/prisma-database-setup

name: prisma-database-setup
description: 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".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: prisma
  version: "7.6.0"

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 | `cockroachdb` | Distributed SQL, Postgres-compatible | | Prisma Postgres | `postgresql` | Managed serverless database |

Configuration Files

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

1. **All providers** use **`prisma/schema.prisma`**. 2. **Prisma 7 SQL setups** typically use **`prisma.config.ts`** for datasource URLs. 3. **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` | `@prisma/ppg` | | MySQL / MariaDB | `@prisma/adapter-mariadb` | `mariadb` | | SQLite | `@prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3` | `better-sqlite3` | | SQLite (Turso/LibSQL) | `@prisma/adapter-libsql` | `@libsql/client` | | SQL Server | `@prisma/adapter-mssql` | `node-mssql` |

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.

1. Install Prisma CLI and Prisma Client:

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

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

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

1. Generate Prisma Client:

   npx prisma generate

1. 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 })

1. 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.