# Install helix with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop, winget, apt

Post-modern modal text editor. Version 25.07.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#helix.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:helix
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install helix
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install helix
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: editors/helix/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add helix
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install helix
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: helix from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#helix
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/he/helix/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S helix
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: helix from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install helix
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install hx
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: hx from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

### Windows

- Chocolatey (92%):

```sh
choco install helix
```

  Evidence: Chocolatey community package catalog: helix from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='9.4028','coreinfo'

- Scoop (92%):

```sh
scoop install main/helix
```

  Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/helix.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- winget (92%):

```sh
winget install --id Helix.Helix -e
```

  Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: Helix.Helix from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:helix
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 25.07.1
- **Source summary:** Post-modern modal text editor
- **Homepage:** <https://helix-editor.com>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/helix-editor/helix>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- hx (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 25.07.1
## Project history and usage

Helix is a terminal-first modal editor written in Rust. Its own README frames it as a Kakoune- and Neovim-inspired editor with Vim-like modal editing, multiple selections, built-in Language Server Protocol support, and Tree-sitter-based syntax features.

For package-manager users, Helix matters because it is a modern editor packaged as a single `hx` command while still shipping a large runtime of grammars, themes, language configuration, and editor documentation.

### Project history

The public GitHub repository was created in June 2020. The project developed around a Rust codebase split into editor core, terminal UI, LSP, DAP, loader, runtime, and query assets, which made the editor feel more like a self-contained toolchain than a thin terminal frontend.

Helix's editing model comes from Kakoune's selection-first approach, while its ecosystem position naturally invites comparison with Neovim. The project made built-in LSP and Tree-sitter support part of the editor's baseline rather than optional plugin work.

### Adoption history

The project moved quickly from source builds and GitHub releases into operating-system package channels. The supplied package metadata lists Homebrew, Chocolatey, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Scoop, winget, and openSUSE packaging, which is broad coverage for a comparatively young terminal editor.

Its adoption has been helped by an easy executable name, `hx`, and by official documentation that covers installation, configuration, language setup, themes, and keymaps in one place.

### How it is used

Users run Helix as `hx` to edit files in a modal terminal interface. Normal package-manager installs must provide the binary plus the runtime assets that power highlighting, indentation queries, themes, and language definitions.

Helix configuration is conventionally stored in `config.toml` under the user config directory, with per-project overrides in `.helix/config.toml`; this makes it friendly to dotfile managers and repository-local editor policy.

### Why package nerds care

Helix is interesting to package nerds because it compresses several editor-era trends into one package: Rust terminal UI, Tree-sitter grammars, LSP integration, modal editing, and runtime data that must be installed in the right place.

It also provides a useful contrast with plugin-heavy editor packaging. A Helix package has to get runtime paths and grammar assets right, but it does not require bootstrapping a large external plugin manager just to provide language-aware editing.

### Timeline

- 2020: Public GitHub repository created.
- 2021: Early public GitHub releases begin with the 0.0.x series.
- 2021: Helix documentation and installation guidance become part of the official project site.
- 2025: The 25.x release series appears on the official GitHub release page.

### Related projects

- Kakoune supplies the strongest editing-model influence.
- Neovim is the closest modal-editor ecosystem comparison.
- Tree-sitter and the Language Server Protocol are core technologies in Helix's default feature set.
- Nix, Homebrew, Chocolatey, Scoop, winget, Debian, Fedora, Arch, MacPorts, and openSUSE appear in the supplied package metadata as distribution channels.

### Sources

- <https://api.github.com/repos/helix-editor/helix>
- <https://docs.helix-editor.com/>
- <https://github.com/helix-editor/helix>
- <https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- Unix: ~/.config/helix/config.toml, .helix/config.toml
- Windows: %AppData%\helix\config.toml
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Nix - helix: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/he/helix/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- apk - helix - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A post-modern modal text editor | https://helix-editor.com/
- apk - helix-bash-completion - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for helix | https://helix-editor.com/
- apk - helix-fish-completion - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fish completions for helix | https://helix-editor.com/
- apk - helix-tree-sitter-system - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix-tree-sitter-system from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A post-modern modal text editor | https://helix-editor.com/
- apk - helix-tree-sitter-vendor - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix-tree-sitter-vendor from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A post-modern modal text editor | https://helix-editor.com/
- apk - helix-zsh-completion - 25.07.1-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: helix-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for helix | https://helix-editor.com/
- dnf - helix - 25.07.1-12.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: helix from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | A post-modern modal text editor written in Rust | https://helix-editor.com/
- dnf - helix-parsers - 25.07.1-12.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: helix-parsers from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Prebuilt tree-sitter parsers for Helix | https://helix-editor.com/
- dnf - helix-themes - 25.07.1-12.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: helix-themes from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Helix themes | https://helix-editor.com/
- pacman - helix - 25.07.1-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: helix from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A post-modern modal text editor | https://helix-editor.com
- zypper - helix - 25.07.1-1.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | A post-modern modal text editor written in Rust | https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- zypper - helix-bash-completion - 25.07.1-1.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix-bash-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Bash Completion for helix | https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- zypper - helix-fish-completion - 25.07.1-1.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix-fish-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Fish Completion for helix | https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- zypper - helix-runtime - 25.07.1-1.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix-runtime from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Runtime files for helix | https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- zypper - helix-zsh-completion - 25.07.1-1.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: helix-zsh-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Zsh Completion for helix | https://github.com/helix-editor/helix


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/helix.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/helix.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph