> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.launchtoday.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Database ORM

> Switch between Prisma and Drizzle

Launch ships with a thin ORM adapter layer so you can swap Prisma or Drizzle
without rewriting app code. You should pick **one** ORM for a project and
remove the other to keep the dependency tree and docs clean.

## Choose an ORM

Set `DATABASE_ORM` in `apps/api/.env`:

```bash theme={null}
DATABASE_ORM=prisma
```

```bash theme={null}
DATABASE_ORM=drizzle
```

## Prisma (default)

* Uses `prisma/schema.prisma` and Prisma migrations.
* `db:generate`, `db:migrate`, and `db:push` run Prisma commands when
  `DATABASE_ORM=prisma`.

## Drizzle + Neon

* Uses Drizzle ORM with the Neon serverless driver (and `pg` for local Postgres).
* You can reuse the same Postgres schema; the adapter targets the same tables.
* Drizzle is **code-first**: the `schema.ts` file defines tables, and Drizzle Kit
  generates SQL migrations from it.

### Drizzle workflow

1. Edit `apps/api/src/lib/db/schema.ts`
2. Generate SQL migrations: `pnpm --filter api db:generate`
3. Apply to the database: `pnpm --filter api db:push`

## Remove the ORM you don’t use

After you pick one ORM, delete the other to avoid confusion and remove the
unused dependencies from `apps/api/package.json`.

### If you choose Prisma, remove Drizzle

1. Delete Drizzle files:
   * `apps/api/src/lib/db/drizzle-adapter.ts`
   * `apps/api/src/lib/db/schema.ts`
   * `apps/api/drizzle.config.ts`
   * `apps/api/drizzle/`
2. Remove Drizzle dependencies from `apps/api/package.json`:
   * `drizzle-orm`
   * `drizzle-kit`
   * `@neondatabase/serverless`
   * `ws` + `@types/ws`
3. Update `apps/api/src/lib/db/index.ts` to only load Prisma.

### If you choose Drizzle, remove Prisma

1. Delete Prisma files:
   * `apps/api/prisma/`
   * `apps/api/src/lib/db/prisma-adapter.ts`
   * `apps/api/src/generated/`
2. Remove Prisma dependencies from `apps/api/package.json`:
   * `prisma`
   * `@prisma/client`
   * `@prisma/adapter-pg`
3. Update `apps/api/src/lib/db/index.ts` to only load Drizzle.
4. Update the build script to remove `prisma generate`.

## Notes

* `db:generate`, `db:migrate`, and `db:push` auto-select Prisma or Drizzle based
  on `DATABASE_ORM` in `apps/api/.env`.
* `db:reset` runs Prisma reset. For Drizzle, use manual SQL or a dedicated reset
  workflow.
* For Neon setup and safe migration guidance, see [Neon Database](/backend/neon).
* Prisma and Drizzle migrations are separate workflows. Pick one toolchain per
  project and keep it consistent.
* Switching the ORM does not change your database; it only changes the client.