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Getting Started

Initialize the Database

If no database exists yet, Helius can create it on first launch. You can also initialize it explicitly:

helius init --currency USD

Typical default path:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Helius\tracker.db

Add Basic Data

helius account add Checking --type checking --opening-balance 1000.00 --opened-on 2026-03-01
helius category add Salary --kind income
helius category add Groceries --kind expense

Account types:

  • cash
  • checking
  • savings
  • credit

Category kinds:

  • income
  • expense

Record Transactions

helius tx add --type income --amount 2500.00 --date 2026-03-01 --account Checking --category Salary --payee Employer
helius tx add --type expense --amount 68.40 --date 2026-03-02 --account Checking --category Groceries --payee Supermarket

Transfer example:

helius tx add --type transfer --amount 200.00 --date 2026-03-03 --account Checking --to-account Cash --note "ATM withdrawal"

Open the TUI

helius

Check the Ledger

helius balance
helius tx list --limit 20
helius summary month 2026-03

Use the Shell

helius shell

The shell supports shortcuts such as account, income, expense, budget, reconcile, and recurring. It also accepts raw CLI commands.