---
name: drizzle-neon
description: "Add a PostgreSQL database with Drizzle ORM to a Scaffold-ETH 2 project. Use when the user wants to: add a database, use Drizzle ORM, integrate Neon PostgreSQL, store off-chain data, build a backend with database, or add persistent storage to their dApp."
---

Drizzle ORM + Neon PostgreSQL Integration for Scaffold-ETH 2

Prerequisites

Check if ./packages/nextjs/scaffold.config.ts exists directly in the current working directory (do not search subdirectories). If it doesn't exist, this is not a Scaffold-ETH 2 project. Follow the instructions at https://docs.scaffoldeth.io/SKILL.md to scaffold it first. If it exists, continue directly with building.

Overview

Drizzle ORM is a TypeScript ORM for SQL databases with a type-safe query builder. Neon is a serverless PostgreSQL platform. This skill integrates both into SE-2, with a smart database client that auto-detects the environment (local Postgres via Docker, Neon serverless, or Neon HTTP) and uses the optimal driver.

For Drizzle API reference beyond what's covered here, refer to the Drizzle docs. For Neon specifics, see the Neon docs. This skill focuses on SE-2 integration patterns and the tri-driver architecture.

Dependencies & Scripts

NextJS package

Add to packages/nextjs/package.json:

{
  "scripts": {
    "db:seed": "tsx services/database/seed.ts",
    "db:wipe": "tsx services/database/wipe.ts",
    "drizzle-kit": "drizzle-kit"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "@neondatabase/serverless": "^1.0.0",
    "dotenv": "^17.0.0",
    "drizzle-orm": "^0.44.0",
    "pg": "^8.16.0"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@types/pg": "^8",
    "drizzle-kit": "^0.31.0",
    "drizzle-seed": "^0.3.0",
    "tsx": "^4.20.0"
  }
}

Root package.json scripts

{
  "drizzle-kit": "yarn workspace @se-2/nextjs drizzle-kit",
  "db:seed": "yarn workspace @se-2/nextjs db:seed",
  "db:wipe": "yarn workspace @se-2/nextjs db:wipe"
}

Environment variables

Create packages/nextjs/.env.development:

POSTGRES_URL="postgresql://postgres:mysecretpassword@localhost:5432/postgres"

Also add POSTGRES_URL= to packages/nextjs/.env.example.

Docker Compose (local development)

Create docker-compose.yml at project root:

version: "3"
services:
  db:
    image: postgres:16
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: mysecretpassword
    ports:
      - "5432:5432"
    volumes:
      - ./data/db:/var/lib/postgresql/data

Add data to .gitignore.

Database Client Architecture

The key integration piece is a smart database client at packages/nextjs/services/database/config/postgresClient.ts that auto-selects the right Postgres driver based on the connection string and runtime:

Connection URL contains	Runtime	Driver used	Why
`neondb`	Next.js (`NEXT_RUNTIME` set)	`drizzle-orm/neon-serverless`	WebSocket-based, works in serverless
`neondb`	Scripts (no `NEXT_RUNTIME`)	`drizzle-orm/neon-http`	Supports `batch()` for bulk operations
anything else	Any	`drizzle-orm/node-postgres`	Standard `pg` Pool for local/other Postgres

This matters because Neon's serverless driver uses WebSockets (required in edge/serverless runtimes), while the HTTP driver is better for scripts that need batch operations. For local development with Docker, the standard pg driver is used.

Reference implementation:

// packages/nextjs/services/database/config/postgresClient.ts
import * as schema from "./schema";
import { Pool as NeonPool, neon } from "@neondatabase/serverless";
import { drizzle as drizzleNeonHttp } from "drizzle-orm/neon-http";
import { drizzle as drizzleNeon } from "drizzle-orm/neon-serverless";
import { drizzle } from "drizzle-orm/node-postgres";
import { Pool } from "pg";
 
export const PRODUCTION_DATABASE_HOSTNAME = "your-production-database-hostname";
 
let dbInstance: ReturnType<typeof drizzle<typeof schema>> | null = null;
let poolInstance: Pool | NeonPool | null = null;
 
export function getDb() {
  if (dbInstance) return dbInstance;
 
  const isNextRuntime = !!process.env.NEXT_RUNTIME;
 
  if (process.env.POSTGRES_URL?.includes("neondb")) {
    if (isNextRuntime) {
      poolInstance = new NeonPool({ connectionString: process.env.POSTGRES_URL });
      dbInstance = drizzleNeon(poolInstance as NeonPool, { schema, casing: "snake_case" });
    } else {
      const sql = neon(process.env.POSTGRES_URL);
      dbInstance = drizzleNeonHttp({ client: sql, schema, casing: "snake_case" });
    }
  } else {
    const pool = new Pool({ connectionString: process.env.POSTGRES_URL });
    poolInstance = pool;
    dbInstance = drizzle(pool, { schema, casing: "snake_case" });
  }
 
  return dbInstance;
}
 
export async function closeDb(): Promise<void> {
  if (poolInstance) {
    await poolInstance.end();
    poolInstance = null;
    dbInstance = null;
  }
}

Expose the client as a lazy proxy so imports don't eagerly connect:

// Same file, bottom
const dbProxy = new Proxy({}, {
  get: (_, prop) => {
    if (prop === "close") return closeDb;
    const db = getDb();
    return db[prop as keyof typeof db];
  },
});
 
export const db = dbProxy as ReturnType<typeof getDb> & { close: () => Promise<void> };

Schema Definition

Define tables in packages/nextjs/services/database/config/schema.ts:

// packages/nextjs/services/database/config/schema.ts
import { pgTable, uuid, varchar } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";
 
export const users = pgTable("users", {
  id: uuid("id").defaultRandom().primaryKey(),
  name: varchar({ length: 255 }).notNull(),
});

For the full column types and schema API, see Drizzle schema docs.

Drizzle Config

The drizzle.config.ts at packages/nextjs/ configures Drizzle Kit for migrations and studio:

// packages/nextjs/drizzle.config.ts
import * as dotenv from "dotenv";
import { defineConfig } from "drizzle-kit";
 
dotenv.config({ path: ".env.development" });
 
export default defineConfig({
  schema: "./services/database/config/schema.ts",
  out: "./services/database/migrations",
  dialect: "postgresql",
  dbCredentials: {
    url: process.env.POSTGRES_URL as string,
  },
  casing: "snake_case",
});

Important: casing: "snake_case" must be set in both drizzle.config.ts and the drizzle() client initialization. This tells Drizzle to convert camelCase TypeScript property names to snake_case column names. If they don't match, queries will fail silently or return wrong data.

Repository Pattern

Use a repository pattern at packages/nextjs/services/database/repositories/. Each entity gets its own file with typed CRUD functions:

// packages/nextjs/services/database/repositories/users.ts
import { users } from "../config/schema";
import type { InferInsertModel } from "drizzle-orm";
import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
import { db } from "~~/services/database/config/postgresClient";
 
export type User = InferInsertModel<typeof users>;
 
export async function getAllUsers() {
  return await db.query.users.findMany();
}
 
export async function getUserById(id: string) {
  return await db.query.users.findFirst({
    where: eq(users.id, id),
  });
}
 
export async function createUser(user: User) {
  return await db.insert(users).values(user);
}

Using the Database in Next.js

Server components can import repository functions directly — no API route needed:

// packages/nextjs/app/users/page.tsx — Server Component
import { getAllUsers, createUser } from "~~/services/database/repositories/users";
 
const users = await getAllUsers(); // Direct DB access in server components

For client-side mutations, create an API route that calls the repository:

// packages/nextjs/app/api/users/route.ts
import { createUser } from "~~/services/database/repositories/users";
 
export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
  const { name } = await request.json();
  const user = await createUser({ name });
  return NextResponse.json(user);
}

SE-2 already includes @tanstack/react-query — use useQuery and useMutation for client-side data fetching and mutations against these API routes.

Database Workflow

# Development (fast, no migrations)
docker compose up -d                  # Start local Postgres
yarn drizzle-kit push                 # Push schema directly to DB
yarn drizzle-kit studio               # Open Drizzle Studio UI
yarn db:seed                          # Seed with test data
yarn db:wipe                          # Reset all tables
 
# Production (stable schema)
yarn drizzle-kit generate             # Generate SQL migration files
yarn drizzle-kit migrate              # Apply migrations to DB

Use push during active development. Switch to generate + migrate when the schema is stable. Never use push in production.

Gotchas & Common Pitfalls

casing: "snake_case" must match everywhere. Set it in both drizzle.config.ts and every drizzle() client call. Mismatched casing causes queries to reference wrong column names.

Don't import the db client in client components. The database client only works server-side (Server Components, API routes, Server Actions). For client-side mutations, use API routes or Server Actions.

Docker must be running for local development. If docker compose up hasn't been run, the database connection will fail. The .env.development points to localhost:5432.

Production safety guard. The seed/wipe scripts should check if the connection URL points to production (via PRODUCTION_DATABASE_HOSTNAME). Update your-production-database-hostname in postgresClient.ts to your actual Neon project hostname to enable this protection.

Use .env.development not .env.local. SE-2 convention is .env.development for local env vars.

How to Test

docker compose up -d — start local Postgres
yarn drizzle-kit push — apply schema to local DB
yarn start — start Next.js
Visit the users page — should show empty list, add a user via the form
yarn db:seed — seed with test data
yarn drizzle-kit studio — inspect data at https://local.drizzle.studio

Production (Neon)

Create a Neon project at neon.tech
Set POSTGRES_URL to the Neon connection string (contains neondb)
Update PRODUCTION_DATABASE_HOSTNAME in postgresClient.ts to your Neon project hostname
Run yarn drizzle-kit generate then yarn drizzle-kit migrate
The database client auto-switches to Neon's serverless driver