# PostgreSQL (/docs/v8/quickstart/postgresql)

> 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.

Create a new Prisma 8 project with PostgreSQL using create-prisma@next.

Location: V8 > Quickstart > PostgreSQL

Create a Prisma 8 app with PostgreSQL and run your first query against seeded data.

> [!NOTE]
> The Prisma 8 Release Candidate is available
> 
> Prisma 8 is the next major version of Prisma ORM, now available as a Release Candidate. It’s the cutting-edge version of Prisma ORM and will become the future of Prisma, so we’d love for you to try it, explore what’s new, and [share your feedback in Discord](https://pris.ly/discord).
> 
> If you want to stay on the current generally available version of Prisma ORM, you can continue with [Prisma 7](https://www.prisma.io/docs/getting-started).

## Quick start [#quick-start]

  

#### bun

```bash
bunx create-prisma@next --provider postgres
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx create-prisma@next --provider postgres
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx create-prisma@next --provider postgres
```

#### npm

```bash
npx create-prisma@next --provider postgres
```

Run this from a Node.js 24 or newer environment. The command preselects PostgreSQL and prompts you for the contract authoring style (PSL or TypeScript) and your package manager.

Setup gives you the app template, a starter contract, `prisma-next.md`, project-level Prisma 8 skills for your coding agent, and package scripts for the database steps below. Sample users are seeded automatically the first time the app queries the database, so there is no separate seed step.

From here you have two paths: let [Prisma Composer](https://www.prisma.io/docs/composer) run a local Prisma Postgres database for you, or connect a PostgreSQL database you provide.

## Path A: Run with a local database [#path-a-run-with-a-local-database]

Composer builds the app, starts a local Prisma Postgres database, and applies the starter contract for you. No connection string needed.

  

#### bun

```bash
bun run dev:composer
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm run dev:composer
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dev:composer
```

#### npm

```bash
npm run dev:composer
```

Open the URL the command prints. You should see the seeded users returned from PostgreSQL.

## Path B: Connect your own database [#path-b-connect-your-own-database]

### 1. Set the database connection [#1-set-the-database-connection]

Export `DATABASE_URL` in the shell you run the commands from. The generated scripts read the variable from the environment, not from `.env`.

```bash
export DATABASE_URL="postgresql://username:password@host:5432/database?sslmode=require"
```

If you don't have a PostgreSQL database yet, `npx create-db@latest` creates a temporary Prisma Postgres database and prints its connection string, plus a claim URL if you want to keep it.

### 2. Initialize the database [#2-initialize-the-database]

From the generated project directory, run `db:init` to apply the starter contract to PostgreSQL and sign the database.

  

#### bun

```bash
bun run db:init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm run db:init
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn db:init
```

#### npm

```bash
npm run db:init
```

The output ends with a summary like `Applied 5 operation(s) across 1 space(s), database signed`.

### 3. Run the app [#3-run-the-app]

Start the app and confirm the sample query runs successfully.

  

#### bun

```bash
bun run dev
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm run dev
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dev
```

#### npm

```bash
npm run dev
```

Use the URL or terminal output shown by your template. You should see the seeded users returned from PostgreSQL. If the response is `Could not query users yet`, `DATABASE_URL` is not set in the environment the app runs in; export it in the same shell and restart.

## Next steps [#next-steps]

* Open `src/prisma/contract.prisma` or `src/prisma/contract.ts` and change the starter model.
* Use the [PostgreSQL existing-project guide](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v8/add-to-existing-project/postgresql) if you already have an app and database.
* Read the [Prisma 8 overview](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/v8) when you want the concepts behind contracts, query APIs, and migrations.

## Related pages

- [`MongoDB`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/v8/quickstart/mongodb): Create a new Prisma 8 project with MongoDB using create-prisma@next.