# ADR-0013: Database ORM Selection ## Status Accepted ## Context The platform needs a database ORM/library that: - Supports PostgreSQL (primary database) - Provides type-safe query building - Supports code generation (reduces boilerplate) - Handles migrations - Supports relationships (many-to-many, etc.) - Integrates with Ent (code generation) Options considered: 1. **entgo.io/ent** - Code-generated, type-safe ORM 2. **gorm.io/gorm** - Feature-rich ORM with reflection 3. **sqlx** - Lightweight wrapper around database/sql 4. **Standard library database/sql** - No ORM, raw SQL ## Decision Use **entgo.io/ent** as the primary ORM for the platform. **Rationale:** - Code generation provides compile-time type safety - Excellent schema definition and migration support - Strong relationship modeling - Good performance (no reflection at runtime) - Active development and good documentation - Recommended in playbook.md - Easy to integrate with OpenTelemetry ## Consequences ### Positive - Type-safe queries eliminate runtime errors - Schema changes are explicit and versioned - Code generation reduces boilerplate - Good migration support - Strong relationship support ### Negative - Requires code generation step (`go generate`) - Learning curve for developers unfamiliar with Ent - Less flexible than raw SQL for complex queries - Generated code must be committed or verified in CI ### Implementation Notes - Install: `go get entgo.io/ent/cmd/ent` - Initialize schema: `go run entgo.io/ent/cmd/ent init User Role Permission` - Use `//go:generate` directives for code generation - Run migrations on startup via `client.Schema.Create()` - Create wrapper in `internal/infra/database/client.go` for DI injection