CLI Reference

HelixMind works in two modes: Open Source (no account) and Logged In (free account). Some features require login. these are marked below. Run helixmind login anytime to unlock all features for free.

Main Commands

hx (alias: helixmind)

Start an interactive AI coding session (default command). On first launch, you choose between Login and Open Source mode.

Flag	Description
-m, --message <text>	Send a single message instead of interactive mode
--yolo	Auto-approve ALL operations (including dangerous)
-s, --skip-permissions	Skip safe/ask prompts (still asks for dangerous)
--no-validation	Disable Validation Matrix
--validation-verbose	Show detailed validation results
--validation-strict	Treat warnings as errors

hx                                       # Interactive chat
hx -m "Add error handling"               # Single message
hx --yolo --no-validation                # Full auto, no checks
hx -s --validation-strict                # Skip permissions, strict validation

helixmind login

Authenticate with the HelixMind web platform.

Flag	Description
--api-key <key>	Use API key directly (skip browser flow)
--url <url>	Custom web platform URL
--force	Re-authenticate even if already logged in

helixmind login                          # Browser-based login
helixmind login --api-key hm_abc123      # Direct key entry
helixmind login --force                  # Re-authenticate

helixmind logout

Remove stored authentication.

Flag	Description
--no-revoke	Do not revoke the API key on the server

helixmind logout                # Logout + revoke key
helixmind logout --no-revoke    # Local logout only

helixmind whoami

Show current authentication status (email, plan, masked API key).

helixmind whoami

helixmind init

Initialize HelixMind in the current project:

cd your-project && helixmind init

Creates: .helixmind/ directory with context.md + spiral.db.

helixmind config

helixmind config set <key> <value>    # Set a value
helixmind config get <key>            # Get a value
helixmind config list                 # List all settings

Key	Description	Default
provider	LLM provider	anthropic
apiKey	API key (masked)	.
model	Model name	Provider default
logLevel	Debug level	info
dataDir	Data directory	~/.helixmind/
maxTokens	Max context window	Provider default
validationEnabled	Validation Matrix	true
brainScope	Brain scope	local

helixmind spiral

helixmind spiral status    # Nodes, levels, storage
helixmind spiral search    # Semantic search
helixmind spiral compact   # Trigger compaction

helixmind feed

helixmind feed README.md src/     # Specific files/dirs
helixmind feed --deep src/        # Deep analysis
helixmind feed --watch src/       # Watch for changes

helixmind export / helixmind import

helixmind export ./backups                # Export to ZIP
helixmind export -n my-project            # With name
helixmind import backup.zip              # Merge import
helixmind import --replace backup.zip    # Replace import

Exit Codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success
1	General error
130	Interrupted (Ctrl+C)