Question 1

How do I add a new GraphQL query or mutation in Zen?

Accepted Answer

Update your Prisma schema, then run the preconfigured code generation scripts (e.g., pnpm prisma:generate) to automatically create Nest resolvers and Angular services with full type safety. The README details the steps using Pal.js generators.

Question 2

Zen starter kit vs using Angular with a separate backend: which is easier?

Accepted Answer

Zen simplifies setup by integrating everything—auth, tooling, and type safety—but locks you into its stack. A separate backend offers more flexibility for mixing technologies but requires manual wiring of features Zen provides out of the box.

Question 3

Can I replace PostgreSQL with MongoDB in Zen?

Accepted Answer

Not easily, as Zen relies on Prisma which is optimized for relational databases. Switching to MongoDB would require rewriting the data layer and likely breaking the integrated code generation for GraphQL types.

Question 4

How to deploy a Zen app to a cloud provider like AWS?

Accepted Answer

Zen includes example Kubernetes deployment scripts that can be adapted for AWS EKS. For other services, you'll need to customize the Docker setup and environment variables based on the provided deployment instructions.

Question 5

What's the performance overhead of using GraphQL in Zen?

Accepted Answer

Zen mitigates overhead with optimizations like batching and PrismaSelect, but GraphQL can still introduce complexity in query parsing and resolution compared to REST, especially for simple CRUD operations.

Question 6

Is Zen suitable for building real-time applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through the optional Socket.IO branch or built-in GraphQL subscriptions, Zen supports real-time features. However, setting this up requires merging feature branches and additional configuration.

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