Want to use PostgreSQL in your project without installing it system-wide or using Docker? With the <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/embedded-postgres" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><code>embedded-postgres</code></a> package, you can run PostgreSQL locally inside your project, just like SQLite but with the full power of Postgres.
This guide walks you through setting up PostgreSQL locally and performing CRUD operations using Prisma.
<hr>
<h2>📌 Step 1: Install Dependencies</h2>
Inside your project folder, install the required packages:
<pre><code class="language-sh">npm install embedded-postgres prisma @prisma/client pg
</code></pre>
<hr>
<h2>🔧 Step 2: Setup Embedded PostgreSQL</h2>
Create a new file <code>start-db.js</code> to manage the database lifecycle:
<pre><code class="language-js">const EmbeddedPostgres = require(&#x27;embedded-postgres&#x27;);

const pg = new EmbeddedPostgres({
 databaseDir: &#x27;./data/db&#x27;, // Store all data in your project
 user: &#x27;postgres&#x27;,
 password: &#x27;password&#x27;,
 port: 5432,
 persistent: true, // Keep data even after restart
});

async function startDatabase() {
 await pg.initialise(); // Setup configuration files
 await pg.start(); // Start the database
 console.log(`PostgreSQL running at: postgres://postgres:password@localhost:5432/postgres`);
}

startDatabase();
module.exports = pg; // Export for use in other files
</code></pre>
<hr>
<h2>🛠️ Step 3: Initialize Prisma</h2>
<h3>(⚠️ Make sure the database is running before this step!)</h3>
Before running Prisma migrations, start the database using:
<pre><code class="language-sh">node start-db.js
</code></pre>
Now, initialize Prisma:
<pre><code class="language-sh">npx prisma init
</code></pre>
This will create a <code>.env</code> file. Update it with the database URL:
<pre><code>DATABASE_URL=&quot;postgresql://postgres:password@localhost:5432/postgres&quot;
</code></pre>
Now, edit <code>prisma/schema.prisma</code> and define a simple <code>User</code> model:
<pre><code class="language-prisma">generator client {
 provider = &quot;prisma-client-js&quot;
}

datasource db {
 provider = &quot;postgresql&quot;
 url = env(&quot;DATABASE_URL&quot;)
}

model User {
 id String @id @default(uuid())
 name String
 age Int
}
</code></pre>
Run the migration to apply the changes:
<pre><code class="language-sh">npx prisma migrate dev --name init
</code></pre>
<hr>
<h2>📝 Step 4: Perform CRUD Operations</h2>
Create a file <code>database.js</code> to interact with PostgreSQL:
<pre><code class="language-js">const { PrismaClient } = require(&#x27;@prisma/client&#x27;);
const prisma = new PrismaClient();
const pg = require(&#x27;./start-db&#x27;); // Ensure the database starts

// Create a new user
async function createUser(name, age) {
 return await prisma.user.create({
 data: { name, age },
 });
}

// Get all users
async function getUsers() {
 return await prisma.user.findMany();
}

// Update a user
async function updateUser(id, newData) {
 return await prisma.user.update({
 where: { id },
 data: newData,
 });
}

// Delete a user
async function deleteUser(id) {
 return await prisma.user.delete({
 where: { id },
 });
}

module.exports = { createUser, getUsers, updateUser, deleteUser };
</code></pre>
<hr>
<h2>🎯 Running Everything</h2>
Start PostgreSQL before running your app:
<pre><code class="language-sh">node start-db.js
</code></pre>
Then, in another terminal, start your app:
<pre><code class="language-sh">node app.js
</code></pre>
This setup ensures: 
✅ PostgreSQL runs locally inside your project 
✅ All data is stored inside <code>./data/db</code> (no global install needed) 
✅ Full CRUD functionality with Prisma
Now you have a fully functional PostgreSQL setup inside your project, without Docker or system-wide installation! 🚀🔥

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WebDev

🚀 Running PostgreSQL Locally in Your Project (Without Docker or Global Install)

I have never heard about that way of quickly create a Postgres database. I may try it out ! Just yesterday I decided to delete docker desktop because at this point I just use the cli. I ended up losing all my volumes in the process 🤣