# Choose a Prisma ORM setup path (/docs/getting-started)

> For the complete Prisma documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.prisma.io/docs/llms.txt). A markdown version of any docs page is available by appending `.md` to its URL.

Choose the fastest path to try Prisma ORM in a new or existing project.

Location: Choose a Prisma ORM setup path

Start with a quickstart if you want [Prisma ORM](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm) to create the app. Use the existing-project path if you already have an app and database.

Coming from an earlier version? [Coming from Prisma ORM 7](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/coming-from-prisma-orm-7) maps every Prisma ORM 7 API to its Prisma ORM 8 form, and [Release status](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/release-status) says where Prisma ORM 8 stands today.

## Start a new project [#start-a-new-project]

  

#### bun

```bash
bun create prisma@latest
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm create prisma@latest
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn create prisma@latest
```

#### npm

```bash
npm create prisma@latest
```

The [create-prisma reference](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/create-prisma) lists every template and flag.

- [Deploy the full Prisma stack](https://www.prisma.io/docs/full-stack-tutorial): The whole journey in one sitting: scaffold, Prisma Postgres, first query, and a Prisma Compute deploy.

- [Create a new app with PostgreSQL](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/quickstart/postgresql): Create the app, run it against a local Prisma Postgres from Composer or your own PostgreSQL, and run the first query.

- [Create a new app with MongoDB](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/quickstart/mongodb): Create the app, connect a MongoDB deployment, apply the first migration, and run the first query.

## Add to an existing project [#add-to-an-existing-project]

  

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma@latest orm init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx prisma@latest orm init
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx prisma@latest orm init
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma@latest orm init
```

- [Add to PostgreSQL](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/add-to-existing-project/postgresql): Add Prisma ORM to an existing PostgreSQL app and infer a starter contract from the live schema.

- [Add to MongoDB](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/add-to-existing-project/mongodb): Add Prisma ORM to an existing MongoDB app and model the collections you want to query first.

## After setup [#after-setup]

* Use the generated app scripts for the first run.
* Open `prisma-8.md` or the installed Prisma ORM skills when you want agent-ready guidance inside the project.
* Change the starter contract when you are ready to model your own data.
* Open the [Prisma ORM overview](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm) when you want the concepts behind the setup.

## Use with your agent [#use-with-your-agent]

You can hand either setup path to your coding agent. Copy the prompt that matches your project and give it to your agent. Both prompts use PostgreSQL.

To create a new app, use this prompt:

```text
Create a new [framework] application with Prisma ORM, seed it, and run it locally.

If I have not told you which framework, stop and ask before scaffolding. Valid --template values: minimal (the default), next, hono, nuxt, astro, nest, svelte, tanstack-start, elysia.

1. Scaffold the app: `npm create prisma@latest -- my-app --template [framework] --provider postgres --yes`.
2. Get a database connection string: use the one I give you, or create a Prisma Postgres database with `npx create-db@latest` and show me the claim URL it prints. Export it as `DATABASE_URL` in the shell; the generated scripts read the environment variable, not `.env`.
3. From the project directory, apply the starter contract: `npm run db:init`. Sample users are seeded automatically on the app's first query; there is no separate seed script.
4. Edit the starter contract under `src/prisma/` into a small schema for my use case, then run `npm run contract:emit` and plan and apply the migration: `npx prisma migration plan`, then `npx prisma db migrate --yes`. Migration planning diffs the emitted contract, so the emit step is required.
5. Update the seed script under `src/prisma/` and the app routes to query the new schema, start `npm run dev` in the background (with `DATABASE_URL` exported), and verify with a request against the running app. For the `nest` template, if routes return 500s with `reading 'findAll'` in the logs, add explicit `@Inject()` tokens as shown in https://www.prisma.io/docs/guides/frameworks/nestjs.md.

Use the installed Prisma ORM skills and the current Prisma docs: https://www.prisma.io/docs/llms.txt (append `.md` to any docs URL for a markdown version).
```

To add Prisma ORM to an app you already have, use this prompt:

```text
Add Prisma ORM to this existing project.

This flow is for PostgreSQL. If the project uses MongoDB, follow https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/add-to-existing-project/mongodb.md instead; for other databases, stop and tell me.

1. Run `npx prisma@latest orm init --yes --target postgres --authoring psl` (the flags are required when the CLI cannot prompt). It writes `prisma.config.ts`, a starter contract and `db.ts` under `src/prisma/`, and installs dependencies. Then run `npx prisma skills sync` to install the Prisma ORM skills.
2. Set `DATABASE_URL` in `.env` to my database. If I did not give you one, create a Prisma Postgres database with `npx create-db@latest`, put its connection string in `.env`, and show me the claim URL it prints so I can keep the database.
3. If the database already has tables, infer the contract from it: `npx prisma contract infer`, then `npx prisma contract emit`, then sign it with `npx prisma db sign`. If the database is empty, keep the starter contract and run `npx prisma db init`.
4. Write one query with the generated `db` client in an existing code path, run it, and show me the returned rows.

Follow https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm/add-to-existing-project/postgresql.md and the installed Prisma ORM skills.
```

## Related pages

- [`Console`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/console): Learn how to use the Console to manage and integrate Prisma products into your application.
- [`Deploy the full Prisma stack`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/full-stack-tutorial): A single tutorial from empty directory to live URL, with Prisma Composer, Prisma ORM, and Prisma Postgres.
- [`Introduction to Prisma ORM`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/prisma-orm): Prisma ORM 8 is the current release.
- [`Local development`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/local-development): Run the whole Prisma stack on your machine, with your app on Bun, a local Prisma Postgres database, and local object storage.
- [`Overview`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/guides): Practical, step-by-step guides for building with Prisma ORM, each one run end to end before it ships.