Guide for upgrading from Prisma 1 to Prisma ORM

Location: Guides > Upgrade Prisma ORM > Upgrade to v1

This guide covers migrating your project from Prisma 1 to Prisma ORM 7, the last release built on the `schema.prisma` workflow. Once you are on Prisma ORM 7, continue with the [Prisma ORM 7 to 8 guide](/guides/upgrade-prisma-orm-postgresql). The migration involves significant architectural changes, so plan it and test it in a separate environment before touching production.

## Before you begin

- **Back up your database** before starting the migration
- Review the [Prisma ORM documentation](/guides/introduction-7-v7) to understand the new architecture
- Set up a separate development environment for testing the migration
- Document your current Prisma 1 setup, including models, relations, and any custom configurations

## Key changes

### Architectural changes

| Feature                 | Prisma 1                      | Prisma ORM                                |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Database Connection** | Uses Prisma Server as a proxy | Direct database connection                |
| **API**                 | GraphQL API for database      | Programmatic access via Prisma Client     |
| **Schema**              | GraphQL SDL + `prisma.yml`    | Unified Prisma schema                     |
| **Modeling**            | GraphQL SDL                   | Prisma Schema Language (PSL)              |
| **Workflow**            | `prisma deploy`               | `prisma migrate` and `prisma db` commands |

### Feature changes

- **Removed**: GraphQL API for database
- **New**: Type-safe database client
- **Improved**: Database introspection and migration tools
- **Improved**: Support for more database features and types

## Migration Strategy

### 1. Preparation

#### Install Prisma ORM

#### bun

```bash
# Initialize a new project
bun init
bun add prisma@prev @prisma/client@7

# Initialize Prisma
bunx --bun prisma init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
# Initialize a new project
pnpm init
pnpm add prisma@prev @prisma/client@7

# Initialize Prisma
pnpm prisma init
```

#### yarn

```bash
# Initialize a new project
yarn init
yarn add prisma@prev @prisma/client@7

# Initialize Prisma
yarn prisma init
```

#### npm

```bash
# Initialize a new project
npm init
npm install prisma@prev @prisma/client@7

# Initialize Prisma
npx prisma init
```

#### Set up Database Connection

Update the `DATABASE_URL` in your `.env` file to point to your existing database:

```bash
DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/your_database?schema=public"
```

### 2. Schema Migration

#### Introspect Database

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma db pull
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma db pull
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma db pull
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma db pull
```

This will generate a `schema.prisma` file based on your existing database schema.

#### Update Schema

After introspection, you'll need to make several adjustments to the schema:

##### Default Values

```prisma
// Before (Prisma 1)
model User {
  id        String   @default(cuid())
  email     String   @unique
  name      String?
  createdAt DateTime @default(now())
  updatedAt DateTime @updatedAt
}
```

##### Relations

```prisma
// Before (Prisma 1)
type Post {
  id        ID!      @id
  title     String!
  author    User!    @relation(name: "UserPosts")
}

// After (Prisma ORM)
model Post {
  id        Int      @id @default(autoincrement())
  title     String
  author    User     @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id])
  authorId  Int
}
```

### 3. Data Model Adjustments

#### 3.1 Handling Special Types

| Prisma 1 Type | Prisma ORM Equivalent         | Notes                      |
| ------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| `ID`          | `String @id @default(cuid())` | Add `@id` directive        |
| `DateTime`    | `DateTime`                    | No change needed           |
| `Json`        | `Json`                        | No change needed           |
| `Enum`        | `Enum`                        | Define enums in the schema |

#### 3.2 Relation Handling

Prisma ORM requires explicit relation fields and foreign keys:

```prisma
model User {
  id    Int     @id @default(autoincrement())
  posts Post[]
}

model Post {
  id       Int    @id @default(autoincrement())
  title    String
  author   User   @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id])
  authorId Int
}
```

### 4. Update Application Code

#### 4.1 Replace Prisma 1 Client with Prisma Client

```typescript
// Before (Prisma 1)
import { prisma } from './generated/prisma-client';

async function getUser(id: string) {
  return prisma.user({ id });
}

// After (Prisma ORM)
import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client';
const prisma = new PrismaClient();

async function getUser(id: number) {
  return prisma.user.findUnique({
    where: { id }
  });
}
```

#### 4.2 Update Queries and Mutations

##### Fetching Data

```typescript
// Before (Prisma 1)
const user = await prisma.user({ id: 1 });
const posts = await prisma.user({ id: 1 }).posts();

// After (Prisma ORM)
const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({
  where: { id: 1 },
  include: { posts: true }
});
const posts = user?.posts;
```

##### Creating Records

```typescript
// Before (Prisma 1)
const newUser = await prisma.createUser({
  name: 'Alice',
  email: 'alice@example.com'
});

// After (Prisma ORM)
const newUser = await prisma.user.create({
  data: {
    name: 'Alice',
    email: 'alice@example.com'
  }
});
```

## Testing and Validation

### 1. Test Data Operations

Test all CRUD operations to ensure data consistency:

```typescript
// Test create
const user = await prisma.user.create({
  data: { name: 'Test', email: 'test@example.com' }
});

// Test read
const foundUser = await prisma.user.findUnique({
  where: { id: user.id }
});

// Test update
const updatedUser = await prisma.user.update({
  where: { id: user.id },
  data: { name: 'Updated Name' }
});

// Test delete
await prisma.user.delete({
  where: { id: user.id }
});
```

### 2. Test Relations

Verify that all relations work as expected:

```typescript
// Test relation queries
const userWithPosts = await prisma.user.findUnique({
  where: { id: 1 },
  include: {
    posts: true,
    profile: true
  }
});

// Test nested writes
const userWithNewPost = await prisma.user.create({
  data: {
    name: 'Bob',
    email: 'bob@example.com',
    posts: {
      create: {
        title: 'Hello World',
        content: 'This is my first post'
      }
    }
  },
  include: {
    posts: true
  }
});
```

## Handling Special Cases

### 1. Real-time Subscriptions

Prisma ORM doesn't include built-in real-time subscriptions. Consider these alternatives:

#### Option 1: Database Triggers

```sql
-- PostgreSQL example
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION notify_new_post()
RETURNS TRIGGER AS $$
BEGIN
  PERFORM pg_notify('new_post', row_to_json(NEW)::text);
  RETURN NEW;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

CREATE TRIGGER new_post_trigger
AFTER INSERT ON "Post"
FOR EACH ROW EXECUTE FUNCTION notify_new_post();
```

#### Option 2: Application-Level Events

```typescript
// Publish event when creating a post
const post = await prisma.post.create({
  data: {
    title: 'New Post',
    content: 'Content',
    author: { connect: { id: userId }}
  }
});

// Publish event to your pub/sub system
await pubsub.publish('POST_CREATED', { postCreated: post });
```

### 2. Authentication

If you were using Prisma 1's built-in authentication, you'll need to implement your own solution:

```typescript
import { compare } from 'bcryptjs';
import { sign } from 'jsonwebtoken';

export async function login(email: string, password: string) {
  const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { email } });
  if (!user) throw new Error('User not found');
  
  const valid = await compare(password, user.password);
  if (!valid) throw new Error('Invalid password');
  
  const token = sign({ userId: user.id }, process.env.APP_SECRET!);
  return { token, user };
}
```

## Migration Tools

### Prisma 1 Upgrade CLI

The [Prisma 1 Upgrade CLI](https://github.com/prisma/prisma1-upgrade) can help automate parts of the migration:

#### bun

```bash
# Install the upgrade CLI
bun add --global prisma1-upgrade

# Run the upgrade helper
prisma1-upgrade
```

#### pnpm

```bash
# Install the upgrade CLI
pnpm add -g prisma1-upgrade

# Run the upgrade helper
prisma1-upgrade
```

#### yarn

```bash
# Install the upgrade CLI
yarn global add prisma1-upgrade

# Run the upgrade helper
prisma1-upgrade
```

#### npm

```bash
# Install the upgrade CLI
npm install -g prisma1-upgrade

# Run the upgrade helper
prisma1-upgrade
```

This tool helps with:

- Converting your Prisma 1 datamodel to Prisma schema
- Identifying potential issues in your schema
- Providing migration recommendations

## Performance Considerations

1. **Connection Pooling**: Configure a connection limit so the client does not exhaust your database connections:
   ```typescript
   const prisma = new PrismaClient({
     log: ['query', 'info', 'warn', 'error'],
     datasources: {
       db: {
         url: process.env.DATABASE_URL + '&connection_limit=20'
       }
     }
   });
   ```

2. **Query Optimization**: Use `select` to fetch only needed fields:
   ```typescript
   const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({
     where: { id: 1 },
     select: {
       id: true,
       name: true,
       email: true
     }
   });
   ```

## Next Steps

Your project now runs on Prisma ORM 7. To move to the current release, follow the [Prisma ORM 7 to 8 guide](/guides/upgrade-prisma-orm-postgresql) (or the [MongoDB version](/guides/upgrade-prisma-orm-mongodb)).

- [Prisma ORM Documentation](/guides/introduction-7-v7)
- [Prisma Schema Reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-schema-reference)
- [Prisma Client API Reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-client-reference)
- [Prisma Migrate Guide](/guides/prisma-migrate-v7-prisma-migrate)
- [Prisma Studio](https://www.prisma.io/studio)

## Getting Help

If you encounter issues during migration:

1. Search the [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/prisma/orm/issues)
2. Ask for help in the [Prisma Slack](https://slack.prisma.io/)
3. Open a [GitHub Discussion](https://github.com/prisma/orm/discussions)

## Related pages

- [`Prisma ORM 6 to 8 (MongoDB)`](/guides/upgrade-prisma-orm-mongodb): Migrate a MongoDB project from Prisma ORM 6 to Prisma ORM 8
- [`Prisma ORM 7 to 8 (PostgreSQL)`](/guides/upgrade-prisma-orm-postgresql): Migrate a PostgreSQL project from Prisma ORM 7 to Prisma ORM 8 incrementally, with both versions running side by side
- [`Upgrade to v3`](/guides/guides-3-upgrade-prisma-orm-v3): Guide for upgrading to Prisma ORM v3
- [`Upgrade to v4`](/guides/guides-3-upgrade-prisma-orm-v4): Guide for upgrading to Prisma ORM v4
- [`Upgrade to v5`](/guides/guides-3-upgrade-prisma-orm-v5): Guide for upgrading to Prisma ORM v5

## 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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