Kysely - Type-Safe SQL Query Builder

Overview

Kysely is a type-safe TypeScript SQL query builder that provides end-to-end type safety from database schema to query results. Unlike ORMs, it generates plain SQL and gives you full control while maintaining perfect TypeScript inference.

Key Features:

• Complete type inference (schema → queries → results)
• Zero runtime overhead (compiles to SQL)
• Database-agnostic (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MSSQL)
• Migration system included
• Plugin ecosystem (CTEs, JSON, geospatial)
• Raw SQL integration when needed

Installation:

npm install kysely
# Database driver (choose one)
npm install pg              # PostgreSQL
npm install mysql2          # MySQL
npm install better-sqlite3  # SQLite

Quick Start

1. Define Database Schema Types

import { Generated, Selectable, Insertable, Updateable } from 'kysely';

// Table interface (all columns)
interface UserTable {
  id: Generated<number>;
  email: string;
  name: string | null;
  created_at: Generated<Date>;
  updated_at: Date;
}

interface PostTable {
  id: Generated<number>;
  user_id: number;
  title: string;
  content: string;
  published: Generated<boolean>;
  created_at: Generated<Date>;
}

// Database interface
interface Database {
  users: UserTable;
  posts: PostTable;
}

// Type-safe query result types
type User = Selectable<UserTable>;
type NewUser = Insertable<UserTable>;
type UserUpdate = Updateable<UserTable>;

2. Create Database Instance

import { Kysely, PostgresDialect } from 'kysely';
import { Pool } from 'pg';

const db = new Kysely<Database>({
  dialect: new PostgresDialect({
    pool: new Pool({
      host: process.env.DB_HOST,
      database: process.env.DB_NAME,
      user: process.env.DB_USER,
      password: process.env.DB_PASSWORD,
      max: 10,
    }),
  }),
});

3. Type-Safe Queries

// SELECT with full type inference
const users = await db
  .selectFrom('users')
  .select(['id', 'email', 'name'])
  .where('created_at', '>', new Date('2024-01-01'))
  .execute();
// Type: Array<{ id: number; email: string; name: string | null }>

// INSERT with type checking
const newUser: NewUser = {
  email: '[email protected]',
  name: 'Alice',
  updated_at: new Date(),
};

const inserted = await db
  .insertInto('users')
  .values(newUser)
  .returningAll()
  .executeTakeFirstOrThrow();
// Type: User

// UPDATE
await db
  .updateTable('users')
  .set({ name: 'Alice Updated', updated_at: new Date() })
  .where('id', '=', 1)
  .execute();

// DELETE
await db
  .deleteFrom('users')
  .where('email', 'like', '%@spam.com')
  .execute();

Advanced Query Patterns

Joins with Type Safety

// INNER JOIN
const usersWithPosts = await db
  .selectFrom('users')
  .innerJoin('posts', 'posts.user_id', 'users.id')
  .select([
    'users.id',
    'users.name',
    'posts.title',
    'posts.content',
  ])
  .execute();
// Type: Array<{ id: number; name: string | null; title: string; content: string }>

// LEFT JOIN with null handling
const usersWithOptionalPosts = await db
  .selectFrom('users')
  .leftJoin('posts', 'posts.user_id', 'users.id')
  .select([
    'users.id',
    'users.email',
    'posts.title',  // Type: string | null (from LEFT JOIN)
  ])
  .execute();

// Multiple joins
const complexQuery = await db
  .selectFrom('posts')
  .innerJoin('users', 'users.id', 'posts.user_id')
  .leftJoin('comments', 'comments.post_id', 'posts.id')
  .select([
    'posts.id as postId',
    'posts.title',
    'users.name as authorName',
    'comments.id as commentId',
  ])
  .execute();

Aggregations and Grouping

import { sql } from 'kysely';

// COUNT, AVG, SUM
how to use kysely
CursorClaude CodeClineCodexWindsurfGooseGitHub CopilotVS CodeGemini CLIKiloOpencodeKimi CLIRoo ClineAiderContinueZedBolt.newLovablev0Replit AgentSweepSmol DeveloperDevinCavemanAmpAntigravity
How to use kysely on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
1
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with node --version)
›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add kysely
2
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
$npx skills add https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill kyselycopy
The skills CLI fetches kysely from GitHub repository bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills and configures it for Cursor.
3
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
◆ Which agents do you want to install to?
│
│ ── Universal (.agents/skills) ── always included ────
│   • Amp
│   • Antigravity
│   • Cline
│   • Codex
│ ●Cursor(selected)
│   • Cursor
│   • Windsurf
4
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
.cursor/skills/kysely
Reload or restart Cursor to activate kysely. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /kysely) or your agent's skill management interface.
⚠
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
Additional Resources
›View source code on GitHub›Skills CLI documentation›Learn more about Cursor›What are agent skills?