# Getting started

> The path from an empty terminal to a deployed Helix app: what Helix is, the quickstart, building with Claude Code, and project anatomy.

The getting-started path takes you from an empty terminal to a live Helix app. Four pages cover the platform, the setup journey, the agent workflow, and the project layout. Work through them in order; the path assumes no prior Helix experience.

What you end up with: a deployed app at `https://{project-id}.helix-app.ai`, managed from the dashboard at [app.helix.tray.ai](https://app.helix.tray.ai). Deployed apps run behind login, so only people in your Tray or Helix organization who you grant access can open them.

## Prerequisites at a glance

You need four things before you start:

- Node.js ≥ 24.18.0 (check with `node --version`)
- npm or pnpm
- [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code), installed and signed in
- A Tray account, with a [workspace](/documentation/concepts/projects-and-workspaces/) provisioned by your Tray contact (no contact yet? [request access at helix.tray.ai](https://helix.tray.ai))

The [quickstart](/documentation/getting-started/quickstart/) walks through checking each one.

## The path

The quickstart stands alone: if you'd rather build first and read later, [jump straight to it](/documentation/getting-started/quickstart/).

1. [What is Helix?](/documentation/getting-started/what-is-helix/) What the platform does, who it's for, and what's included.
2. [Quickstart](/documentation/getting-started/quickstart/) Install the CLI, log in, scaffold a project, and deploy it.
3. [Building with Claude Code](/documentation/getting-started/building-with-claude/) How the agent scaffolds, tests, and deploys through the CLI's MCP server, which the workflow requires.
4. [Project structure](/documentation/getting-started/project-structure/) What `helix init` creates and what each file is for.

## If you get stuck

[Troubleshooting](/documentation/troubleshooting/) collects the common failure modes: install and PATH problems, Node version issues, port conflicts, and login errors. Each entry gives the cause and the fix commands.

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Canonical: https://helix.tray.ai/documentation/getting-started/
Any link on this page is available as markdown by appending .md to its URL.
Full corpus: https://helix.tray.ai/documentation/llms-full.txt