Write Once, Run Anywhere: Mastering Drizzle-ORM with SvelteKit

At the forefront of modern development, Drizzle-ORM stands as a beacon for those aiming to write once and run anywhere. While still evolving towards its 1.0 release, it offers a unique approach to database management, rivaling established tools like Prisma with its JavaScript-centric schema definitions.

Updated May 9th, 2024

🔍 The Promise of Unified Data Representation

In the sprawling architecture of distributed apps, maintaining scalability and performance can be daunting. Enter Drizzle-ORM—a tool that bridges the gap between your database and application code with finesse. By allowing developers to define schemas in JavaScript, it simplifies the often fragmented process of data management, ensuring consistency across RESTful APIs and database interactions. This unified approach enhances keyword research in your content strategies, directly influencing ranking and SEO benefits.

Frameworks like Prisma have long championed this approach, offering powerful ORM capabilities. Drizzle-ORM takes it a step further by enabling a more serverless and reactive environment, perfectly aligning with modern web development trends like responsive design and mobile-first strategies.

🌐 Developer-Friendly Features

1. JavaScript-Centric Schema Definitions: Write your entire schema in JavaScript, eliminating the need for separate configuration files. This design promotes software quality and error detection, streamlining the development process.

2. Edge Runtime Support: Unlike Prisma, which requires a data proxy, Drizzle-ORM is optimized for serverless architectures, enhancing performance and reducing latency. This makes it ideal for distributed apps that demand high scalability.

3. Type Safety with Zod: Integrate seamlessly with Zod for robust type validation, ensuring software quality and maintaining secure data transactions with cryptography best practices.

🛠️ Getting Started: SvelteKit Meets Drizzle-ORM

Embark on your journey to seamless data management with this step-by-step tutorial. By integrating Drizzle-ORM with SvelteKit and Vercel Postgres, you’re set to build energy-efficient software that’s both eco-friendly and high-performing.

1. Initialize Your SvelteKit Project

Kickstart your project with the minimal template and TypeScript support for optimal performance and scalability.

npx sv@latest create

Follow the prompts to initialize a Git repository and publish it to your GitHub account, laying the foundation for robust DevOps and tooling.

2. Configure Vercel for Deployment

Deploy effortlessly using Vercel’s CI/CD pipelines, ensuring continuous integration and deployment for your application.

Install Vercel CLI and Link Your Project

npm install -g vercel@latest
vercel login
vercel link
vercel git connect

Commit and push your changes to trigger deployments, leveraging Vercel’s seamless integration with GitHub.

Set Up Your Postgres Database

Create a Postgres database through the Vercel dashboard and link it to your project. Pull the environment variables to your local machine:

vercel env pull .env.development.local

Ensure your environment variables are secure by adding .env.* files to your .gitignore.

3. Install Drizzle-ORM and Dependencies

Enhance your project with Drizzle-ORM and essential tools:

npm install -D drizzle-orm drizzle-kit @vercel/postgres

4. Define and Migrate Your Schema

Create a unified schema in src/lib/db/schema.ts:

// src/lib/db/schema.ts
import { integer, pgTable, serial } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";
 
export const PageInsights = pgTable("page_insights", {
	id: serial("id").notNull(),
	views: integer("views").notNull(),
});

Set up Drizzle’s configuration in drizzle.config.ts:

// drizzle.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from "drizzle-kit";
 
export default defineConfig({
	schema: "./src/lib/db/schema.ts",
	out: "./drizzle",
	dialect: "postgresql",
	breakpoints: true,
});

Add a migration script to package.json:

// package.json
 
{
	...
	"scripts": {
		...
		"migrate": "drizzle-kit generate"
	},
	...
}

Run the migration to synchronize your database schema:

npm run migrate

Apply the migration in the Vercel dashboard under the “Storage” tab.

5. Establish the Database Connection

Create a server-only connection using src/lib/db/conn.server.ts:

// src/lib/db/conn.server.ts
import { sql } from "@vercel/postgres";
import { drizzle } from "drizzle-orm/vercel-postgres";
 
export const conn = drizzle(sql);

6. Load and Render Data

Fetch and display data dynamically in src/routes/+page.server.ts and src/routes/+page.svelte:

// src/routes/+page.server.ts
import { conn } from "$lib/db/conn.server";
import { PageInsights } from "$lib/db/schema";
import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 
export const load = () => {
	return { views: fetchViews() };
};
 
const fetchViews = async () => {
	const insights = await conn
		.select()
		.from(PageInsights)
		.where(eq(PageInsights.id, 1));
 
	const views = ++insights[0].views;
 
	await conn.update(PageInsights).set({ views }).where(eq(PageInsights.id, 1));
 
	return views;
};

<!-- src/routes/+page.svelte -->
 
<script lang="ts">
	let { data } = $props();
</script>
 
<p>
	{#await data.views}
		Loading...
	{:then views}
		This page has been viewed {views} times.
	{:catch error}
		{error.message}
	{/await}
</p>

🌱 Embracing Sustainability with Drizzle-ORM

By choosing Drizzle-ORM, you’re investing in energy-efficient software that optimizes energy consumption without compromising on scalability or performance. This eco-friendly approach not only benefits your applications but also contributes to a greener digital ecosystem.

📈 Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Development

Drizzle-ORM, combined with SvelteKit and Vercel Postgres, offers a robust foundation for building scalable, high-performance applications. Embrace this trio to harness the full potential of serverless architectures, distributed apps, and responsive design. Invest your time in mastering these tools and watch your projects thrive in the ever-evolving web landscape.

For an in-depth look, explore my GitHub repository and discover the power of drizzle-zod for seamless schema integration.

Thanks for reading!