NestJS Framework with Drizzle ORM

Overview

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for building NestJS applications with TypeScript, including integration with Drizzle ORM for database operations. It covers all major aspects of NestJS development from basic module structure to advanced patterns like microservices and GraphQL.

When to Use

• Building REST APIs or GraphQL servers with NestJS
• Setting up authentication and authorization
• Implementing middleware, guards, or interceptors
• Working with databases (TypeORM, Drizzle ORM)
• Creating microservices architecture
• Writing unit and integration tests
• Setting up OpenAPI/Swagger documentation

Instructions

1. Start with Module Structure: Define your feature modules with clear boundaries
2. Implement Controllers: Create controllers to handle HTTP requests and define routes
3. Create Services: Build business logic in injectable service classes
4. Configure Database: Set up Drizzle ORM with proper schema definitions
5. Add Validation: Implement DTOs with class-validator for input validation
6. Implement Guards: Add authentication and authorization guards as needed
7. Write Tests: Create unit and e2e tests for all components
8. Configure OpenAPI: Add Swagger decorators for API documentation

Examples

Creating a Complete CRUD Module

// 1. Define the entity schema (with Drizzle)
export const products = pgTable('products', {
  id: serial('id').primaryKey(),
  name: text('name').notNull(),
  price: real('price').notNull(),
  createdAt: timestamp('created_at').defaultNow(),
});

// 2. Create the DTO
export class CreateProductDto {
  @IsString()
  @IsNotEmpty()
  name: string;

  @IsNumber()
  @Min(0)
  price: number;
}

// 3. Implement the service
@Injectable()
export class ProductsService {
  constructor(private db: DatabaseService) {}

  async create(dto: CreateProductDto) {
    return this.db.database.insert(products).values(dto).returning();
  }
}

// 4. Create the controller
@Controller('products')
export class ProductsController {
  constructor(private service: ProductsService) {}

  @Post()
  create(@Body() dto: CreateProductDto) {
    return this.service.create(dto);
  }
}

Constraints and Warnings

• Database Connections: Always use connection pooling for production
• Async Operations: All database operations are async; handle errors properly
• DTOs Required: Never accept raw objects in controllers; always use DTOs
• Module Imports: Be careful with circular dependencies between modules
• Guards Order: Auth guards should run before role guards
• Transaction Scope: Keep transactions as short as possible to avoid deadlocks
• Environment Variables: Never hardcode database credentials or secrets

Core Architecture

Module Structure

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';

@Module({
  imports: [/* other modules */],
  controllers: [/* controllers */],
  providers: [/* providers */],
  exports: [/* exported providers */],
})
export class FeatureModule {}

Controller Pattern

import { Controller, Get, Post, Body, Param, Query } from '@nestjs/common';

@Controller('users')
export class UsersController {
  @Get()
  findAll(@Query() query: any) {
    return 'This returns all users';
  }

  @Get(':id')
  findOne(@Param('id') id: string) {
    return `This returns user #${id}`;
  }

  @Post()
  create(@Body() createUserDto: any) {
    return 'This creates a user';
  }
}

Service with Dependency Injection

import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';

@Injectable()
export class UsersService {
  constructor(/* inject dependencies */) {}

  findAll() {
    return 'Users service logic';
  }
}

Database Integration with Drizzle

Setup with Drizzle ORM

Installation

# Using npm
npm install drizzle-orm pg
npm install -D drizzle-kit tsx @types/pg

# Using yarn
yarn add drizzle-orm pg
yarn add -D drizzle-kit tsx @types/pg

Configuration

// drizzle.config.ts
import 'dotenv/config';
import { defineConfig } from 'drizzle-kit';

export default defineConfig({
  out: './drizzle',
  schema: './src/db/schema.ts',
  dialect: 'postgresql',
  dbCredentials: {
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URL!,
  },
});

Database Schema

// src/db/schema.ts
import { pgTable, serial, text, timestamp } from 'drizzle-orm/pg-core';

export const users = pgTable('users', {
  id: serial('id').primaryKey(),
  name: text('name').notNull(),
  email: text('email').notNull().unique(),
  createdAt: timestamp('created_at').defaultNow(),
});

Database Service

// src/db/database.service.ts
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { drizzle } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres';
import { Pool } from 'pg';
import * as schema from './schema';

@Injectable()
export class DatabaseService {
  private db: ReturnType<typeof drizzle>;

  constructor() {
    const pool = new Pool({
      connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
    });
    this.db = drizzle(pool, { schema });
  }

  get database() {
    return this.db;
  }
}

User Repository with Drizzle

// src/users/user.repository.ts
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { DatabaseService } from '../db/database.service';
import { users } from '../db/schema';
import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm';

@Injectable()
export class UserRepository {
  constructor(private db: DatabaseService) {}

  async findAll() {
    return this.db.database.select().from(users);
  }

  async findOne(id: number) {
    const result = await this.db.database
      .select()
      .from(users)
      .where(eq(users.id, id))
      .limit(1);
    return result[0];
  }

  async create(data: typeof users.$inferInsert) {
    const result = await this.db.database
      .insert(users)
      .values(data)
      .returning();
    return result[0];
  }

  async update(id: number, data: Partial<typeof users.$inferInsert>) {
    const result = await this.db.database
      .update(users)
      .set(data)
      .where(eq(users.id, id))
      .returning();
    return result[0];
  }

  async remove(id: number) {
    const result = await this.db.database
      .delete(users)
      .where(eq(users.id, id))
      .returning();
    return result[0];
  }
}

Complete User Module

// src/users/users.module.ts
import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { UsersController } from './users.controller';
import { UsersService } from './users.service';
import { UserRepository } from './user.repository';
import { DatabaseService } from '../db/database.service';

@Module({
  controllers: [UsersController],
  providers: [UsersService, UserRepository, DatabaseService],
  exports: [UsersService],
})
export class UsersModule {}

User Service Implementation

// src/users/users.service.ts
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { UserRepository } from './user.repository';
import { User } from './interfaces/user.interface';

@Injectable()
export class UsersService {
  constructor(private userRepository: UserRepository) {}

  async findAll(): Promise<User[]> {
    return this.userRepository.findAll();
  }

  async findOne(id: number): Promise<User> {
    const user = await this.userRepository.findOne(id);
    if (!user) {
      throw new Error('User not found');
    }
    return user;
  }

  async create(userData: Partial<User>): Promise<User> {
    return this.userRepository.create(userData);
  }

  async update(id: number, userData: Partial<User>): Promise<User> {
    await this.findOne(id); // Verify user exists
    return this.userRepository.update(id, userData);
  }

  async remove(id: number): Promise<User> {
    await this.findOne(id); // Verify user exists
    return this.userRepository.remove(id);
  }
}

Authentication & Authorization

JWT Authentication Guard

import { Injectable, CanActivate, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';
import { JwtService } from '@nestjs/jwt';

@Injectable()
export class JwtAuthGuard implements CanActivate {
  constructor(private jwtService: JwtService) {}

  canActivate(context: ExecutionContext) {
    const request = context.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    const token = request.headers.authorization?.split(' ')[1];

    if (!token) {
      return false;
    }

    try {
      const decoded = this.jwtService.verify(token);
      request.user = decoded;
      return true;
    } catch {
      return false;
    }
  }
}

Roles-Based Guard

import { Injectable, CanActivate, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';
import { Reflector } from '@nestjs/core';

@Injectable()
export class RolesGuard implements CanActivate {
  constructor(private reflector: Reflector) {}

  canActivate(context: ExecutionContext): boolean {
    const requiredRoles = this.reflector.get<string[]>('roles', context.getHandler());
    if (!requiredRoles) {
      return true;
    }

    const { user } = context.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    return requiredRoles.some((role) => user.roles?.includes(role));
  }
}

Validation with Pipes

Validation Pipe

import { PipeTransform, Injectable, ArgumentMetadata, BadRequestException } from '@nestjs/common';
import { validate } from 'class-validator';
import { plainToClass } from 'class-transformer';

@Injectable()
export class ValidationPipe implements PipeTransform {
  async transform(value: any, { metatype }: ArgumentMetadata) {
    if (!metatype || !this.toValidate(metatype)) {
      return value;
    }

    const object = plainToClass(metatype, value);
    const errors = await validate(object);

    if (errors.length > 0) {
      throw new BadRequestException(errors);
    }

    return value;
  }

  private toValidate(metatype: Function): boolean {
    const types: Function[] = [String, Boolean, Number, Array, Object];
    return !types.includes(metatype);
  }
}

Exception Handling

Global Exception Filter

import { ExceptionFilter, Catch, ArgumentsHost, HttpException } from '@nestjs/common';
import { Request, Response } from 'express';

@Catch(HttpException)
export class HttpExceptionFilter implements ExceptionFilter {
  catch(exception: HttpException, host: ArgumentsHost) {
    const ctx = host.switchToHttp();
    const response = ctx.getResponse<Response>();
    const request = ctx.getRequest<Request>();
    const status = exception.getStatus();

    response.status(status).json({
      statusCode: status,
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      path: request.url,
      message: exception.message,
    });
  }
}

Testing Patterns

Unit Testing Services

import { Test, TestingModule } from '@nestjs/testing';
import { UsersService } from './users.service';
import { UserRepository } from './user.repository';

describe('UsersService', () => {
  let service: UsersService;
  let repository: jest.Mocked<UserRepository>;

  beforeEach(async () => {
    const mockRepository = {
      findAll: jest.fn(),
      findOne: jest.fn(),
      create: jest.fn(),
      update: jest.fn(),
      remove: jest.fn(),
    } as any;

    const module: TestingModule = await Test.createTestingModule({
      providers: [
        UsersService,
        {
          provide: UserRepository,
          useValue: mockRepository,
        },
      ],
    }).compile();

    service = module.get<UsersService>(UsersService);
    repository = module.get(UserRepository);
  });

  it('should return all users', async () => {
    const expectedUsers = [{ id: 1, name: 'John', email: 'john@example.com' }];
    repository.findAll.mockResolvedValue(expectedUsers);

    const result = await service.findAll();
    expect(result).toEqual(expectedUsers);
    expect(repository.findAll).toHaveBeenCalled();
  });
});

E2E Testing with Drizzle

import { Test, TestingModule } from '@nestjs/testing';
import { INestApplication } from '@nestjs/common';
import * as request from 'supertest';
import { AppModule } from './../src/app.module';
import { DatabaseService } from '../src/db/database.service';
import { drizzle } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres';
import { migrate } from 'drizzle-node-postgres/migrator';
import { migrate as drizzleMigrate } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres/migrator';

describe('UsersController (e2e)', () => {
  let app: INestApplication;
  let db: DatabaseService;

  beforeAll(async () => {
    const moduleFixture: TestingModule = await Test.createTestingModule({
      imports: [AppModule],
    }).compile();

    app = moduleFixture.createNestApplication();
    db = moduleFixture.get<DatabaseService>(DatabaseService);

    // Run migrations
    await drizzleMigrate(db.database, { migrationsFolder: './drizzle' });

    await app.init();
  });

  afterAll(async () => {
    await app.close();
  });

  beforeEach(async () => {
    // Clean database
    await db.database.delete(users).execute();
  });

  it('/users (POST)', () => {
    const createUserDto = {
      name: 'Test User',
      email: 'test@example.com',
    };

    return request(app.getHttpServer())
      .post('/users')
      .send(createUserDto)
      .expect(201)
      .expect((res) => {
        expect(res.body).toMatchObject(createUserDto);
        expect(res.body).toHaveProperty('id');
      });
  });

  it('/users (GET)', async () => {
    // First create a user
    await db.database.insert(users).values({
      name: 'Test User',
      email: 'test@example.com',
    });

    return request(app.getHttpServer())
      .get('/users')
      .expect(200)
      .expect((res) => {
        expect(Array.isArray(res.body)).toBe(true);
        expect(res.body).toHaveLength(1);
      });
  });
});

Migrations with Drizzle

Generating Migrations

npx drizzle-kit generate

Running Migrations

// src/migrations/migration.service.ts
import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { migrate } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres/migrator';
import { DatabaseService } from '../db/database.service';

@Injectable()
export class MigrationService {
  constructor(private db: DatabaseService) {}

  async runMigrations() {
    try {
      await migrate(this.db.database, { migrationsFolder: './drizzle' });
      console.log('Migrations completed successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Migration failed:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

Configuration Management

Environment Configuration

// src/config/configuration.ts
export default () => ({
  database: {
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
  },
  jwt: {
    secret: process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'default-secret',
    expiresIn: process.env.JWT_EXPIRES_IN || '24h',
  },
  app: {
    port: parseInt(process.env.PORT, 10) || 3000,
  },
});

Advanced Patterns

Custom Decorators

import { createParamDecorator, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';

export const User = createParamDecorator(
  (data: string, ctx: ExecutionContext) => {
    const request = ctx.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    const user = request.user;

    return data ? user?.[data] : user;
  },
);

Interceptors for Logging

import { Injectable, NestInterceptor, ExecutionContext, CallHandler } from '@nestjs/common';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
import { tap } from 'rxjs/operators';

@Injectable()
export class LoggingInterceptor implements NestInterceptor {
  intercept(context: ExecutionContext, next: CallHandler): Observable<any> {
    const request = context.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    const { method, url } = request;
    const now = Date.now();

    console.log(`[${method}] ${url} - Start`);

    return next
      .handle()
      .pipe(
        tap(() => console.log(`[${method}] ${url} - End ${Date.now() - now}ms`)),
      );
  }
}

Microservices

TCP Microservice

// main.ts
import { NestFactory } from '@nestjs/core';
import { Transport, MicroserviceOptions } from '@nestjs/microservices';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';

async function bootstrap() {
  const app = await NestFactory.createMicroservice<MicroserviceOptions>(
    AppModule,
    {
      transport: Transport.TCP,
      options: {
        host: 'localhost',
        port: 8877,
      },
    },
  );
  await app.listen();
}
bootstrap();

GraphQL Integration

GraphQL Resolver with Drizzle

import { Resolver, Query, Mutation, Args } from '@nestjs/graphql';
import { UserRepository } from './user.repository';

@Resolver(() => User)
export class UsersResolver {
  constructor(private userRepository: UserRepository) {}

  @Query(() => [User])
  async users() {
    return this.userRepository.findAll();
  }

  @Mutation(() => User)
  async createUser(@Args('input') input: CreateUserInput) {
    return this.userRepository.create(input);
  }
}

Best Practices

1. Always use constructor injection – Never use property injection
2. Use DTOs for data transfer – Define interfaces for request/response
3. Implement proper error handling – Use exception filters
4. Validate all inputs – Use validation pipes
5. Keep modules focused – Single responsibility principle
6. Use environment variables – Never hardcode credentials
7. Write comprehensive tests – Unit and integration tests
8. Use transactions for complex operations – Maintain data consistency
9. Implement proper logging – Use interceptors for cross-cutting concerns
10. Use type safety – Leverage TypeScript features

Common Patterns with Drizzle

Transactions

async transferFunds(fromId: number, toId: number, amount: number) {
  return this.db.database.transaction(async (tx) => {
    // Debit from account
    await tx
      .update(accounts)
      .set({ balance: sql`${accounts.balance} - ${amount}` })
      .where(eq(accounts.id, fromId));

    // Credit to account
    await tx
      .update(accounts)
      .set({ balance: sql`${accounts.balance} + ${amount}` })
      .where(eq(accounts.id, toId));
  });
}

Soft Deletes

export const users = pgTable('users', {
  id: serial('id').primaryKey(),
  name: text('name').notNull(),
  email: text('email').notNull().unique(),
  deletedAt: timestamp('deleted_at'),
});

async softDelete(id: number) {
  return this.db.database
    .update(users)
    .set({ deletedAt: new Date() })
    .where(eq(users.id, id));
}

Complex Queries with Relations

async getUsersWithPosts() {
  return this.db.database
    .select()
    .from(users)
    .leftJoin(posts, eq(posts.userId, users.id));
}