Learn how to provision and interact with a backend data from code in a jiffy using Prisma + graphql!

Prisma is an open-source ORM for Node.js and TypeScript. It is used as an alternative to writing plain SQL, or using another database access tool such as SQL query builders (like knex.js) or ORMs (like TypeORM and Sequelize). Prisma currently supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, MongoDB and CockroachDB (Preview).

What is a database?

A database is a tool used by developers to store and manage data for their applications. Think of it as a large electronic filing cabinet where you can store information and retrieve it quickly and easily. Databases are an essential component of many modern applications, from simple websites to complex enterprise systems.

There are many different types of databases, but they all share some common features. At its core, a database consists of one or more tables that store information in a structured way. Each table contains rows and columns, with each row representing a single record and each column representing a specific piece of information about that record.

Databases are used to store and manage all types of data, such as customer information, financial transactions, and inventory records. They are also used to track user activity, store log files, and manage security credentials.

In addition to storing data, databases can also perform a wide range of operations on that data, such as searching, sorting, filtering, and aggregating. This makes it easy for developers to extract the information they need from the database and use it in their applications.

Overall, databases are an essential tool for developers who need to store and manage large amounts of data in a structured and efficient way. They help developers build more powerful, flexible, and scalable applications that can handle a wide range of use cases and data types. If you are new to development, it's important to understand how databases work and how to use them effectively to build robust and reliable applications.

Anatomy of the database

Setup the backend side

#
#           ____      ____     __             __
#          / __/_  __/ / /____/ /_____ ______/ /__
#         / /_/ / / / / / ___/ __/ __ `/ ___/ //_/
#       / __/ /_/ / / (__  ) /_/ /_/ / /__/ ,< ____
#      /_/  \__,_/_/_/____/\__/\__, _/\___/_/|_/ / /__  ____ ____
#                                  / ___/ __ \/ / / _ \/ __ `/ _ \
#        we learn & earn 🚀      / /__/ /_/ / / /  __/ /_/ /  __/
#    https://fullstack.college   \___/\____/_/_/\___/\__, /\___/
#                                                   /____/
#
version: "3"

services:
  fullstack.college-postgresql:
    container_name: fullstack.college-postgresql
    image: postgres:latest
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: fullstack.college
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: fullstack.college
    networks:
      - fullstack.college
    ports:
      - "5432:5432"
    volumes:
      - fullstack.college-postgresql:/var/lib/postgresql/data
      
  fullstack.college-pgadmin:
    image: dpage/pgadmin4
    container_name: fullstack-pgadmin
    depends_on:
      - fullstack.college-postgresql
    ports:
      - "5050:80"
    networks:
      - fullstack.college
    environment:
      PGADMIN_DEFAULT_EMAIL: fullstack@fullstack.college
      PGADMIN_DEFAULT_PASSWORD: fullstack
    volumes:
      - fullstack.college-pgadmin:/var/lib/pgadmin

volumes:
    fullstack.college-postgresql:
    fullstack.college-pgadmin:

networks:
  fullstack.college:

Start the services

docker-compose up -d

To view the output and logs of the services run:

docker-compose logs -f

To stop viewing the logs press CTRL + C on windows or CMD + C on mac.

Variables

See also

GitHub - fullstackcollege/example-docker-postgres

Contribute to fullstackcollege/example-docker-postgres development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHubfullstackcollege

Setup the application side

Installation

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

Initialization

Initialize a prisma.schema file:

npx prisma init

Configuration

Tell prisma what database to use and connect to:

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

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

Define your first tables

model User {
  id    Int     @default(autoincrement()) @id
  email String  @unique
  name  String?
  posts Post[]
}

model Post {
  id        Int      @default(autoincrement()) @id
  title     String
  content   String?
  published Boolean? @default(false)
  author    User?    @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id])
  authorId  Int?
}

Update the database

prisma migrate dev --name init

Putting it all together

Resources

• https://graphql.org