> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build Your First Solana App with Helius

> Create a free Helius account and make your first API call, then build a real Solana app: a live portfolio tracker or your own deployed program.

Helius gives you REST and JSON-RPC APIs for everything on Solana: token and NFT data, real-time streaming, transaction sending, and wallet monitoring, all behind a single API key. Three steps to your first call and AI-ready setup, then pick something to build.

## Get started

<Steps titleSize="h3">
  <Step title="Create your free Helius account">
    Sign up at the [Helius Dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev/dashboard). The free tier is plenty for prototyping.

    Agents can sign up programmatically with the [Helius CLI](/agents/cli) and the [agent signup instructions](https://dashboard.helius.dev/agents.md).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your first API call">
    Open the [**Get started**](https://dashboard.helius.dev/dashboard) tab in your dashboard to copy your endpoint, pick a method, and send your first request in seconds.

    <a href="https://dashboard.helius.dev/dashboard">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/helius/vdiC_WpsL8f7g0-1/images/dashboard-get-started.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=vdiC_WpsL8f7g0-1&q=85&s=99c62f3d31a7d89e2d4599626badcc26" alt="Helius dashboard Get started section: copy your endpoint, pick a method, and send your first request" width="1874" height="1194" data-path="images/dashboard-get-started.png" />
    </a>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the Helius MCP">
    Connect the **[Helius MCP server](/agents/mcp)** to your AI tool so it can build and debug with live Solana data (balances, asset metadata, parsed transactions, webhooks, and streaming) instead of guessing. Works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex, and any MCP-compatible tool.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Claude Code">
        Run the following command:

        ```bash theme={"system"}
        claude mcp add helius npx helius-mcp@latest
        ```

        Or add to your project's `.mcp.json`:

        ```json theme={"system"}
        {
          "mcpServers": {
            "helius": {
              "command": "npx",
              "args": ["helius-mcp@latest"]
            }
          }
        }
        ```

        Verify with:

        ```bash theme={"system"}
        claude mcp list
        ```

        <Tip>
          Want skills + MCP in one step? Install the [Helius plugin](/agents/claude-code-plugin) instead:

          ```bash theme={"system"}
          claude plugin install helius @claude-plugins-official
          ```
        </Tip>
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
        Open **Settings > Developer > Edit Config** and add the server:

        ```json theme={"system"}
        {
          "mcpServers": {
            "helius": {
              "command": "npx",
              "args": ["helius-mcp@latest"]
            }
          }
        }
        ```

        Restart Claude Desktop to apply.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Cursor">
        Open the command palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`), search for **MCP: Add Server**, and enter:

        * **Name:** `helius`
        * **Command:** `npx helius-mcp@latest`

        Or add to your project's `.cursor/mcp.json`:

        ```json theme={"system"}
        {
          "mcpServers": {
            "helius": {
              "command": "npx",
              "args": ["helius-mcp@latest"]
            }
          }
        }
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="VS Code">
        Create a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your project root:

        ```json theme={"system"}
        {
          "servers": {
            "helius": {
              "command": "npx",
              "args": ["helius-mcp@latest"]
            }
          }
        }
        ```

        Requires the [GitHub Copilot](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.copilot) extension with MCP support enabled.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Windsurf">
        Open the command palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`), search for **Configure MCP Servers**, and add:

        ```json theme={"system"}
        {
          "mcpServers": {
            "helius": {
              "command": "npx",
              "args": ["helius-mcp@latest"]
            }
          }
        }
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Codex">
        Run the following command:

        ```bash theme={"system"}
        codex mcp add helius -- npx helius-mcp@latest
        ```

        Or add to your `~/.codex/config.toml` (or `.codex/config.toml` for project-scoped):

        ```toml theme={"system"}
        [mcp_servers.helius]
        command = "npx"
        args = ["helius-mcp@latest"]
        ```

        Verify with:

        ```bash theme={"system"}
        codex mcp list
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Build your first app

Each track is self-contained, with copy-pasteable code you can run in minutes.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build a portfolio tracker" icon="wallet" href="/quickstart/portfolio-tracker">
    **Mainnet.** Tokens, NFTs, and SOL via DAS, history, and a live WebSocket feed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Deploy your own program" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart/deploy-program">
    **Devnet.** Deploy a sample program through Helius RPC and invoke it with `sendTransaction`.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Explore the platform

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build with AI agents" icon="robot" href="/agents/overview">
    Connect the Helius MCP server and SDKs so your AI assistant builds on Solana with live data.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference">
    Browse every Helius endpoint: RPC, DAS, enhanced transactions, webhooks, and streaming.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Digital Asset Standard (DAS)" icon="images" href="/api-reference/das/getassetsbyowner">
    Query tokens, NFTs, and compressed NFTs by owner, collection, or trait.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Real-Time Data Streaming" icon="bolt" href="/data-streaming/quickstart">
    Stream live blockchain data with sub-second latency over gRPC or enhanced WebSockets.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>