Prisma ORM Development Skill

Version: 1.1.0 | Target: <500 lines | Purpose: Fast reference for Prisma operations

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Overview

What is Prisma: Type-safe ORM with schema-first design for TypeScript/JavaScript. Auto-generates client from schema with full IntelliSense support.

When to Use This Skill:

• Database schema design and migrations
• Type-safe CRUD operations
• Relation handling and query optimization
• Integration with Supabase, PlanetScale, Neon

Auto-Detection Triggers:

• schema.prisma file present
• @prisma/client in dependencies
• prisma in devDependencies
• User mentions "Prisma", "ORM", or database models

Progressive Disclosure:

• This file (SKILL.md): Quick reference for immediate use
• REFERENCE.md: Comprehensive patterns, advanced queries, production deployment

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Table of Contents

1. Project Structure
2. Schema Basics
3. CLI Commands
4. Client Operations
5. Relations
6. Transactions
7. Database Integrations
8. Error Handling
9. Testing Patterns
10. Quick Reference Card

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Project Structure

my_project/
├── prisma/
│   ├── schema.prisma          # Schema definition
│   ├── migrations/            # Migration history
│   └── seed.ts                # Database seeding
├── src/
│   └── lib/prisma.ts          # Client singleton
└── package.json

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Schema Basics

Datasource Configuration

// PostgreSQL (local)
datasource db {
  provider = "postgresql"
  url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
}

// Supabase (with pooling) - see Database Integrations
datasource db {
  provider  = "postgresql"
  url       = env("DATABASE_URL")      // Pooled connection
  directUrl = env("DIRECT_URL")        // Direct for migrations
}

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

Model Definition

model User {
  id        String   @id @default(cuid())
  email     String   @unique
  name      String
  bio       String?                    // Optional
  role      Role     @default(USER)
  active    Boolean  @default(true)
  createdAt DateTime @default(now())
  updatedAt DateTime @updatedAt
  posts     Post[]                     // Relation

  @@index([email])
}

enum Role {
  USER
  ADMIN
}

Common Field Types

Type	Example	Notes
String	name String	Text
String?	bio String?	Optional text
Int	count Int	Integer
Float	price Float	Decimal
Boolean	active Boolean	true/false
DateTime	createdAt DateTime	Timestamp
Json	metadata Json	JSON object
String[]	tags String[]	PostgreSQL array

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Schema Design Patterns for soft delete, audit fields, polymorphic relations, and multi-tenancy patterns.

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CLI Commands

Development Workflow

npx prisma init                      # Initialize Prisma
npx prisma generate                  # Generate client after schema changes
npx prisma db push                   # Push schema (no migrations)
npx prisma migrate dev --name init   # Create migration
npx prisma migrate reset             # Reset database
npx prisma studio                    # Open GUI

Production Workflow

npx prisma generate                  # Generate client (required in CI)
npx prisma migrate deploy            # Apply pending migrations
npx prisma migrate status            # Check migration status

Database Inspection

npx prisma db pull                   # Pull schema from existing DB
npx prisma validate                  # Validate schema
npx prisma format                    # Format schema file

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Client Operations

Client Singleton

// src/lib/prisma.ts
import { PrismaClient } from "@prisma/client";

const globalForPrisma = globalThis as unknown as {
  prisma: PrismaClient | undefined;
};

export const prisma = globalForPrisma.prisma ?? new PrismaClient();

if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  globalForPrisma.prisma = prisma;
}

CRUD Operations

// Create
const user = await prisma.user.create({
  data: { email: "user@example.com", name: "John" },
});

// Read
const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({
  where: { id: "user_id" },
});

// Update
const updated = await prisma.user.update({
  where: { id: "user_id" },
  data: { name: "New Name" },
});

// Upsert
const upserted = await prisma.user.upsert({
  where: { email: "user@example.com" },
  update: { name: "Updated" },
  create: { email: "user@example.com", name: "New" },
});

// Delete
const deleted = await prisma.user.delete({
  where: { id: "user_id" },
});

Filtering

const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  where: {
    email: { contains: "@example.com" },
    role: { in: ["ADMIN", "USER"] },
    createdAt: { gte: new Date("2024-01-01") },
    OR: [
      { name: { startsWith: "John" } },
      { name: { startsWith: "Jane" } },
    ],
  },
});

Pagination

// Offset pagination
const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  skip: (page - 1) * pageSize,
  take: pageSize,
  orderBy: { createdAt: "desc" },
});

// Cursor pagination (more efficient)
const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  take: 10,
  cursor: { id: "last_seen_id" },
  skip: 1,
});

Select and Include

// Select specific fields
const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  select: { id: true, name: true, email: true },
});

// Include relations
const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  include: { posts: { where: { published: true }, take: 5 } },
});

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Query Optimization for N+1 prevention, cursor pagination, and aggregation patterns.

---

Relations

One-to-Many

model User {
  id    String @id @default(cuid())
  posts Post[]
}

model Post {
  id       String @id @default(cuid())
  author   User   @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id])
  authorId String
  @@index([authorId])
}

Many-to-Many (Implicit)

model Post {
  id         String     @id @default(cuid())
  categories Category[]
}

model Category {
  id    String @id @default(cuid())
  posts Post[]
}

Relation Queries

// Create with relation
const user = await prisma.user.create({
  data: {
    email: "author@example.com",
    posts: { create: { title: "First Post" } },
  },
  include: { posts: true },
});

// Filter by relation
const usersWithPosts = await prisma.user.findMany({
  where: { posts: { some: { published: true } } },
});

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Advanced Relations for self-relations, polymorphic patterns, and explicit many-to-many.

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Transactions

Interactive Transaction

const result = await prisma.$transaction(async (tx) => {
  const order = await tx.order.create({ data: orderData });
  await tx.inventory.update({
    where: { id: productId },
    data: { stock: { decrement: 1 } },
  });
  if ((await tx.inventory.findUnique({ where: { id: productId } }))!.stock < 0) {
    throw new Error("Insufficient stock");
  }
  return order;
});

Sequential Transaction

const [users, posts] = await prisma.$transaction([
  prisma.user.findMany(),
  prisma.post.findMany(),
]);

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Transactions & Concurrency for isolation levels, optimistic locking, and deadlock prevention.

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Database Integrations

Supabase

datasource db {
  provider  = "postgresql"
  url       = env("DATABASE_URL")      // Transaction pooler
  directUrl = env("DIRECT_URL")        // Direct for migrations
}

DATABASE_URL="postgres://postgres.[ref]:password@aws-0-region.pooler.supabase.com:6543/postgres?pgbouncer=true"
DIRECT_URL="postgres://postgres.[ref]:password@aws-0-region.supabase.com:5432/postgres"

PlanetScale

datasource db {
  provider     = "mysql"
  url          = env("DATABASE_URL")
  relationMode = "prisma"  // Required: no foreign keys
}

Neon

datasource db {
  provider  = "postgresql"
  url       = env("DATABASE_URL")
  directUrl = env("DIRECT_URL")
}

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Database Integrations for Supabase Auth integration, connection pooling, and edge runtime setup.

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Error Handling

Common Error Codes

Code	Description	Resolution
P2002	Unique constraint failed	Duplicate value
P2003	Foreign key constraint failed	Missing relation
P2025	Record not found	Update/delete on missing record
P2024	Connection pool timeout	Too many connections

Error Handling Pattern

import { Prisma } from "@prisma/client";

try {
  await prisma.user.create({ data });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof Prisma.PrismaClientKnownRequestError) {
    if (error.code === "P2002") {
      throw new ConflictError("Email already exists");
    }
    if (error.code === "P2025") {
      throw new NotFoundError("Record not found");
    }
  }
  throw error;
}

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Error Handling for comprehensive error mapping and retry strategies.

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Testing Patterns

Mock Client

import { mockDeep, DeepMockProxy } from "jest-mock-extended";
import { PrismaClient } from "@prisma/client";

export const prismaMock = mockDeep<PrismaClient>();

jest.mock("./lib/prisma", () => ({
  prisma: prismaMock,
}));

// In tests
prismaMock.user.create.mockResolvedValue(mockUser);

Test Database Setup

beforeEach(async () => {
  await prisma.$executeRaw`TRUNCATE TABLE "User" CASCADE`;
});

afterAll(async () => {
  await prisma.$disconnect();
});

More patterns: See REFERENCE.md - Testing Strategies for integration testing, test containers, and CI/CD setup.

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Quick Reference Card

# Development
npx prisma generate          # Regenerate client
npx prisma db push           # Push schema changes
npx prisma migrate dev       # Create migration
npx prisma studio            # GUI browser

# Production
npx prisma generate          # Required in CI
npx prisma migrate deploy    # Apply migrations

// CRUD
prisma.model.create({ data })
prisma.model.findUnique({ where })
prisma.model.findMany({ where, orderBy, take, skip })
prisma.model.update({ where, data })
prisma.model.delete({ where })
prisma.model.upsert({ where, create, update })

// Relations
include: { relation: true }
include: { relation: { where, take } }
where: { relation: { some: {} } }

// Transactions
prisma.$transaction(async (tx) => { ... })
prisma.$transaction([query1, query2])

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Progressive Disclosure: Start here for quick reference. Load REFERENCE.md for comprehensive patterns, advanced configurations, and production deployment.

Skill Version: 1.1.0