JAO

A type-safe, model-first ORM for Dart backend development. Built for PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MySQL. Works seamlessly with Dart Frog, Shelf, or any Dart server framework.

JAO (Just Another ORM) — Because writing raw SQL shouldn't be your only option.

Info

JAO brings Django's elegant query API to Dart, giving you type-safe queries, lazy QuerySets, and a powerful migrations CLI.

Why JAO?

The problem: Dart's backend ecosystem lacks a Django-style ORM. You're stuck with raw SQL strings, manual result mapping, and runtime errors waiting to happen.

The solution: JAO brings Django's elegant query API to Dart.

dart

// Before: Raw SQL, manual mapping, runtime errors
final result = await db.query(
  'SELECT * FROM authors WHERE age >= ? AND is_active = ? ORDER BY name LIMIT ?',
  [18, true, 10]
);
final authors = result.map((row) => Author.fromMap(row)).toList();

// After: Type-safe, chainable, IDE autocomplete
final authors = await Authors.objects
  .filter(Authors.$.age.gte(18) & Authors.$.isActive.eq(true))
  .orderBy(Authors.$.name.asc())
  .limit(10)
  .toList();

Features

Type-safe queries — Catch errors at compile time, not runtime
Lazy QuerySets — Chain filters without hitting the DB until needed
Django-style API — Familiar patterns: filter(), exclude(), orderBy()
Cross-database — PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL with zero code changes
Django-style CLI — jao makemigrations, jao migrate, jao rollback
Code generation — Define models once, get queries and serialization for free
Framework agnostic — Works with Dart Frog, Shelf, or any Dart backend

Quick Install

bash

# Add dependencies
dart pub add jao
dart pub add --dev build_runner jao_generator

# Install CLI globally
dart pub global activate jao_cli

# Initialize project
jao init