimized multi-stage Dockerfiles
• Drift detection -- helix drift shows what changed since generation
• Multi-page apps -- PAGE DSL for multi-route applications
• Component library -- helix install to pull reusable components
• Schema migrations -- helix evolve to scan, suggest, and apply codebase changes
• Cost tracking -- helix cost shows per-generation token usage and spend
• Flutter target -- helix spawn "..." --target flutter for mobile apps

Quick Start

Install

npm install -g helix-lang

Set up your API key

echo "OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-or-v1-..." > .env

Generate an app

helix spawn "A project tracker with Tasks, Milestones, and Team Members"
cd builds/a-project-tracker && npm run dev

Verify your setup

helix doctor

CLI Commands

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | helix spawn <prompt> | Generate a complete app from natural language | | helix new <name> | Scaffold an empty Helix project | | helix generate <file.helix> | Generate stack from an existing .helix blueprint | | helix run | Start the dev server | | helix preview | Hot-reload preview with .helix file watching | | helix deploy | Deploy to Vercel, Firebase, or Netlify | | helix preflight <file> | Validate a .helix blueprint before generation | | helix evolve [action] | Scan, suggest, or apply codebase fixes and migrations | | helix drift [project] | Detect manual changes since generation | | helix snapshot [project] | Generate Dockerfile and docker-compose.yml | | helix install [component] | Browse and install from the component library | | helix cost | Show AI token usage and cost for the session | | helix doctor | System health check (Node, API key, deps) | | helix list | List all generated projects | | helix research <topic> | Generate domain research context | | helix draft <idea> | AI-draft a .helix blueprint from an idea | | helix build <file> | Compile .helix to a React component | | helix pipeline <topic> <idea> | Full pipeline: research, draft, build | | helix models | List available AI models | | helix plugins | List registered generator plugins |

Key Flags for spawn

--target <platform>    web (default) or flutter
--theme <theme>        glassmorphism, professional, minimal, vibrant
--db <database>        postgres, mongodb, redis, or comma-separated
--constitution <file>  Provide a constitution.md for design guidance
--components <ids>     Include Helix Library components (comma-separated)
--ai-context           Enable AI context layer with Redis
--cache                Add Redis caching layer
--dry-run              Preview what would be generated without writing files

.helix DSL

Helix blueprints use a declarative syntax with two core constructs: STRAND (data model) and VIEW (UI page).

STRAND Contact {
  name: String
  email: String
  company: String
  status: String    // Lead, Active, Churned
}

STRAND Deal {
  title: String
  value: Float
  stage: String     // Discovery, Proposal, Closed
  contact: Contact
}

VIEW Dashboard {
  list: Contact.all
  list: Deal.all
}

VIEW DealPipeline {
  list: Deal.where(stage: "Discovery")
  list: Deal.where(stage: "Proposal")
  list: Deal.where(stage: "Closed")
}

Each STRAND generates a Prisma model, full CRUD API routes, and a TypeScript interface. Each VIEW generates a React page with forms, lists, and delete confirmations.

Technology Stack

| Layer | Technology | |-------|------------| | Framework | Next.js (App Router) | | Language | TypeScript | | Database | SQLite + Prisma ORM (Postgres/Mongo optional) | | Styling | Tailwind CSS | | Testing | Vitest | | AI | OpenRouter (Claude Sonnet) | | Containers | Docker (multi-stage builds) |

Example Prompts

helix spawn "A warehouse inventory with Products, Locations, and Stock Movements"
helix spawn "A course manager with Students, Courses, and Assignments"
helix spawn "An expense tracker for small businesses" --theme professional
helix spawn "A fitness app with Workouts and Exercises" --target flutter
helix spawn "A CRM with Contacts, Companies, and Deals" --db postgres

License

MIT

"Describe it once, run it immediately."