Prisma•10mo ago

Why `prisma generate --sql` needs to have `DATABASE_URL`?

I'm getting this error when executing

prisma generate --sql

prisma generate --sql

but not if executing

prisma generate

prisma generate

4.679 api:build: > prisma generate --sql
4.679 api:build: 
5.545 api:build: Prisma schema loaded from prisma/schema.prisma
5.598 api:build: Error: Prisma schema validation - (get-config wasm)
5.598 api:build: Error code: P1012
5.598 api:build: error: Environment variable not found: DATABASE_URL.
5.598 api:build:   -->  prisma/schema.prisma:9
5.598 api:build:    | 
5.598 api:build:  8 |   provider = "postgresql"
5.598 api:build:  9 |   url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
5.598 api:build:    |

4.679 api:build: > prisma generate --sql
4.679 api:build: 
5.545 api:build: Prisma schema loaded from prisma/schema.prisma
5.598 api:build: Error: Prisma schema validation - (get-config wasm)
5.598 api:build: Error code: P1012
5.598 api:build: error: Environment variable not found: DATABASE_URL.
5.598 api:build:   -->  prisma/schema.prisma:9
5.598 api:build:    | 
5.598 api:build:  8 |   provider = "postgresql"
5.598 api:build:  9 |   url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
5.598 api:build:    |

Why does

--sql

--sql

need to connect to the DB? May I disable it?

Prisma AI Help•3/8/25, 8:24 AM

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Prisma AI HelpAPP•3/8/25, 8:24 AM

The

prisma generate --sql

prisma generate --sql

command requires the

DATABASE_URL

DATABASE_URL

environment variable because it needs an active database connection to generate the TypedSQL functionality. This is a new feature in Prisma that allows for type-safe raw SQL queries.

According to the TypedSQL documentation:

TypedSQL requires an active database connection to parse the SQL and return type information. This means that you need to have a running database when generating the Prisma Client with TypedSQL enabled.

This requirement is causing issues for users who want to run

prisma generate

prisma generate

in environments where they don't have a running database, such as in CI/CD pipelines or during the build process.

Unfortunately, there's currently no way to disable this requirement when using the

--sql

--sql

flag. However, there are a few workarounds you can consider:

Provide a valid
```
DATABASE_URL
```
```
DATABASE_URL
```
during the build process.
Generate the Prisma Client without the
```
--sql
```
```
--sql
```
flag in your CI/CD environment.
Generate the Prisma Client with
```
--sql
```
```
--sql
```
locally and commit the generated files to your repository.

The Prisma team is aware of this limitation and there's an open issue discussing potential solutions: Remove requirement for a running database when using TypedSQL.

For now, if you don't need the TypedSQL functionality in your build environment, you can simply use

prisma generate

prisma generate

without the

--sql

--sql

flag to avoid this error.

Nurul•3/10/25, 2:24 PM

Hey @angelcervera

Currently, it is a requirement to have a active database connection for

--sql

--sql

command to work.

We have a feature request to remove this requirement:
https://github.com/prisma/prisma/issues/25124

GitHub

Remove requirement for a running database when using TypedSQL · Iss...

Problem When using the new TypedSQL functionality of Prisma ORM, you need to have a running database. This is because the functionality relies on the database to parse the SQL and return type infor...