---
title: Preparing the Database
---

# Preparing the database

The next step is to create and prepare the database. Because Forem is a Rails
application, we have built-in tools to help us.

We can use Rails to create our database, load the schema, and add some seed
data:

```shell
rails db:setup
```

Note: If you've already run `bin/setup`, this will have already been done for
you.

`db:setup` actually runs the following rake commands in order so alternatively,
you could run each of these to produce the same result:

```shell
rails db:create
rails db:schema:load
rails db:seed
```

## Seed Data

By default, the amount of articles and users generated is quite tiny so that
contributors experience a quick installation. If you require more data for your
local installation, you can tune amount of data generated with the environment
variable `SEEDS_MULTIPLIER`.

This variable, which defaults to `1`, allows the developer to increase the size
of their local DB. For example:

```shell
SEEDS_MULTIPLIER=2 rails db:setup
```

will result in creating double the default amount of items in the database.

It's currently used only for `articles` and `users`.

It can also be used for `rails db:seed` and `rails db:reset`.

## Default Admin User

Seed data creates a handful of regular users, and a single admin user that can
be used to log into the application with the Email login option:

```
email: admin@forem.local
password: password
```

### Other seed modes

To put your local forem into "starter mode", as it would be for a new creator,
use `MODE=STARTER` i.e...

```shell
MODE=STARTER rails db:setup
```

This mode skips creation of all sample data.