# dev (Prisma CLI v7) (/docs/cli/v7/dev)

Start a local Prisma Postgres server for development

Location: CLI > v7 > dev

The `prisma dev` command starts a [local Prisma Postgres](/guides/local-development-2-postgres) database that you can run Prisma ORM commands against. Use it for development and testing, then point the same project at [Prisma Postgres](/guides/introduction-2-postgres) for production.

## Usage

```bash
prisma dev [options]
```

## Options

| Option             | Description                                               | Default   |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- | --------- |
| `-n`, `--name`     | Name of the server (helps isolate state between projects) | `default` |
| `-p`, `--port`     | Main port number the Prisma Dev server will listen on     | `51213`   |
| `-P`, `--db-port`  | Port number the database server will listen on            | `51214`   |
| `--shadow-db-port` | Port number the shadow database server will listen on     | `51215`   |
| `-d`, `--detach`   | Run the server in the background                          | `false`   |
| `--debug`          | Enable debug logging                                      | `false`   |

## Subcommands

| Command                                              | Description                       |
| ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| [`prisma dev ls`](/guides/dev-commands-dev-ls)       | List available servers            |
| [`prisma dev rm`](/guides/dev-commands-dev-rm)       | Remove servers                    |
| [`prisma dev start`](/guides/dev-commands-dev-start) | Start one or more stopped servers |
| [`prisma dev stop`](/guides/dev-commands-dev-stop)   | Stop servers                      |

## Examples

### Start a local Prisma Postgres server

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma dev
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma dev
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma dev
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma dev
```

Output:

```text
✔  Great Success!

   Your  prisma dev  server default is ready and listening on ports 63567-63569.

╭──────────────────────────────────╮
│[q]uit  [h]ttp url  [t]cp urls    │
╰──────────────────────────────────╯
```

### Start with a specific name

Create a named instance for project isolation:

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma dev --name="mydbname"
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma dev --name="mydbname"
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma dev --name="mydbname"
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma dev --name="mydbname"
```

### Run in detached mode

Run the server in the background:

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma dev --detach
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma dev --detach
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma dev --detach
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma dev --detach
```

This frees up your terminal. Use `prisma dev ls` to see running servers and `prisma dev stop` to stop them.

### Specify custom ports

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma dev --port 5000 --db-port 5001 --shadow-db-port 5002
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma dev --port 5000 --db-port 5001 --shadow-db-port 5002
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma dev --port 5000 --db-port 5001 --shadow-db-port 5002
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma dev --port 5000 --db-port 5001 --shadow-db-port 5002
```

## Related pages

- [`db`](/guides/db-commands-db): Manage your database schema and lifecycle during development
- [`debug`](/guides/standalone-commands-debug): Display Prisma debug information including schema paths, engine binaries, environment variables, and cache directories for troubleshooting
- [`format`](/guides/standalone-commands-format): Format and validate your Prisma schema file with consistent structure
- [`generate`](/guides/standalone-commands-generate): Generate artifacts like Prisma Client based on your Prisma schema
- [`init`](/guides/standalone-commands-init): Set up a new Prisma project in the current directory

## Related pages

- [Authentication & Tools](./authentication-tools-index.md)
- [Build](./build-index.md)
- [Changelog](../changelog.md)
- [Concepts](./concepts-index.md)
- [Console commands](./console-commands-index.md)
- [Contract Authoring](./contract-authoring-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)
- [Data Modeling](./data-modeling-index.md)
- [Database](./database-index.md)
- [DB commands](./db-commands-index.md)

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