prisma-database-setup

•

3023 months ago

Guides for configuring Prisma with different database providers (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, etc.). Use when setting up a new project, changing databases, or troubleshooting connection issues. Triggers on "configure postgres", "connect to mysql", "setup mongodb", "sqlite setup".

Quick Install

npxskills add prisma/skills--skill prisma-database-setup

Instructions

Prisma Database Setup

Comprehensive guides for configuring Prisma ORM with various database providers.

When to Apply

Reference this skill when:

Initializing a new Prisma project
Switching database providers
Configuring connection strings and environment variables
Troubleshooting database connection issues
Setting up database-specific features
Generating and instantiating Prisma Client

Rule Categories by Priority

Priority	Category	Impact	Prefix
1	Provider Guides	CRITICAL	provider names
2	Prisma Postgres	HIGH	`prisma-postgres`
3	Client Setup	CRITICAL	`prisma-client-setup`

System Prerequisites

Node.js 20.19.0+
TypeScript 5.4.0+

Bun Runtime

If you're using Bun, run Prisma CLI commands with bunx --bun prisma ... so Prisma uses the Bun runtime instead of falling back to Node.js.

Supported Databases

Database	Provider String	Notes
PostgreSQL	`postgresql`	Default, full feature support
MySQL	`mysql`	Widespread support, some JSON diffs
SQLite	`sqlite`	Local file-based, no enum/scalar lists
MongoDB	`mongodb`	Mongo-specific workflow; do not apply SQL driver-adapter guidance
SQL Server	`sqlserver`	Microsoft ecosystem
CockroachDB

Configuration Files

Your configuration shape depends on the provider and Prisma major version:

All providers use prisma/schema.prisma.
Prisma 7 SQL setups typically use prisma.config.ts for datasource URLs.
MongoDB projects should stay on Prisma 6.x, keep url = env("DATABASE_URL") in the schema, and continue using the classic MongoDB setup.

Driver Adapters

The standard SQL workflow uses a driver adapter. Choose the adapter and driver for your database and pass the adapter to PrismaClient.

Database	Adapter	JS Driver
PostgreSQL	`@prisma/adapter-pg`	`pg`
CockroachDB	`@prisma/adapter-pg`	`pg`
Prisma Postgres (Node.js)	`@prisma/adapter-pg`	`pg`
Prisma Postgres (edge/serverless)	`@prisma/adapter-ppg`

MongoDB should not follow the Prisma 7 SQL adapter workflow. Use the latest Prisma 6.x release for MongoDB projects and do not install a SQL @prisma/adapter-* package for it.

Example (PostgreSQL):

import 'dotenv/config'
import { PrismaClient } from '../generated/client'
import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'

const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })

Prisma Client Setup (Required)

Prisma Client must be installed and generated for any database.

Install Prisma CLI and Prisma Client:

npm install prisma --save-dev
npm install @prisma/client

Add a generator block (prisma-client requires an explicit output path):

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

Generate Prisma Client:
```
npx prisma generate
```

For SQL providers, instantiate Prisma Client with the database-specific driver adapter:

import { PrismaClient } from '../generated/client'
import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'

const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })

Re-run prisma generate after every schema change.

Quick Reference

PostgreSQL

datasource db {
  provider = "postgresql"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

MySQL

datasource db {
  provider = "mysql"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

SQLite

datasource db {
  provider = "sqlite"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

MongoDB

datasource db {
  provider = "mongodb"
  url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client-js"
}

For MongoDB, stay on the latest Prisma 6.x line and keep the connection URL in schema.prisma. Do not move a MongoDB project to the Prisma 7 SQL adapter setup. If a MongoDB project asks about upgrading Prisma versions, route to the prisma-mongodb-upgrade skill (stay-on-v6 vs Prisma Next is the real decision; Prisma 7 is not an option).

Rule Files

See individual rule files for detailed setup instructions:

references/postgresql.md
references/mysql.md
references/sqlite.md
references/mongodb.md
references/sqlserver.md
references/cockroachdb.md
references/prisma-postgres.md
references/prisma-client-setup.md

How to Use

Choose the provider reference file for your database, then apply references/prisma-client-setup.md to complete client generation and adapter setup. For MongoDB, use references/mongodb.md instead of copying the SQL adapter examples or Prisma 7 config pattern.

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