helix-db open source analysis

HelixDB is an open-source graph-vector database built from scratch in Rust.

Project overview

⭐ 3677 · Rust · Last activity on GitHub: 2026-01-13

GitHub: https://github.com/HelixDB/helix-db

Why it matters for engineering teams

HelixDB addresses the need for a specialised database that combines graph and vector search capabilities, which is crucial for applications involving complex relationships and AI-driven data retrieval. It is particularly suitable for machine learning and AI engineering teams who require efficient handling of high-dimensional vector data alongside graph structures. Built in Rust, HelixDB offers strong performance and memory safety, making it a production ready solution for teams looking to deploy scalable, self hosted vector and graph databases. However, it may not be the right choice for projects that prioritise mature ecosystems or require extensive community support, as it is still evolving and may lack some advanced features found in more established databases.

When to use this project

HelixDB is a strong choice when your project demands integrated graph and vector search with high performance in a self hosted environment. Teams should consider alternatives if they need a more mature database with broader tooling or if their use case does not require combined graph and vector capabilities.

Team fit and typical use cases

Machine learning and AI engineers benefit most from HelixDB as an open source tool for engineering teams focused on embedding search, recommendation systems, and knowledge graphs. It is typically used to power products involving semantic search, AI-driven insights, and complex data relationships, where a production ready solution with Rust's reliability is valued.

Best suited for

Topics and ecosystem

ai cli database databases graph-database helix helixdb rag rust rust-crate rust-lang vector vector-database vector-db vectorsearch

Activity and freshness

Latest commit on GitHub: 2026-01-13. Activity data is based on repeated RepoPi snapshots of the GitHub repository. It gives a quick, factual view of how alive the project is.