# Getting Started (/docs/rest-api/getting-started)

Get started with the Prisma REST API by creating your first project and database

Location: REST API > Getting Started

This guide walks you through setting up a basic TypeScript project that uses the REST API to create a new Prisma Console project with a Prisma Postgres database, and print out all connection details.

You'll authenticate via a service token, set up your environment, and run a script to interact with the API.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js and `npm` installed
- A [Prisma Data Platform](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=rest-api) account

## 1. Create a service token in Prisma Console

Create a service token so your script can authenticate with the REST API:

1. Open the [Prisma Console](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=rest-api)
2. Navigate to the **Settings** page of your workspace and select **Service Tokens**
3. Click **New Service Token**
4. Copy the generated service token and store it securely. You add it to `.env` in step 2.2.

## 2. Set up your project directory

### 2.1. Create a basic TypeScript project

Create the project directory and move into it:

```bash
mkdir rest-api-demo
cd rest-api-demo
```

Next, initialize npm and install dependencies required for using TypeScript:

#### bun

```bash
bun init
bun add tsx typescript @types/node --dev
touch index.ts
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm init
pnpm add tsx typescript @types/node --save-dev
touch index.ts
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn init
yarn add tsx typescript @types/node --dev
touch index.ts
```

#### npm

```bash
npm init
npm install tsx typescript @types/node --save-dev
touch index.ts
```

You now have an `index.ts` file that you can execute with `npx tsx index.ts`. It is still empty. You add code to it in step 3.

### 2.2. Configure service token environment variable

Create your `.env` file:

```bash
touch .env
```

Next, install the [`dotenv`](https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv) library for loading environment variables from the `.env` file:

#### bun

```bash
bun add dotenv
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm add dotenv
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn add dotenv
```

#### npm

```bash
npm install dotenv
```

Finally, add your service token (from step 1.) to `.env`:

```bash
PRISMA_SERVICE_TOKEN="ey..."
```

### 2.3. Install the `axios` library for HTTP request

This guide uses [`axios`](https://github.com/axios/axios/tree/main) as the HTTP client for the REST API. Install it:

#### bun

```bash
bun add axios
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm add axios
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn add axios
```

#### npm

```bash
npm install axios
```

With the token, environment, and HTTP client in place, the next step creates a project and provisions a Prisma Postgres database.

## 3. Programmatically create a new project with a database

Paste the following code into `index.ts`:

```ts
import axios from "axios";
import dotenv from "dotenv";

// Load environment variables
dotenv.config();

const API_URL = "https://api.prisma.io/v1";
const SERVICE_TOKEN = process.env.PRISMA_SERVICE_TOKEN;

if (!SERVICE_TOKEN) {
  throw new Error("PRISMA_SERVICE_TOKEN is not set in the environment");
}

// Set HTTP headers to be used in this script
const headers = {
  Authorization: `Bearer ${SERVICE_TOKEN}`,
  "Content-Type": "application/json",
};

async function main() {
  // Create a new project in your Prisma Console workspace
  const projectName = `demo-project-${Date.now()}`;
  const region = "us-east-1";
  const createProjectRes = await axios.post(
    `${API_URL}/projects`,
    { name: projectName, region },
    { headers },
  );
  const project = createProjectRes.data;
  console.log("Created project: \n", project);

  // Log the database details
  const apiKeys = project.databases[0].apiKeys || [];
  for (const key of apiKeys) {
    console.log(`\nDatabase details`);
    console.log(`- ID: ${key.id}`);
    console.log(`- Created at: ${key.createdAt}`);
    console.log(`- API key: ${key.apiKey}`);
    console.log(`- Prisma Postgres connection string: ${key.connectionString}`);

    if (key.ppgDirectConnection) {
      console.log(`- Direct TCP connection: ${key.ppgDirectConnection.host}`);
      console.log(`  - Host: ${key.ppgDirectConnection.host}`);
      console.log(`  - Username: ${key.ppgDirectConnection.user}`);
      console.log(`  - Password: ${key.ppgDirectConnection.pass}`);
    }
  }
}

main().catch((e) => {
  console.error(e.response?.data || e);
  process.exit(1);
});
```

Run the script:

#### bun

```bash
bunx tsx index.ts
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx tsx index.ts
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx tsx index.ts
```

#### npm

```bash
npx tsx index.ts
```

```text no-copy
Created project:
 {
  createdAt: '2025-07-09T11:52:15.341Z',
  id: 'cmcvwftgs00v5zq0vh3kp7pms',
  name: 'demo-project-1752061932800',
  databases: [
    {
      createdAt: '2025-07-09T11:52:15.341Z',
      id: 'cmcvwftgs00v1zq0v0qrtrg8t',
      name: 'demo-project-1752061932800',
      connectionString: 'prisma+postgres://accelerate.prisma-data.net/?api_key=<api_key>',
      region: 'us-east-1',
      status: 'ready',
      apiKeys: [Array],
      isDefault: true
    }
  ]
}

Database details
- ID: cmcvwftgs00v2zq0vj3v0104j
- Created at: 2025-07-09T11:52:15.341Z
- API key: ey...<actual_api_key>
- Prisma Postgres connection string: prisma+postgres://accelerate.prisma-data.net/?api_key=ey...<actual_api_key>
- Direct TCP connection: db.prisma.io:5432
  - Host: db.prisma.io:5432
  - Username: <username>
  - Password: <password>
```

The output should look similar to the above.

## Conclusion

You have now set up a TypeScript project that interacts with the REST API, creates a new project and database, and prints out all connection strings. You can extend this script to manage more resources or automate other tasks using the REST API.

## Related pages

- [`Authentication`](/guides/authentication-tools-authentication): Learn how to authenticate with the Prisma REST API using service tokens or OAuth 2.0
- [`Partner Integration`](/guides/introduction-8-partner-integration): Build partner integrations that provision and transfer Prisma Postgres databases to users
- [`SDK`](/guides/authentication-tools-sdk): A TypeScript SDK for the Prisma Data Platform REST API. Use the simple client for direct API access, or the full SDK with built-in OAuth authentication and automatic token refresh
- [`Using API Clients`](/guides/authentication-tools-api-clients): Use the REST API with popular API clients like Postman, Insomnia, and Yaak

## 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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