Why does Prisma require an extra server on top of my database if it replaces an ORM?

FAQ

The Prisma client acts as a replacement for traditional ORMs in your application architecture. It enables a simplified and type-safe database access by providing an intuitive API that has been designed for modern application development.

The Prisma client is connected to your database through a Prisma server. The Prisma server can be configured via Docker and enables high-scalability and great performance for your application.

We are currently working on a version of the Prisma client that can be used without running the Prisma server. This will allow for an easier setup of Prisma and a faster way to get started. The Prisma server can be added to the architecture once the application goes to production.