# 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](#usage)

```
prisma dev [options]
```

## [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](#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](#examples)

### [Start a local Prisma Postgres server](#start-a-local-prisma-postgres-server)

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx prisma dev
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm prisma dev module.ts
pnpm prisma dev module.ts --fresh
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn prisma dev module.ts
yarn prisma dev module.ts --fresh
```

```bash title="npm"
npx prisma dev module.ts
npx prisma dev module.ts --fresh
```
:::

Output:

```
✔  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](#start-with-a-specific-name)

Create a named instance for project isolation:

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bunx prisma dev --name="mydbname"
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
:::
::::

### [Run in detached mode](#run-in-detached-mode)

Run the server in the background:

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bunx prisma dev --detach
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
:::
::::

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

### [Specify custom ports](#specify-custom-ports)

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bunx prisma dev --port 5000 --db-port 5001 --shadow-db-port 5002
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
:::
::::

## 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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