Install and Run Helpifyr
Use this page when you need the first safe deployment path for a Helpifyr environment and want an operator-grade verify path instead of a repo-by-repo install tour.
When to use this page
- You are evaluating whether the current stack is already installed correctly.
- You are preparing a first controlled deployment or redeploy.
- You need the minimum cross-repo checks before handing the stack to operators or implementers.
Prerequisites
- You have the owner-approved stack inputs for the environment you are preparing.
- You know which runtime owner is responsible for the target environment.
- You can read the public-safe Fabric verification surfaces.
- You can run repo-owned verification commands from the owning workspace when runtime truth and repo truth must be compared.
What this page covers
- the minimum install flow
- the first health and readiness readback
- the handoff between docs truth, repo truth, and runtime truth
- the first escalation points when install verification fails
Architecture / Flow
Step-by-step procedure
1. Confirm the reader journey and ownership boundary
Before you install anything, confirm that you are following the correct owner lane:
helpifyr-fabricowns the docs-platform, readiness, and cross-stack governance truth.jhf-docsowns the committed reviewable materialized docs workspace.jhf-webowns live docs publishing.- runtime-specific installation and recovery steps still belong to the owning runtime repos and deployment lanes.
If the required step would mutate a running host, stop and use the owner runbook rather than inventing a local shortcut.
2. Read the docs-platform posture first
Use the docs surfaces to confirm what the public docs system believes is current:
GET /api/v1/docs/platform
GET /api/v1/docs/catalog
GET /api/v1/docs/readiness
These calls answer different questions:
/api/v1/docs/platform: docs contract, rollout posture, and platform-level rules/api/v1/docs/catalog: what the platform currently exposes as docs truth/api/v1/docs/readiness: whether the docs system believes the current rollout is fit for consumption
3. Record the first runtime baseline
Before you treat an install as done, read the stack health surfaces that operators will rely on later:
GET /health
GET /api/v1/platform/services
GET /api/v1/observability/readiness
GET /api/v1/security/readiness
This establishes:
- coarse service availability
- subsystem-aware readiness
- security-readiness posture
4. Compare repo truth with running truth when needed
If the runtime reads back differently from the expected stack shape, use the repo-owned verifier instead of ad-hoc host inspection first:
python ./scripts/verify_runtime_materialization.py --check
Use this when:
- API readiness looks stale
- the runtime topology does not match expected deployment truth
- a service appears present but not correctly materialized
5. Hand off to operations after the first green pass
An install is only ready for the next reader if:
- docs-platform readiness is green enough for the environment
- health and readiness checks are consistent
- repo truth and runtime truth do not show obvious drift
- the operator has a clear next path into monitoring and troubleshooting
The next pages are usually:
Example verification session
This is an illustrative public-safe sequence for the first verification pass:
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/docs/platform
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/docs/catalog
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/docs/readiness
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/health
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/platform/services
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/observability/readiness
curl -s <fabric-base-url>/api/v1/security/readiness
python ./scripts/verify_runtime_materialization.py --check
Expected outcome:
- the docs surfaces are readable
- the stack-level health surfaces are internally consistent
- the materialization verifier does not show obvious repo-vs-runtime drift
Verification
The first install path is considered complete only when all of the following are true:
GET /api/v1/docs/platformsucceeds.GET /api/v1/docs/catalogsucceeds.GET /api/v1/docs/readinessdoes not contradict the current rollout state.GET /healthandGET /api/v1/platform/servicesare readable for the environment.GET /api/v1/observability/readinessandGET /api/v1/security/readinessdo not expose an unresolved blocker for the install path.python ./scripts/verify_runtime_materialization.py --checkdoes not prove repo/runtime drift that still needs remediation.
Common failure modes
Docs look current but runtime is not aligned
Likely meaning:
- docs truth was refreshed, but the running stack was not.
Next action:
- run
python ./scripts/verify_runtime_materialization.py --check - then move to Check stack health
Health is green but readiness is not
Likely meaning:
- the services answer, but one subsystem still fails the deeper contract posture.
Next action:
- inspect
GET /api/v1/observability/readiness - inspect
GET /api/v1/security/readiness
Install appears complete but Fabric readiness is inconsistent
Likely meaning:
- this is now a bounded Fabric-owned troubleshooting case.
Next action:
Owner Handoff
- docs-platform truth owner:
JaddaHelpifyr/helpifyr-fabric - materialized docs workspace owner:
JaddaHelpifyr/jhf-docs - live docs publisher owner:
JaddaHelpifyr/jhf-web - runtime installation and recovery owner: the repo that owns the deployed stack surface