Prisma vs graphql-yoga: What are the differences?

1. ORM vs. Server Library: Prisma is primarily an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) tool that provides a query builder and database client, enabling developers to interact with databases easily. On the other hand, graphql-yoga is a server library that helps in creating a GraphQL server with various features like schema generation, resolvers, and Middleware.

2. Database Integration: Prisma integrates with databases directly by generating a client that communicates with the database. It abstracts away the database layer and provides a type-safe API for database operations. In contrast, graphql-yoga allows developers to integrate any database of their choice by writing custom resolvers to handle data fetching and manipulation.

3. Development Focus: Prisma focuses on simplifying database access and management, providing tools for data modeling, migrations, and advanced queries. It is more suitable for projects that heavily rely on database operations. On the other hand, graphql-yoga is focused on building GraphQL APIs and managing server-side logic with features like subscriptions, data loaders, and error handling.

4. Server Environment: Prisma requires a separate server environment to run queries and interact with databases, making it suitable for backend applications. In contrast, graphql-yoga can be used for both frontend and backend development as it is responsible for handling GraphQL requests and responses on the server-side.

5. Community Support: Prisma has a growing community of developers that contribute to its development and provide support through forums, documentation, and tutorials. graphql-yoga, being built on top of popular libraries like Express and Apollo Server, benefits from the vast community of these tools, providing extensive resources for troubleshooting and development.

6. Ease of Use: Prisma simplifies database operations with its type-safe API, query builder, and schema migrations, making it easier for developers to work with databases. graphql-yoga, with its declarative approach to defining schemas and resolvers, simplifies the process of creating a GraphQL server with minimal boilerplate code, enhancing developer productivity.

In Summary, Prisma is primarily focused on database access and management through an ORM approach, while graphql-yoga specializes in building GraphQL servers with features like schema generation and resolvers, catering to different aspects of GraphQL development.