diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8291abd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database.go
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"log"
+	"os"
+
+	// "github.com/joho/godotenv"
+
+	firebase "firebase.google.com/go"
+	"firebase.google.com/go/db"
+	"google.golang.org/api/option"
+)
+
+// Use godot package to load/read the .env file and
+// return the value of the key
+// func goDotEnvVariable(key string) string {
+
+// 	// load .env file
+// 	err := godotenv.Load(".env")
+
+// 	if err != nil {
+// 		log.Fatalf("Error loading .env file")
+// 	}
+
+// 	return os.Getenv(key)
+// }
+
+func database() {
+	// Find home directory.
+	// home, err := os.Getwd()
+	// if err != nil {
+	// 	return err
+	// }
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// configure database URL
+	// databaseURL := goDotEnvVariable("DATABASE_URL")
+	// if databaseURL == "" {
+	// 	return fmt.Errorf("DATABASE_URL is not set in the .env file")
+	// }
+	databaseURL, found := os.LookupEnv("DATABASE_URL")
+	if !found {
+		log.Fatalf("DATABASE_URL is not set in the environment variables")
+	}
+	conf := &firebase.Config{DatabaseURL: databaseURL}
+
+	// conf := &firebase.Config{
+	// 	DatabaseURL: "https://edusync-test-default-rtdb.firebaseio.com/",
+	// }
+
+	// Set up the Firebase app with the provided JSON file containing the service account key.
+	// opt := option.WithCredentialsFile(home + "edusync-test-firebase-adminsdk-hk5kl-9af0162b09.json")
+
+	// fetch service account key
+	// opt := option.WithCredentialsFile("edusync-test-firebase-adminsdk-hk5kl-9af0162b09.json")
+	opt := option.WithCredentialsFile("edusync-7bd5e-firebase-adminsdk-x49uh-af084a6314.json")
+	// opt := option.WithCredentialsFile("$HOME/secrets/edusync-7bd5e-firebase-adminsdk-x49uh-af084a6314.json")
+
+	app, err := firebase.NewApp(ctx, conf, opt)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalln("error in initializing firebase app: ", err)
+	}
+
+	client, err := app.Database(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalln("error in creating firebase DB client: ", err)
+	}
+
+	// Student operations
+	student := NewStudent("Jane Doe", 7, 119.5, "jane_doe@nk.com", "91234567", "Tech Explorer", "Scott Smith", "Jackie Doe")
+	err = createStudent(client, student.ID.String(), student)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Student added/updated successfully!")
+
+	readStudent, err := readStudent(client, student.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Student read successfully:", readStudent)
+
+	studentUpdates := map[string]interface{}{
+		"class":      "Tech Explorer 2",
+		"updated_at": time.Now(),
+	}
+	err = updateStudent(client, student.ID.String(), studentUpdates)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Student updated successfully!")
+
+	err = deleteStudent(client, student.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Student deleted successfully!")
+
+	// Instructor operations
+	instructor := NewInstructor("Scott Smith", "123-456-7890", "scott@example.com", 50000.00, 10)
+	err = createInstructor(client, instructor.ID.String(), instructor)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Instructor added/updated successfully!")
+
+	readInstructor, err := readInstructor(client, instructor.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Instructor read successfully:", readInstructor)
+
+	instructorUpdates := map[string]interface{}{
+		"base_pay":   55000.00,
+		"updated_at": time.Now(),
+	}
+	err = updateInstructor(client, instructor.ID.String(), instructorUpdates)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Instructor updated successfully!")
+
+	err = deleteInstructor(client, instructor.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Instructor deleted successfully!")
+
+	// Parent operations
+	parent := NewParent("Jackie Doe", "jackjack@example.com", "98765432")
+	err = createParent(client, parent.ID.String(), parent)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Parent added/updated successfully!")
+
+	readParent, err := readParent(client, parent.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Parent read successfully:", readParent)
+
+	parentUpdates := map[string]interface{}{
+		"email":      "jackiejack@nk.com",
+		"updated_at": time.Now(),
+	}
+	err = updateParent(client, parent.ID.String(), parentUpdates)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Parent updated successfully!")
+
+	err = deleteParent(client, parent.ID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Parent deleted successfully!")
+}
+
+// Student CRUD
+func createStudent(client *db.Client, userId string, student Student) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("students/" + userId)
+	return ref.Set(context.TODO(), student)
+}
+
+func readStudent(client *db.Client, userId string) (Student, error) {
+	ref := client.NewRef("students/" + userId)
+	var student Student
+	if err := ref.Get(context.TODO(), &student); err != nil {
+		return Student{}, err
+	}
+	return student, nil
+}
+
+func updateStudent(client *db.Client, userId string, updates map[string]interface{}) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("students/" + userId)
+	return ref.Update(context.TODO(), updates)
+}
+
+func deleteStudent(client *db.Client, userId string) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("students/" + userId)
+	return ref.Delete(context.TODO())
+}
+
+// Instructor CRUD
+func createInstructor(client *db.Client, userId string, instructor Instructor) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("instructors/" + userId)
+	return ref.Set(context.TODO(), instructor)
+}
+
+func readInstructor(client *db.Client, userId string) (Instructor, error) {
+	ref := client.NewRef("instructors/" + userId)
+	var instructor Instructor
+	if err := ref.Get(context.TODO(), &instructor); err != nil {
+		return Instructor{}, err
+	}
+	return instructor, nil
+}
+
+func updateInstructor(client *db.Client, userId string, updates map[string]interface{}) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("instructors/" + userId)
+	return ref.Update(context.TODO(), updates)
+}
+
+func deleteInstructor(client *db.Client, userId string) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("instructors/" + userId)
+	return ref.Delete(context.TODO())
+}
+
+// Parent CRUD
+func createParent(client *db.Client, userId string, parent Parent) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("parents/" + userId)
+	return ref.Set(context.TODO(), parent)
+}
+
+func readParent(client *db.Client, userId string) (Parent, error) {
+	ref := client.NewRef("parents/" + userId)
+	var parent Parent
+	if err := ref.Get(context.TODO(), &parent); err != nil {
+		return Parent{}, err
+	}
+	return parent, nil
+}
+
+func updateParent(client *db.Client, userId string, updates map[string]interface{}) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("parents/" + userId)
+	return ref.Update(context.TODO(), updates)
+}
+
+func deleteParent(client *db.Client, userId string) error {
+	ref := client.NewRef("parents/" + userId)
+	return ref.Delete(context.TODO())
+}