diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 505490d..7d2b426 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -47,12 +47,17 @@ lint.ignore = [
     "T201",   # (perm) I don't care about print statements dir
     "ERA001", # (perm) I don't care about print statements dir
 ]
-
 "python/splendor/**" = [
     "S311",    # (perm) there is no security issue here
     "T201",    # (perm) I don't care about print statements dir
     "PLR2004", # (temps) need to think about this
 ]
+"python/orm/**" = [
+    "TC003", # (perm) this creates issues because sqlalchemy uses these at runtime
+]
+"python/alembic/**" = [
+    "INP001", # (perm) this creates LSP issues for alembic
+]
 
 [tool.ruff.lint.pydocstyle]
 convention = "google"
diff --git a/python/alembic.ini b/python/alembic.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e835cde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/alembic.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+# A generic, single database configuration.
+
+[alembic]
+# path to migration scripts
+# Use forward slashes (/) also on windows to provide an os agnostic path
+script_location = python/alembic
+
+# template used to generate migration file names; The default value is %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+# Uncomment the line below if you want the files to be prepended with date and time
+# see https://alembic.sqlalchemy.org/en/latest/tutorial.html#editing-the-ini-file
+# for all available tokens
+file_template = %%(year)d_%%(month).2d_%%(day).2d-%%(slug)s_%%(rev)s
+
+# sys.path path, will be prepended to sys.path if present.
+# defaults to the current working directory.
+prepend_sys_path = .
+
+# timezone to use when rendering the date within the migration file
+# as well as the filename.
+# If specified, requires the python>=3.9 or backports.zoneinfo library and tzdata library.
+# Any required deps can installed by adding `alembic[tz]` to the pip requirements
+# string value is passed to ZoneInfo()
+# leave blank for localtime
+# timezone =
+
+# max length of characters to apply to the "slug" field
+# truncate_slug_length = 40
+
+# set to 'true' to run the environment during
+# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
+# revision_environment = false
+
+# set to 'true' to allow .pyc and .pyo files without
+# a source .py file to be detected as revisions in the
+# versions/ directory
+# sourceless = false
+
+# version location specification; This defaults
+# to alembic/versions.  When using multiple version
+# directories, initial revisions must be specified with --version-path.
+# The path separator used here should be the separator specified by "version_path_separator" below.
+# version_locations = %(here)s/bar:%(here)s/bat:alembic/versions
+
+# version path separator; As mentioned above, this is the character used to split
+# version_locations. The default within new alembic.ini files is "os", which uses os.pathsep.
+# If this key is omitted entirely, it falls back to the legacy behavior of splitting on spaces and/or commas.
+# Valid values for version_path_separator are:
+#
+# version_path_separator = :
+# version_path_separator = ;
+# version_path_separator = space
+# version_path_separator = newline
+#
+# Use os.pathsep. Default configuration used for new projects.
+version_path_separator = os
+
+# set to 'true' to search source files recursively
+# in each "version_locations" directory
+# new in Alembic version 1.10
+# recursive_version_locations = false
+
+# the output encoding used when revision files
+# are written from script.py.mako
+# output_encoding = utf-8
+
+sqlalchemy.url = driver://user:pass@localhost/dbname
+
+revision_environment = true
+
+[post_write_hooks]
+
+hooks = dynamic_schema,ruff
+dynamic_schema.type = dynamic_schema
+
+ruff.type = ruff
+
+[loggers]
+keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic
+
+[handlers]
+keys = console
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic
+
+[logger_root]
+level = WARNING
+handlers = console
+qualname =
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+level = WARNING
+handlers =
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+
+[logger_alembic]
+level = INFO
+handlers =
+qualname = alembic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+level = NOTSET
+formatter = generic
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
+datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/python/alembic/env.py b/python/alembic/env.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc2502d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/alembic/env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"""Alembic."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal
+
+from alembic import context
+from alembic.script import write_hooks
+
+from python.common import bash_wrapper
+from python.orm import RichieBase
+from python.orm.base import get_postgres_engine
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import MutableMapping
+
+# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
+# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
+config = context.config
+
+
+target_metadata = RichieBase.metadata
+logging.basicConfig(
+    level="DEBUG",
+    datefmt="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z",
+    format="%(asctime)s %(levelname)s %(filename)s:%(lineno)d - %(message)s",
+    handlers=[logging.StreamHandler(sys.stdout)],
+)
+
+
+@write_hooks.register("dynamic_schema")
+def dynamic_schema(filename: str, _options: dict[Any, Any]) -> None:
+    """Dynamic schema."""
+    original_file = Path(filename).read_text()
+    dynamic_schema_file_part1 = original_file.replace(f"schema='{RichieBase.schema_name}'", "schema=schema")
+    dynamic_schema_file = dynamic_schema_file_part1.replace(f"'{RichieBase.schema_name}.", "f'{schema}.")
+    Path(filename).write_text(dynamic_schema_file)
+
+
+@write_hooks.register("ruff")
+def ruff_check_and_format(filename: str, _options: dict[Any, Any]) -> None:
+    """Docstring for ruff_check_and_format."""
+    bash_wrapper(f"ruff check --fix {filename}")
+    bash_wrapper(f"ruff format {filename}")
+
+
+def include_name(
+    name: str | None,
+    type_: Literal["schema", "table", "column", "index", "unique_constraint", "foreign_key_constraint"],
+    _parent_names: MutableMapping[Literal["schema_name", "table_name", "schema_qualified_table_name"], str | None],
+) -> bool:
+    """This filter table to be included in the migration.
+
+    Args:
+        name (str): The name of the table.
+        type_ (str): The type of the table.
+        parent_names (list[str]): The names of the parent tables.
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if the table should be included, False otherwise.
+
+    """
+    if type_ == "schema":
+        return name == target_metadata.schema
+    return True
+
+
+def run_migrations_online() -> None:
+    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
+
+    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
+    and associate a connection with the context.
+
+    """
+    connectable = get_postgres_engine()
+
+    with connectable.connect() as connection:
+        context.configure(
+            connection=connection,
+            target_metadata=target_metadata,
+            include_schemas=True,
+            version_table_schema=RichieBase.schema_name,
+            include_name=include_name,
+        )
+
+        with context.begin_transaction():
+            context.run_migrations()
+
+
+run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/python/alembic/script.py.mako b/python/alembic/script.py.mako
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d49669
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/alembic/script.py.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""${message}.
+
+Revision ID: ${up_revision}
+Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
+Create Date: ${create_date}
+
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+from alembic import op
+from python.orm import RichieBase
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = ${repr(up_revision)}
+down_revision: str | None = ${repr(down_revision)}
+branch_labels: str | Sequence[str] | None = ${repr(branch_labels)}
+depends_on: str | Sequence[str] | None = ${repr(depends_on)}
+
+schema=RichieBase.schema_name
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Upgrade."""
+    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Downgrade."""
+    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/python/alembic/versions/2026_01_10-base_7bd2bdc231dc.py b/python/alembic/versions/2026_01_10-base_7bd2bdc231dc.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d3bac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/alembic/versions/2026_01_10-base_7bd2bdc231dc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""base.
+
+Revision ID: 7bd2bdc231dc
+Revises:
+Create Date: 2026-01-10 13:12:13.764467
+
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+from python.orm import RichieBase
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "7bd2bdc231dc"
+down_revision: str | None = None
+branch_labels: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+depends_on: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+
+schema = RichieBase.schema_name
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    """Upgrade."""
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table(
+        "temp",
+        sa.Column("name", sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("created_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.text("now()"), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("updated_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=sa.text("now()"), nullable=False),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name=op.f("pk_temp")),
+        schema=schema,
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    """Downgrade."""
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table("temp", schema=schema)
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/python/orm/__init__.py b/python/orm/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..053f98b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/orm/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+"""ORM package exports."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from python.orm.base import RichieBase, TableBase
+from python.orm.temp import Temp
+
+__all__ = ["RichieBase", "TableBase", "Temp"]
diff --git a/python/orm/base.py b/python/orm/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f49a57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/orm/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+"""Base ORM definitions."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import datetime
+from os import getenv
+
+from sqlalchemy import DateTime, MetaData, create_engine, func
+from sqlalchemy.engine import URL, Engine
+from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import AbstractConcreteBase
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase, Mapped, mapped_column
+
+
+class RichieBase(DeclarativeBase):
+    """Base class for all ORM models."""
+
+    schema_name = "main"
+
+    metadata = MetaData(
+        schema=schema_name,
+        naming_convention={
+            "ix": "ix_%(table_name)s_%(column_0_name)s",
+            "uq": "uq_%(table_name)s_%(column_0_name)s",
+            "ck": "ck_%(table_name)s_%(constraint_name)s",
+            "fk": "fk_%(table_name)s_%(column_0_name)s_%(referred_table_name)s",
+            "pk": "pk_%(table_name)s",
+        },
+    )
+
+
+class TableBase(AbstractConcreteBase, RichieBase):
+    """Abstract concrete base for tables with IDs and timestamps."""
+
+    __abstract__ = True
+
+    id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(primary_key=True)
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=func.now(),
+    )
+    updated_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        DateTime(timezone=True),
+        server_default=func.now(),
+        onupdate=func.now(),
+    )
+
+
+def get_connection_info() -> tuple[str, str, str, str, str | None]:
+    """Get connection info from environment variables."""
+    database = getenv("POSTGRES_DB")
+    host = getenv("POSTGRES_HOST")
+    port = getenv("POSTGRES_PORT")
+    username = getenv("POSTGRES_USER")
+    password = getenv("POSTGRES_PASSWORD")
+
+    if None in (database, host, port, username):
+        error = (
+            "Missing environment variables for Postgres connection.\n"
+            f"{database=}\n"
+            f"{host=}\n"
+            f"{port=}\n"
+            f"{username=}\n"
+            f"password{'***' if password else None}\n"
+        )
+        raise ValueError(error)
+    return database, host, port, username, password
+
+
+def get_postgres_engine(*, pool_pre_ping: bool = True) -> Engine:
+    """Create a SQLAlchemy engine from environment variables."""
+    database, host, port, username, password = get_connection_info()
+
+    url = URL.create(
+        drivername="postgresql+psycopg",
+        username=username,
+        password=password,
+        host=host,
+        port=int(port),
+        database=database,
+    )
+
+    return create_engine(
+        url=url,
+        pool_pre_ping=pool_pre_ping,
+        pool_recycle=1800,
+    )
diff --git a/python/orm/temp.py b/python/orm/temp.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9db674e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/orm/temp.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+"""Temporary ORM model."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from sqlalchemy import String
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column
+
+from python.orm.base import TableBase
+
+
+class Temp(TableBase):
+    """Temporary table for initial testing."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "temp"
+
+    name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(255), nullable=False)
diff --git a/users/richie/home/gui/vscode/settings.json b/users/richie/home/gui/vscode/settings.json
index 19d49fe..4348629 100644
--- a/users/richie/home/gui/vscode/settings.json
+++ b/users/richie/home/gui/vscode/settings.json
@@ -73,7 +73,13 @@
   "cSpell.enabled": true,
   "cSpell.language": "en,en-US",
   "cSpell.enableFiletypes": ["bat", "csv", "nix", "toml"],
-  "cSpell.userWords": ["Cahill", "Corvidae", "syncthing"],
+  "cSpell.userWords": [
+    "Cahill",
+    "Corvidae",
+    "drivername",
+    "fastapi",
+    "syncthing"
+  ],
 
   // nix
   "nix.enableLanguageServer": true,