The getting-started path takes you from an empty terminal to a live Helix app. It covers the platform, the setup journey, the agent workflow, and the project layout. Work through the pages in order; the path assumes no prior Helix experience. It works on macOS, Linux, and Windows, with Claude Code or any other MCP-capable coding agent.
What you end up with: a deployed app at https://{project-id}.helix-app.ai, managed from the dashboard at 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, installed and signed in, or another MCP-capable coding agent (see Building with other coding agents)
- A Tray account, with a workspace provisioned by your Tray contact (no contact yet? request access at helix.tray.ai)
The 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.
- What is Helix? What the platform does, who it’s for, and what’s included.
- Quickstart Install the CLI, log in, scaffold a project, and deploy it.
- Building with Claude Code How the agent scaffolds, tests, and deploys through the CLI’s MCP server, which the workflow requires.
- Building with other coding agents Point Cursor, VS Code, Codex, or another MCP client at the same project instead.
- Project structure What
helix initcreates and what each file is for.
If you get stuck
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.