# Introducing Create-Prisma: Start a Prisma App With One Command

URL: https://www.prisma.io/blog/introducing-create-prisma
Published: 2026-05-06
Authors: Aman Varshney
Tags: announcement, orm, prisma-postgres
Description: create-prisma is a new CLI that creates an app with Prisma set up, a starter schema, seed data, database scripts, and optional Prisma Postgres setup.

Starting a new app should be quick.

You know what you want to build, so you pick a framework and a database, but before you can work on the app itself you still need to set up Prisma, add a schema, add database scripts, create a seed file, set `DATABASE_URL`, generate Prisma Client, and run a migration.

Today, we're introducing `create-prisma`, a CLI that creates a new app with Prisma already set up.

```bash
npm create prisma@stable
```

Pick a template, pick a database, and start with a working Prisma app.

## Why we built it [#why-we-built-it]

Prisma setup is simple, but every framework is a little different.

Next.js, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Hono, NestJS, TanStack Start, and Turborepo do not all put Prisma files in the same place. Some apps need a Prisma client helper in `src/lib`. Some need it in a server folder. A monorepo may need Prisma in a shared package.

`create-prisma` handles those details for you.

Create a Hono API with PostgreSQL:

```bash
npm create prisma@stable -- --name my-api --template hono --provider postgresql
cd my-api
npm run dev
```

Or create a Turborepo where Prisma lives in a shared database package:

```bash
npm create prisma@stable -- --name my-monorepo --template turborepo --provider postgresql
```

Templates are available for Hono, Elysia, NestJS, Next.js, SvelteKit, Astro, Nuxt, TanStack Start, and Turborepo.

## What you get [#what-you-get]

The generated app includes the Prisma files and scripts you need:

* `prisma/schema.prisma`
* `prisma/seed.ts`
* `prisma.config.ts`
* `db:generate`, `db:migrate`, and `db:seed` scripts
* a Prisma client helper
* a `.env` file with `DATABASE_URL`

By default, it also includes a small `User` model, seed data, and an example query in the app. So the first thing you see is not just "Prisma is installed." You can run the app and see it talk to the database.

## It can create a database too [#it-can-create-a-database-too]

If you choose PostgreSQL and do not provide a `DATABASE_URL`, `create-prisma` can create a Prisma Postgres database for you:

```bash
npm create prisma@stable -- \
  --name my-app \
  --template next \
  --provider postgresql \
  --prisma-postgres
```

The CLI writes the connection string into `.env`. It can also generate Prisma Client, run the first migration, and seed the database.

Databases created this way are temporary for 24 hours until claimed. That makes it easy to try an idea quickly and keep the database if the project becomes real.

## Optional AI and editor setup [#optional-ai-and-editor-setup]

`create-prisma` can also set up Prisma tools for your editor and AI coding agents:

```bash
npm create prisma@stable -- \
  --name my-app \
  --template next \
  --provider postgresql \
  --skills \
  --mcp \
  --extension
```

These add-ons can install Prisma skills for coding agents, configure the Prisma MCP server, and install the Prisma extension for supported editors.

Try `create-prisma` today:

```bash
npm create prisma@stable
```

You can find the project on GitHub at [github.com/prisma/create-prisma](https://pris.ly/create-prisma-gh).