HelixDB

Overview:

HelixDB is an open-source graph-vector database built from scratch in Rust. It provides a single platform for building the backend components of AI applications, including those using agents or RAG. Designed for developers, it primarily operates with a graph and vector data model but can also support key-value, document, and relational data, reducing the need for separate databases and application layers.

Core Features:

• Built-in MCP tools: HelixDB includes built-in MCP support that allows agents to discover data and walk the graph instead of generating human-readable queries.

• Built-in Embeddings: The database can vectorize text via an Embed function, eliminating the need to embed data before sending it to Helix.

• Tooling for RAG: HelixDB offers built-in vector search, keyword search, and graph traversals to power various RAG application types.

• Secure by Default: Data is private by default, and access is only possible through compiled HelixQL queries.

• Ultra-Low Latency: Built in Rust and using LMDB as its storage engine, HelixDB aims to provide extremely low latencies.

• Type-Safe Queries: HelixQL is fully type-safe, allowing developers to deploy with confidence that queries will execute in production.

Use Cases:

• AI Backend Development: Building the database and storage layer for applications that use AI, agents, or RAG workflows.

• RAG Applications: Leveraging vector search, keyword search, and graph traversals for retrieval-augmented generation.

• Agent Data Discovery: Allowing AI agents to use MCP tools to explore and navigate graph-structured data without text-based queries.

Why It Matters:

HelixDB consolidates multiple data models—graph, vector, KV, document, and relational—into a single open-source database built in Rust. Its type-safe query language (HelixQL) and built-in embeddings and MCP support reduce the complexity of integrating separate tools for AI workloads. As an open-source project, it offers a unified approach for developers who want to avoid managing multiple specialized databases, with a focus on low latency and security through private, query-only data access.