Question 1

How do I use SQLModel with asynchronous databases?

Accepted Answer

SQLModel relies on SQLAlchemy's async support. You need to use async engines and sessions from SQLAlchemy, and while SQLModel models can be adapted, the documentation focuses on synchronous use, so additional configuration and understanding of SQLAlchemy async are required.

Question 2

Can SQLModel handle complex database relationships like many-to-many?

Accepted Answer

Yes, since SQLModel is built on SQLAlchemy, it supports all relationship types. You define relationships using SQLAlchemy's relationship syntax within SQLModel classes, similar to standard SQLAlchemy, but it may require referencing SQLAlchemy documentation for advanced setups.

Question 3

SQLModel vs SQLAlchemy: which should I choose?

Accepted Answer

SQLModel simplifies common use cases by reducing boilerplate and improving editor support, especially for FastAPI integration. However, raw SQLAlchemy offers more control for complex scenarios, so choose SQLModel for streamlined development or SQLAlchemy for extensive customizations.

Question 4

How to migrate an existing SQLAlchemy project to SQLModel?

Accepted Answer

Start by converting SQLAlchemy models to SQLModel classes by inheriting from SQLModel and adding Pydantic-like type annotations. Since SQLModel models are compatible with SQLAlchemy, you can mix them gradually, but test thoroughly for any edge cases in relationships or queries.

Question 5

Does SQLModel support all SQL databases that SQLAlchemy does?

Accepted Answer

Yes, SQLModel uses SQLAlchemy's engine system, so it supports all databases SQLAlchemy does, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. Just use the appropriate connection string in create_engine, as shown in the examples.

Question 6

What are common pitfalls when using SQLModel in production?

Accepted Answer

Watch out for performance in high-throughput scenarios due to the Pydantic validation overhead, and ensure you handle database migrations carefully, as SQLModel doesn't provide built-in migration tools, relying on external libraries like Alembic.

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