prisma-database-setup

SKILL.md

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:

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
@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.

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.