Quick Start

Get from zero to working multi-tenancy in 30 seconds. All you need is a PostgreSQL connection string.

Want a full project scaffold?

Use the Stack Wizard to pick your database, ORM, and framework, then generate a ready-to-run project with one command.

1. Install

npm install @stratum-hq/lib pg

2. Start PostgreSQL

Docker Compose (recommended)

If you cloned the Stratum repo, one command gives you a ready-to-use database with uuid-ossp and ltree pre-loaded:

docker compose up db -d

Connection string: postgres://stratum:stratum_dev@localhost:5432/stratum

Plain Docker

docker run -d --name stratum-db \
  -e POSTGRES_USER=stratum \
  -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD=stratum_dev \
  -e POSTGRES_DB=stratum \
  -p 5432:5432 postgres:16

Then enable extensions:

CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS "uuid-ossp";
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS "ltree";

Existing PostgreSQL

Enable the required extensions in your database:

CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS "uuid-ossp";
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS "ltree";

3. Create your first tenant

The simplest setup: a single tenant with autoMigrate so Stratum creates its tables on first run.

import { Pool } from "pg";
import { Stratum } from "@stratum-hq/lib";

const pool = new Pool({
  connectionString: "postgres://stratum:stratum_dev@localhost:5432/stratum",
});

const stratum = new Stratum({ pool, autoMigrate: true });
await stratum.initialize();

// Create a root tenant
const tenant = await stratum.createTenant({
  name: "Acme Corp",
  slug: "acme",
});

// Set a config value
await stratum.setConfig(tenant.id, "theme", { value: "dark" });

// Read it back
const config = await stratum.resolveConfig(tenant.id);
console.log(config.theme.value); // "dark"

That’s it. autoMigrate: true handles schema setup automatically — no CLI or migration step required to get started.

Tip

Remove autoMigrate: true before going to production and run migrations explicitly with npx @stratum-hq/cli migrate.

What’s next

The example above uses a single flat tenant. Most real apps need either multi-tenant isolation or a parent/child hierarchy. Pick your path:

I want to…	Guide
Isolate multiple customers in one database	Flat tenancy with RLS
Use Prisma with Row-Level Security	Prisma + PostgreSQL RLS
Use Drizzle ORM with tenant isolation	Drizzle ORM multi-tenancy
Build a multi-tenant Next.js app	Next.js multi-tenant SaaS
Build a multi-tenant Express API	Express API with RLS
Model MSSPs, MSPs, and end-clients as a tree	Tenant hierarchy
Inherit config down a hierarchy	Config inheritance
Delegate permissions between tenants	Permission delegation
Add Stratum to Express / Next.js / Fastify	Packages – SDK
Understand the full data model	Concepts