diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index f205217..c213cdc 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -264,6 +264,12 @@ version = "0.6.7"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "e1e5f035d16fc623ae5f74981db80a439803888314e3a555fd6f04acd51a3205"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "byteorder"
+version = "1.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1fd0f2584146f6f2ef48085050886acf353beff7305ebd1ae69500e27c67f64b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bytes"
 version = "1.5.0"
@@ -486,6 +492,51 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 1.0.109",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "diesel"
+version = "2.1.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "62c6fcf842f17f8c78ecf7c81d75c5ce84436b41ee07e03f490fbb5f5a8731d8"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags 2.4.1",
+ "byteorder",
+ "diesel_derives",
+ "itoa",
+ "pq-sys",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "diesel-derive-newtype"
+version = "2.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c7267437d5b12df60ae29bd97f8d120f1c3a6272d6f213551afa56bbb2ecfbb7"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.39",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "diesel_derives"
+version = "2.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ef8337737574f55a468005a83499da720f20c65586241ffea339db9ecdfd2b44"
+dependencies = [
+ "diesel_table_macro_syntax",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.39",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "diesel_table_macro_syntax"
+version = "0.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fc5557efc453706fed5e4fa85006fe9817c224c3f480a34c7e5959fd700921c5"
+dependencies = [
+ "syn 2.0.39",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "diffy"
 version = "0.3.0"
@@ -615,6 +666,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "axum",
  "axum-macros",
  "chrono",
+ "diesel",
+ "diesel-derive-newtype",
  "diffy",
  "enum_delegate",
  "env_logger",
@@ -1408,6 +1461,15 @@ version = "0.2.17"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "5b40af805b3121feab8a3c29f04d8ad262fa8e0561883e7653e024ae4479e6de"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pq-sys"
+version = "0.4.8"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "31c0052426df997c0cbd30789eb44ca097e3541717a7b8fa36b1c464ee7edebd"
+dependencies = [
+ "vcpkg",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "proc-macro2"
 version = "1.0.69"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b806626..3b37342 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ async-trait = "0.1.74"
 axum = "0.6.20"
 axum-macros = "0.3.8"
 chrono = { version = "0.4.31", features = ["serde"] }
+diesel = {version = "2.1.4", features = ["postgres"] }
+diesel-derive-newtype = "2.1.0"
 diffy = "0.3.0"
 enum_delegate = "0.2.0"
 env_logger = { version = "0.10.1", default-features = false }
diff --git a/diesel.toml b/diesel.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85fd363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diesel.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# For documentation on how to configure this file,
+# see https://diesel.rs/guides/configuring-diesel-cli
+
+[print_schema]
+file = "src/database/schema.rs"
+custom_type_derives = ["diesel::query_builder::QueryId"]
+
+[migrations_directory]
+dir = "migrations"
diff --git a/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql b/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9f5260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- This file was automatically created by Diesel to setup helper functions
+-- and other internal bookkeeping. This file is safe to edit, any future
+-- changes will be added to existing projects as new migrations.
+
+DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS diesel_manage_updated_at(_tbl regclass);
+DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS diesel_set_updated_at();
diff --git a/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql b/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d68895b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/00000000000000_diesel_initial_setup/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+-- This file was automatically created by Diesel to setup helper functions
+-- and other internal bookkeeping. This file is safe to edit, any future
+-- changes will be added to existing projects as new migrations.
+
+
+
+
+-- Sets up a trigger for the given table to automatically set a column called
+-- `updated_at` whenever the row is modified (unless `updated_at` was included
+-- in the modified columns)
+--
+-- # Example
+--
+-- ```sql
+-- CREATE TABLE users (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, updated_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW());
+--
+-- SELECT diesel_manage_updated_at('users');
+-- ```
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION diesel_manage_updated_at(_tbl regclass) RETURNS VOID AS $$
+BEGIN
+    EXECUTE format('CREATE TRIGGER set_updated_at BEFORE UPDATE ON %s
+                    FOR EACH ROW EXECUTE PROCEDURE diesel_set_updated_at()', _tbl);
+END;
+$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
+
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION diesel_set_updated_at() RETURNS trigger AS $$
+BEGIN
+    IF (
+        NEW IS DISTINCT FROM OLD AND
+        NEW.updated_at IS NOT DISTINCT FROM OLD.updated_at
+    ) THEN
+        NEW.updated_at := current_timestamp;
+    END IF;
+    RETURN NEW;
+END;
+$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
diff --git a/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/down.sql b/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5b240a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+drop table edit;
+drop table article;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/up.sql b/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..675fecf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2023-11-28-150402_article/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+create table article (
+    id serial primary key,
+    title text not null,
+    text text not null,
+    ap_id varchar(255) not null,
+    instance_id varchar(255) not null,
+    latest_version text not null,
+    local bool not null
+);
+
+create table edit (
+    id serial primary key,
+    ap_id varchar(255) not null,
+    diff text not null,
+    article_id int REFERENCES article ON UPDATE CASCADE ON DELETE CASCADE NOT NULL,
+    version text not null,
+    local bool not null
+)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/api.rs b/src/api.rs
index 52eb81e..40f695e 100644
--- a/src/api.rs
+++ b/src/api.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-use crate::database::{DatabaseHandle, DbConflict};
+use crate::database::article::{DbArticle, DbArticleForm};
+use crate::database::dburl::DbUrl;
+use crate::database::edit::{DbEdit, EditVersion};
+use crate::database::{DbConflict, MyDataHandle};
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::activities::create_article::CreateArticle;
 use crate::federation::activities::submit_article_update;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::EditVersion;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_article_version;
 use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ pub struct CreateArticleData {
 /// Create a new article with empty text, and federate it to followers.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn create_article(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
     Form(create_article): Form<CreateArticleData>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
     {
@@ -55,26 +56,23 @@ async fn create_article(
         }
     }
 
-    let local_instance_id = data.local_instance().ap_id;
-    let ap_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!(
+    let instance_id: DbUrl = data.local_instance().ap_id.into();
+    let ap_id = Url::parse(&format!(
         "http://{}:{}/article/{}",
-        local_instance_id.inner().domain().unwrap(),
-        local_instance_id.inner().port().unwrap(),
+        instance_id.domain().unwrap(),
+        instance_id.port().unwrap(),
         create_article.title
-    ))?;
-    let article = DbArticle {
+    ))?
+    .into();
+    let form = DbArticleForm {
         title: create_article.title,
         text: String::new(),
         ap_id,
-        latest_version: EditVersion::default(),
-        edits: vec![],
-        instance: local_instance_id,
+        latest_version: Default::default(),
+        instance_id,
         local: true,
     };
-    {
-        let mut articles = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-        articles.insert(article.ap_id.inner().clone(), article.clone());
-    }
+    let article = DbArticle::create(&form, &data.db_connection)?;
 
     CreateArticle::send_to_followers(article.clone(), &data).await?;
 
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ pub struct ApiConflict {
 /// Conflicts are stored in the database so they can be retrieved later from `/api/v3/edit_conflicts`.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn edit_article(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
     Form(edit_form): Form<EditArticleData>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<Option<ApiConflict>>> {
     // resolve conflict if any
@@ -138,14 +136,14 @@ async fn edit_article(
     } else {
         // There have been other changes since this edit was initiated. Get the common ancestor
         // version and generate a diff to find out what exactly has changed.
-        let ancestor =
-            generate_article_version(&original_article.edits, &edit_form.previous_version)?;
+        let edits = DbEdit::for_article(original_article.id, &data.db_connection)?;
+        let ancestor = generate_article_version(&edits, &edit_form.previous_version)?;
         let patch = create_patch(&ancestor, &edit_form.new_text);
 
         let db_conflict = DbConflict {
             id: random(),
             diff: patch.to_string(),
-            article_id: original_article.ap_id.clone(),
+            article_id: original_article.ap_id.clone().into(),
             previous_version: edit_form.previous_version,
         };
         {
@@ -158,23 +156,16 @@ async fn edit_article(
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone)]
 pub struct GetArticleData {
-    pub ap_id: ObjectId<DbArticle>,
+    pub id: i32,
 }
 
 /// Retrieve an article by ID. It must already be stored in the local database.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn get_article(
     Query(query): Query<GetArticleData>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
-    let articles = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-    let article = articles
-        .iter()
-        .find(|a| a.1.ap_id == query.ap_id)
-        .ok_or(anyhow!("not found"))?
-        .1
-        .clone();
-    Ok(Json(article))
+    Ok(Json(DbArticle::read(query.id, &data.db_connection)?))
 }
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize)]
@@ -187,7 +178,7 @@ pub struct ResolveObject {
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn resolve_instance(
     Query(query): Query<ResolveObject>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbInstance>> {
     let instance: DbInstance = ObjectId::from(query.id).dereference(&data).await?;
     Ok(Json(instance))
@@ -198,7 +189,7 @@ async fn resolve_instance(
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn resolve_article(
     Query(query): Query<ResolveObject>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
     let article: DbArticle = ObjectId::from(query.id).dereference(&data).await?;
     Ok(Json(article))
@@ -206,7 +197,7 @@ async fn resolve_article(
 
 /// Retrieve the local instance info.
 #[debug_handler]
-async fn get_local_instance(data: Data<DatabaseHandle>) -> MyResult<Json<DbInstance>> {
+async fn get_local_instance(data: Data<MyDataHandle>) -> MyResult<Json<DbInstance>> {
     Ok(Json(data.local_instance()))
 }
 
@@ -219,7 +210,7 @@ pub struct FollowInstance {
 /// updated articles.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn follow_instance(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
     Form(query): Form<FollowInstance>,
 ) -> MyResult<()> {
     let instance = query.instance_id.dereference(&data).await?;
@@ -229,7 +220,7 @@ async fn follow_instance(
 
 /// Get a list of all unresolved edit conflicts.
 #[debug_handler]
-async fn edit_conflicts(data: Data<DatabaseHandle>) -> MyResult<Json<Vec<ApiConflict>>> {
+async fn edit_conflicts(data: Data<MyDataHandle>) -> MyResult<Json<Vec<ApiConflict>>> {
     let conflicts = { data.conflicts.lock().unwrap().to_vec() };
     let conflicts: Vec<ApiConflict> = try_join_all(conflicts.into_iter().map(|c| {
         let data = data.reset_request_count();
@@ -253,7 +244,7 @@ pub struct SearchArticleData {
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn search_article(
     Query(query): Query<SearchArticleData>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<Vec<DbArticle>>> {
     let articles = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
     let article = articles
@@ -277,7 +268,7 @@ pub struct ForkArticleData {
 /// how an article should be edited.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn fork_article(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
     Form(fork_form): Form<ForkArticleData>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
     let article = {
@@ -296,28 +287,27 @@ async fn fork_article(
             .clone()
     };
 
-    let local_instance_id = data.local_instance().ap_id;
-    let ap_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!(
+    let instance_id: DbUrl = data.local_instance().ap_id.into();
+    let ap_id = Url::parse(&format!(
         "http://{}:{}/article/{}",
-        local_instance_id.inner().domain().unwrap(),
-        local_instance_id.inner().port().unwrap(),
+        instance_id.domain().unwrap(),
+        instance_id.port().unwrap(),
         original_article.title
-    ))?;
-    let forked_article = DbArticle {
+    ))?
+    .into();
+    let form = DbArticleForm {
         title: original_article.title.clone(),
         text: original_article.text.clone(),
         ap_id,
-        latest_version: original_article.latest_version.clone(),
-        edits: original_article.edits.clone(),
-        instance: local_instance_id,
+        latest_version: original_article.latest_version.0.clone(),
+        instance_id,
         local: true,
     };
-    {
-        let mut articles = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-        articles.insert(forked_article.ap_id.inner().clone(), forked_article.clone());
-    }
+    let article = DbArticle::create(&form, &data.db_connection)?;
 
-    CreateArticle::send_to_followers(forked_article.clone(), &data).await?;
+    // TODO: need to copy edits separately with db query
 
-    Ok(Json(forked_article))
+    CreateArticle::send_to_followers(article.clone(), &data).await?;
+
+    Ok(Json(article))
 }
diff --git a/src/database/article.rs b/src/database/article.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d82754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/database/article.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+use crate::database::dburl::DbUrl;
+use crate::database::edit::EditVersion;
+use crate::database::schema::article;
+use crate::error::MyResult;
+use crate::federation::objects::edits_collection::DbEditCollection;
+use activitypub_federation::fetch::collection_id::CollectionId;
+use diesel::pg::PgConnection;
+use diesel::ExpressionMethods;
+use diesel::{
+    insert_into, AsChangeset, Identifiable, Insertable, QueryDsl, Queryable, RunQueryDsl,
+    Selectable,
+};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::ops::DerefMut;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Queryable, Selectable, Identifiable)]
+#[diesel(table_name = article, check_for_backend(diesel::pg::Pg))]
+pub struct DbArticle {
+    pub id: i32,
+    pub title: String,
+    pub text: String,
+    pub ap_id: DbUrl,
+    pub instance_id: DbUrl,
+    /// List of all edits which make up this article, oldest first.
+    // TODO
+    //pub edits: Vec<DbEdit>,
+    pub latest_version: EditVersion,
+    pub local: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Insertable, AsChangeset)]
+#[diesel(table_name = article, check_for_backend(diesel::pg::Pg))]
+pub struct DbArticleForm {
+    pub title: String,
+    pub text: String,
+    pub ap_id: DbUrl,
+    // TODO: change to foreign key
+    pub instance_id: DbUrl,
+    // TODO: instead of this we can use latest entry in edits table
+    pub latest_version: String,
+    pub local: bool,
+}
+
+impl DbArticle {
+    pub fn edits_id(&self) -> MyResult<CollectionId<DbEditCollection>> {
+        Ok(CollectionId::parse(&format!("{}/edits", self.ap_id))?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn create(form: &DbArticleForm, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<DbArticle> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap().deref_mut();
+        Ok(insert_into(article::table)
+            .values(form)
+            .on_conflict(article::dsl::ap_id)
+            .do_update()
+            .set(form)
+            .get_result(conn)?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_text(id: i32, text: &str, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<Self> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap();
+        Ok(diesel::update(article::dsl::article.find(id))
+            .set(article::dsl::text.eq(text))
+            .get_result::<Self>(&mut conn)?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn read(id: i32, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<DbArticle> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap();
+        Ok(article::table.find(id).get_result(&mut conn)?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn read_from_ap_id(ap_id: &DbUrl, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<DbArticle> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap();
+        Ok(article::table
+            .filter(article::dsl::ap_id.eq(ap_id))
+            .get_result(&mut conn)?)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/database/dburl.rs b/src/database/dburl.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0931038
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/database/dburl.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+use activitypub_federation::fetch::collection_id::CollectionId;
+use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
+use activitypub_federation::traits::{Collection, Object};
+use diesel::backend::Backend;
+use diesel::deserialize::FromSql;
+use diesel::pg::Pg;
+use diesel::{AsExpression, FromSqlRow};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use url::Url;
+
+/// Copied from lemmy, could be moved into common library
+#[repr(transparent)]
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Hash, AsExpression, FromSqlRow)]
+#[diesel(sql_type = diesel::sql_types::Text)]
+pub struct DbUrl(pub(crate) Box<Url>);
+
+// TODO: Lemmy doesnt need this, but for some reason derive fails to generate it
+impl FromSql<diesel::sql_types::Text, Pg> for DbUrl {
+    fn from_sql(bytes: <Pg as Backend>::RawValue<'_>) -> diesel::deserialize::Result<Self> {
+        todo!()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for DbUrl {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        self.clone().0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+// the project doesnt compile with From
+#[allow(clippy::from_over_into)]
+impl Into<DbUrl> for Url {
+    fn into(self) -> DbUrl {
+        DbUrl(Box::new(self))
+    }
+}
+#[allow(clippy::from_over_into)]
+impl Into<Url> for DbUrl {
+    fn into(self) -> Url {
+        *self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<DbUrl> for ObjectId<T>
+where
+    T: Object + Send + 'static,
+    for<'de2> <T as Object>::Kind: Deserialize<'de2>,
+{
+    fn from(value: DbUrl) -> Self {
+        let url: Url = value.into();
+        ObjectId::from(url)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<DbUrl> for CollectionId<T>
+where
+    T: Collection + Send + 'static,
+    for<'de2> <T as Collection>::Kind: Deserialize<'de2>,
+{
+    fn from(value: DbUrl) -> Self {
+        let url: Url = value.into();
+        CollectionId::from(url)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<CollectionId<T>> for DbUrl
+where
+    T: Collection,
+    for<'de2> <T as Collection>::Kind: Deserialize<'de2>,
+{
+    fn from(value: CollectionId<T>) -> Self {
+        let url: Url = value.into();
+        url.into()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<ObjectId<T>> for DbUrl
+where
+    T: Object,
+    for<'de2> <T as Object>::Kind: Deserialize<'de2>,
+{
+    fn from(value: ObjectId<T>) -> Self {
+        let url: Url = value.into();
+        url.into()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for DbUrl {
+    type Target = Url;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/database/edit.rs b/src/database/edit.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc94ad6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/database/edit.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::dburl::DbUrl;
+use crate::database::schema::edit;
+use crate::error::MyResult;
+use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
+use diesel::ExpressionMethods;
+use diesel::{
+    insert_into, AsChangeset, Identifiable, Insertable, PgConnection, QueryDsl, Queryable,
+    RunQueryDsl, Selectable,
+};
+use diesel_derive_newtype::DieselNewType;
+use diffy::create_patch;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use sha2::{Digest, Sha224};
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+/// Represents a single change to the article.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Queryable, Selectable, Identifiable)]
+#[diesel(table_name = edit, check_for_backend(diesel::pg::Pg))]
+pub struct DbEdit {
+    pub id: i32,
+    pub ap_id: DbUrl,
+    pub diff: String,
+    pub article_id: i32,
+    pub version: EditVersion,
+    // TODO: there is already `local` field on article, do we need this?
+    pub local: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Insertable, AsChangeset)]
+#[diesel(table_name = edit, check_for_backend(diesel::pg::Pg))]
+pub struct DbEditForm {
+    pub ap_id: DbUrl,
+    pub diff: String,
+    pub article_id: i32,
+    pub version: EditVersion,
+    pub local: bool,
+}
+
+impl DbEditForm {
+    pub fn new(original_article: &DbArticle, updated_text: &str) -> MyResult<Self> {
+        let diff = create_patch(&original_article.text, updated_text);
+        let mut sha224 = Sha224::new();
+        sha224.update(diff.to_bytes());
+        let hash = format!("{:X}", sha224.finalize());
+        let edit_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!("{}/{}", original_article.ap_id, hash))?;
+        Ok(DbEditForm {
+            ap_id: edit_id.into(),
+            diff: diff.to_string(),
+            article_id: original_article.ap_id.clone(),
+            version: EditVersion(hash),
+            local: true,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl DbEdit {
+    pub fn create(form: &DbEditForm, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<Self> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap();
+        Ok(insert_into(edit::table)
+            .values(form)
+            .on_conflict(edit::dsl::ap_id)
+            .do_update()
+            .set(form)
+            .get_result(&mut conn)?)
+    }
+
+    pub fn for_article(id: i32, conn: &Mutex<PgConnection>) -> MyResult<Vec<Self>> {
+        let mut conn = conn.lock().unwrap();
+        Ok(edit::table
+            .filter(edit::dsl::id.eq(id))
+            .order_by(edit::dsl::id.asc())
+            .get_results(&mut conn)?)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, DieselNewType)]
+pub struct EditVersion(pub String);
+
+impl Default for EditVersion {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        let sha224 = Sha224::new();
+        let hash = format!("{:X}", sha224.finalize());
+        EditVersion(hash)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/database.rs b/src/database/mod.rs
similarity index 72%
rename from src/database.rs
rename to src/database/mod.rs
index 8c106be..4001edc 100644
--- a/src/database.rs
+++ b/src/database/mod.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,48 @@
 use crate::api::ApiConflict;
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::edit::DbEdit;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::activities::submit_article_update;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::EditVersion;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_article_version;
 use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
 use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
+use diesel::{Identifiable, PgConnection, QueryDsl};
 use diffy::{apply, merge, Patch};
+use edit::EditVersion;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use url::Url;
 
-pub type DatabaseHandle = Arc<Database>;
+pub mod article;
+pub mod dburl;
+pub mod edit;
+mod schema;
 
-pub struct Database {
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct MyData {
+    pub db_connection: Arc<Mutex<PgConnection>>,
+    pub fake_db: Arc<FakeDatabase>,
+}
+
+impl Deref for MyData {
+    type Target = Arc<FakeDatabase>;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.fake_db
+    }
+}
+pub type MyDataHandle = MyData;
+
+pub struct FakeDatabase {
     pub instances: Mutex<HashMap<Url, DbInstance>>,
+    // TODO: remove this
     pub articles: Mutex<HashMap<Url, DbArticle>>,
     pub conflicts: Mutex<Vec<DbConflict>>,
 }
 
-impl Database {
+impl FakeDatabase {
     pub fn local_instance(&self) -> DbInstance {
         let lock = self.instances.lock().unwrap();
         lock.iter().find(|i| i.1.local).unwrap().1.clone()
@@ -38,7 +60,7 @@ pub struct DbConflict {
 impl DbConflict {
     pub async fn to_api_conflict(
         &self,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> MyResult<Option<ApiConflict>> {
         let original_article = {
             let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
@@ -47,7 +69,8 @@ impl DbConflict {
         };
 
         // create common ancestor version
-        let ancestor = generate_article_version(&original_article.edits, &self.previous_version)?;
+        let edits = DbEdit::for_article(original_article.id, &data.db_connection)?;
+        let ancestor = generate_article_version(&edits, &self.previous_version)?;
 
         let patch = Patch::from_str(&self.diff)?;
         // apply self.diff to ancestor to get `ours`
@@ -67,7 +90,7 @@ impl DbConflict {
                 Ok(Some(ApiConflict {
                     id: self.id,
                     three_way_merge,
-                    article_id: original_article.ap_id.clone(),
+                    article_id: original_article.ap_id.into(),
                     previous_version: original_article.latest_version,
                 }))
             }
diff --git a/src/database/schema.rs b/src/database/schema.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c7e5e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/database/schema.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// @generated automatically by Diesel CLI.
+
+diesel::table! {
+    article (id) {
+        id -> Int4,
+        title -> Text,
+        text -> Text,
+        #[max_length = 255]
+        ap_id -> Varchar,
+        #[max_length = 255]
+        instance_id -> Varchar,
+        latest_version -> Text,
+        local -> Bool,
+    }
+}
+
+diesel::table! {
+    edit (id) {
+        id -> Int4,
+        #[max_length = 255]
+        ap_id -> Varchar,
+        diff -> Text,
+        article_id -> Int4,
+        version -> Text,
+        local -> Bool,
+    }
+}
+
+diesel::joinable!(edit -> article (article_id));
+
+diesel::allow_tables_to_appear_in_same_query!(article, edit,);
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/accept.rs b/src/federation/activities/accept.rs
index 6bd3934..b422dc1 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/accept.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/accept.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
-use crate::{database::DatabaseHandle, federation::activities::follow::Follow};
+use crate::{database::MyDataHandle, federation::activities::follow::Follow};
 use activitypub_federation::{
     config::Data, fetch::object_id::ObjectId, kinds::activity::AcceptType, traits::ActivityHandler,
 };
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl Accept {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for Accept {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/create_article.rs b/src/federation/activities/create_article.rs
index fdcc582..d36d99b 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/create_article.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/create_article.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::{article::DbArticle, MyDataHandle};
 use crate::error::MyResult;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::{ApubArticle, DbArticle};
+use crate::federation::objects::article::ApubArticle;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::activity::CreateType;
@@ -26,10 +26,7 @@ pub struct CreateArticle {
 }
 
 impl CreateArticle {
-    pub async fn send_to_followers(
-        article: DbArticle,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
-    ) -> MyResult<()> {
+    pub async fn send_to_followers(article: DbArticle, data: &Data<MyDataHandle>) -> MyResult<()> {
         let local_instance = data.local_instance();
         let object = article.clone().into_json(data).await?;
         let id = generate_activity_id(local_instance.ap_id.inner())?;
@@ -48,7 +45,7 @@ impl CreateArticle {
 }
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for CreateArticle {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/follow.rs b/src/federation/activities/follow.rs
index de156d9..f5c5095 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/follow.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/follow.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
-use crate::{
-    database::DatabaseHandle, federation::activities::accept::Accept, generate_activity_id,
-};
+use crate::{database::MyDataHandle, federation::activities::accept::Accept, generate_activity_id};
 use activitypub_federation::{
     config::Data,
     fetch::object_id::ObjectId,
@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ impl Follow {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for Follow {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/mod.rs b/src/federation/activities/mod.rs
index ea9ead4..ca86d97 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/mod.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/mod.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::edit::{DbEdit, DbEditForm};
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
 use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::federation::activities::update_local_article::UpdateLocalArticle;
 use crate::federation::activities::update_remote_article::UpdateRemoteArticle;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::DbEdit;
+use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
+use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
 
 pub mod accept;
 pub mod create_article;
@@ -14,29 +16,27 @@ pub mod update_local_article;
 pub mod update_remote_article;
 
 pub async fn submit_article_update(
-    data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     new_text: String,
     original_article: &DbArticle,
 ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-    let edit = DbEdit::new(original_article, &new_text)?;
+    let form = DbEditForm::new(original_article, &new_text)?;
+    let edit = DbEdit::create(&form, &data.db_connection)?;
     if original_article.local {
         let updated_article = {
             let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-            let article = lock.get_mut(original_article.ap_id.inner()).unwrap();
+            let article = lock.get_mut(&original_article.ap_id).unwrap();
             article.text = new_text;
             article.latest_version = edit.version.clone();
-            article.edits.push(edit.clone());
             article.clone()
         };
 
         UpdateLocalArticle::send(updated_article, vec![], data).await?;
     } else {
-        UpdateRemoteArticle::send(
-            edit,
-            original_article.instance.dereference(data).await?,
-            data,
-        )
-        .await?;
+        let instance: DbInstance = ObjectId::from(original_article.instance_id.clone())
+            .dereference(data)
+            .await?;
+        UpdateRemoteArticle::send(edit, instance, data).await?;
     }
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/reject.rs b/src/federation/activities/reject.rs
index 136f03f..91a8887 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/reject.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/reject.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::objects::edit::ApubEdit;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ impl RejectEdit {
     pub async fn send(
         edit: ApubEdit,
         user_instance: DbInstance,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> MyResult<()> {
         let local_instance = data.local_instance();
         let id = generate_activity_id(local_instance.ap_id.inner())?;
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl RejectEdit {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for RejectEdit {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/update_local_article.rs b/src/federation/activities/update_local_article.rs
index b5e5d70..5e3ee58 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/update_local_article.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/update_local_article.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::{article::DbArticle, MyDataHandle};
 use crate::error::MyResult;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::{ApubArticle, DbArticle};
+use crate::federation::objects::article::ApubArticle;
 
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl UpdateLocalArticle {
     pub async fn send(
         article: DbArticle,
         extra_recipients: Vec<DbInstance>,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> MyResult<()> {
         debug_assert!(article.local);
         let local_instance = data.local_instance();
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl UpdateLocalArticle {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for UpdateLocalArticle {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
diff --git a/src/federation/activities/update_remote_article.rs b/src/federation/activities/update_remote_article.rs
index 3a37d3a..0481501 100644
--- a/src/federation/activities/update_remote_article.rs
+++ b/src/federation/activities/update_remote_article.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::{ApubEdit, DbEdit};
+use crate::federation::objects::edit::ApubEdit;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::activity::UpdateType;
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ use activitypub_federation::{
 };
 use diffy::{apply, Patch};
 
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::edit::DbEdit;
 use crate::federation::activities::reject::RejectEdit;
 use crate::federation::activities::update_local_article::UpdateLocalArticle;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ impl UpdateRemoteArticle {
     pub async fn send(
         edit: DbEdit,
         article_instance: DbInstance,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> MyResult<()> {
         let local_instance = data.local_instance();
         let id = generate_activity_id(local_instance.ap_id.inner())?;
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ impl UpdateRemoteArticle {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl ActivityHandler for UpdateRemoteArticle {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Error = crate::error::Error;
 
     fn id(&self) -> &Url {
@@ -80,13 +82,9 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UpdateRemoteArticle {
 
         match apply(&article_text, &patch) {
             Ok(applied) => {
-                let article = {
-                    let edit = DbEdit::from_json(self.object.clone(), data).await?;
-                    let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-                    let article = lock.get_mut(edit.article_id.inner()).unwrap();
-                    article.text = applied;
-                    article.clone()
-                };
+                let edit = DbEdit::from_json(self.object.clone(), data).await?;
+                let article =
+                    DbArticle::update_text(edit.article_id, &applied, &mut data.db_connection)?;
                 UpdateLocalArticle::send(article, vec![self.actor.dereference(data).await?], data)
                     .await?;
             }
diff --git a/src/federation/mod.rs b/src/federation/mod.rs
index a04b0a4..8ea37a7 100644
--- a/src/federation/mod.rs
+++ b/src/federation/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-use crate::database::{Database, DatabaseHandle};
+use crate::database::{FakeDatabase, MyData, MyDataHandle};
 use crate::error::Error;
+use crate::establish_db_connection;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use activitypub_federation::config::FederationConfig;
 use activitypub_federation::fetch::collection_id::CollectionId;
@@ -13,13 +14,13 @@ pub mod activities;
 pub mod objects;
 pub mod routes;
 
-pub async fn federation_config(hostname: &str) -> Result<FederationConfig<DatabaseHandle>, Error> {
-    let ap_id = Url::parse(&format!("http://{}", hostname))?.into();
+pub async fn federation_config(hostname: &str) -> Result<FederationConfig<MyDataHandle>, Error> {
+    let ap_id = Url::parse(&format!("http://{}", hostname))?;
     let articles_id = CollectionId::parse(&format!("http://{}/all_articles", hostname))?;
     let inbox = Url::parse(&format!("http://{}/inbox", hostname))?;
     let keypair = generate_actor_keypair()?;
     let local_instance = DbInstance {
-        ap_id,
+        ap_id: ap_id.into(),
         articles_id,
         inbox,
         public_key: keypair.public_key,
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ pub async fn federation_config(hostname: &str) -> Result<FederationConfig<Databa
         follows: vec![],
         local: true,
     };
-    let database = Arc::new(Database {
+    let fake_db = Arc::new(FakeDatabase {
         instances: Mutex::new(HashMap::from([(
             local_instance.ap_id.inner().clone(),
             local_instance,
@@ -37,9 +38,14 @@ pub async fn federation_config(hostname: &str) -> Result<FederationConfig<Databa
         articles: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()),
         conflicts: Mutex::new(vec![]),
     });
+    let db_connection = Arc::new(Mutex::new(establish_db_connection()?));
+    let data = MyData {
+        db_connection,
+        fake_db,
+    };
     let config = FederationConfig::builder()
         .domain(hostname)
-        .app_data(database)
+        .app_data(data)
         .debug(true)
         .build()
         .await?;
diff --git a/src/federation/objects/article.rs b/src/federation/objects/article.rs
index fa62c43..533d2ad 100644
--- a/src/federation/objects/article.rs
+++ b/src/federation/objects/article.rs
@@ -1,44 +1,26 @@
-use crate::error::MyResult;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::{DbEdit, EditVersion};
+use crate::database::article::DbArticleForm;
+use crate::database::edit::EditVersion;
+use crate::database::{article::DbArticle, MyDataHandle};
+use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::federation::objects::edits_collection::DbEditCollection;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
-use crate::{database::DatabaseHandle, error::Error};
+use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
 use activitypub_federation::fetch::collection_id::CollectionId;
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::object::ArticleType;
+use activitypub_federation::kinds::public;
+use activitypub_federation::protocol::verification::verify_domains_match;
 use activitypub_federation::{
-    config::Data,
-    fetch::object_id::ObjectId,
-    kinds::public,
-    protocol::{helpers::deserialize_one_or_many, verification::verify_domains_match},
-    traits::Object,
+    fetch::object_id::ObjectId, protocol::helpers::deserialize_one_or_many, traits::Object,
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use url::Url;
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
-pub struct DbArticle {
-    pub title: String,
-    pub text: String,
-    pub ap_id: ObjectId<DbArticle>,
-    pub instance: ObjectId<DbInstance>,
-    /// List of all edits which make up this article, oldest first.
-    pub edits: Vec<DbEdit>,
-    pub latest_version: EditVersion,
-    pub local: bool,
-}
-
-impl DbArticle {
-    fn edits_id(&self) -> MyResult<CollectionId<DbEditCollection>> {
-        Ok(CollectionId::parse(&format!("{}/edits", self.ap_id))?)
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Debug, Clone)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct ApubArticle {
     #[serde(rename = "type")]
-    kind: ArticleType,
-    id: ObjectId<DbArticle>,
+    pub(crate) kind: ArticleType,
+    pub(crate) id: ObjectId<DbArticle>,
     pub(crate) attributed_to: ObjectId<DbInstance>,
     #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_one_or_many")]
     pub(crate) to: Vec<Url>,
@@ -50,7 +32,7 @@ pub struct ApubArticle {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Object for DbArticle {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Kind = ApubArticle;
     type Error = Error;
 
@@ -58,21 +40,18 @@ impl Object for DbArticle {
         object_id: Url,
         data: &Data<Self::DataType>,
     ) -> Result<Option<Self>, Self::Error> {
-        let posts = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-        let res = posts
-            .clone()
-            .into_iter()
-            .find(|u| u.1.ap_id.inner() == &object_id)
-            .map(|u| u.1);
-        Ok(res)
+        let article = DbArticle::read_from_ap_id(&object_id.into(), &mut data.db_connection).ok();
+        Ok(article)
     }
 
     async fn into_json(self, data: &Data<Self::DataType>) -> Result<Self::Kind, Self::Error> {
-        let instance = self.instance.dereference_local(data).await?;
+        let instance: DbInstance = ObjectId::from(self.instance_id)
+            .dereference_local(data)
+            .await?;
         Ok(ApubArticle {
             kind: Default::default(),
-            id: self.ap_id.clone(),
-            attributed_to: self.instance.clone(),
+            id: self.ap_id.clone().into(),
+            attributed_to: self.instance_id.clone().into(),
             to: vec![public(), instance.followers_url()?],
             edits: self.edits_id()?,
             latest_version: self.latest_version,
@@ -91,26 +70,22 @@ impl Object for DbArticle {
     }
 
     async fn from_json(json: Self::Kind, data: &Data<Self::DataType>) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        let mut article = DbArticle {
+        let form = DbArticleForm {
             title: json.name,
             text: json.content,
-            ap_id: json.id,
-            instance: json.attributed_to,
-            // TODO: shouldnt overwrite existing edits
-            edits: vec![],
-            latest_version: json.latest_version,
+            ap_id: json.id.into(),
+            latest_version: json.latest_version.0,
             local: false,
+            instance_id: json.attributed_to.into(),
         };
+        let mut article = DbArticle::create(&form, &data.db_connection)?;
 
         {
             let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-            lock.insert(article.ap_id.inner().clone(), article.clone());
+            lock.insert(article.ap_id.clone().into(), article.clone());
         }
 
-        let edits = json.edits.dereference(&article, data).await?;
-
-        // include edits in return value (they are already written to db, no need to do that here)
-        article.edits = edits.0;
+        json.edits.dereference(&article, data).await?;
 
         Ok(article)
     }
diff --git a/src/federation/objects/articles_collection.rs b/src/federation/objects/articles_collection.rs
index c40cf02..b86858a 100644
--- a/src/federation/objects/articles_collection.rs
+++ b/src/federation/objects/articles_collection.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::{article::DbArticle, MyDataHandle};
 use crate::error::Error;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::{ApubArticle, DbArticle};
+use crate::federation::objects::article::ApubArticle;
 use crate::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::collection::CollectionType;
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub struct DbArticleCollection(Vec<DbArticle>);
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Collection for DbArticleCollection {
     type Owner = DbInstance;
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Kind = ArticleCollection;
     type Error = Error;
 
diff --git a/src/federation/objects/edit.rs b/src/federation/objects/edit.rs
index 1e494d1..c26ee90 100644
--- a/src/federation/objects/edit.rs
+++ b/src/federation/objects/edit.rs
@@ -1,54 +1,13 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
-use crate::error::{Error, MyResult};
-
-use crate::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::edit::{DbEdit, DbEditForm, EditVersion};
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
+use crate::error::Error;
 use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
 use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
 use activitypub_federation::traits::Object;
-use diffy::create_patch;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use sha2::Digest;
-use sha2::Sha224;
 use url::Url;
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
-pub struct EditVersion(String);
-
-impl Default for EditVersion {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        let sha224 = Sha224::new();
-        let hash = format!("{:X}", sha224.finalize());
-        EditVersion(hash)
-    }
-}
-
-/// Represents a single change to the article.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
-pub struct DbEdit {
-    pub id: ObjectId<DbEdit>,
-    pub diff: String,
-    pub article_id: ObjectId<DbArticle>,
-    pub version: EditVersion,
-    pub local: bool,
-}
-
-impl DbEdit {
-    pub fn new(original_article: &DbArticle, updated_text: &str) -> MyResult<Self> {
-        let diff = create_patch(&original_article.text, updated_text);
-        let mut sha224 = Sha224::new();
-        sha224.update(diff.to_bytes());
-        let hash = format!("{:X}", sha224.finalize());
-        let edit_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!("{}/{}", original_article.ap_id, hash))?;
-        Ok(DbEdit {
-            id: edit_id,
-            diff: diff.to_string(),
-            article_id: original_article.ap_id.clone(),
-            version: EditVersion(hash),
-            local: true,
-        })
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum EditType {
     Edit,
@@ -68,7 +27,7 @@ pub struct ApubEdit {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Object for DbEdit {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Kind = ApubEdit;
     type Error = Error;
 
@@ -80,18 +39,15 @@ impl Object for DbEdit {
     }
 
     async fn into_json(self, data: &Data<Self::DataType>) -> Result<Self::Kind, Self::Error> {
-        let article_version = {
-            let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-            let article = lock.get_mut(self.article_id.inner()).unwrap();
-            article.latest_version.clone()
-        };
+        let article = DbArticle::read(self.article_id, &mut data.db_connection)?;
         Ok(ApubEdit {
             kind: EditType::Edit,
-            id: self.id,
+            id: self.ap_id.into(),
             content: self.diff,
             version: self.version,
-            previous_version: article_version,
-            object: self.article_id,
+            // TODO: this is wrong
+            previous_version: article.latest_version,
+            object: article.ap_id.into(),
         })
     }
 
@@ -104,16 +60,15 @@ impl Object for DbEdit {
     }
 
     async fn from_json(json: Self::Kind, data: &Data<Self::DataType>) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        let edit = Self {
-            id: json.id,
+        let article = json.object.dereference(data).await?;
+        let form = DbEditForm {
+            ap_id: json.id.into(),
             diff: json.content,
-            article_id: json.object,
+            article_id: article.id,
             version: json.version,
             local: false,
         };
-        let mut lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-        let article = lock.get_mut(edit.article_id.inner()).unwrap();
-        article.edits.push(edit.clone());
+        let edit = DbEdit::create(&form, &mut data.db_connection)?;
         Ok(edit)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/federation/objects/edits_collection.rs b/src/federation/objects/edits_collection.rs
index 1e029fe..f879f3d 100644
--- a/src/federation/objects/edits_collection.rs
+++ b/src/federation/objects/edits_collection.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::article::DbArticle;
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
 use crate::error::Error;
-use crate::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::{ApubEdit, DbEdit};
+use crate::federation::objects::edit::ApubEdit;
 
+use crate::database::edit::DbEdit;
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::collection::OrderedCollectionType;
 use activitypub_federation::{
     config::Data,
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ pub struct DbEditCollection(pub Vec<DbEdit>);
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Collection for DbEditCollection {
     type Owner = DbArticle;
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Kind = ApubEditCollection;
     type Error = Error;
 
@@ -36,10 +37,7 @@ impl Collection for DbEditCollection {
         owner: &Self::Owner,
         data: &Data<Self::DataType>,
     ) -> Result<Self::Kind, Self::Error> {
-        let edits = {
-            let lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
-            DbEditCollection(lock.get(owner.ap_id.inner()).unwrap().edits.clone())
-        };
+        let edits = DbEditCollection(DbEdit::for_article(owner.id, &mut data.db_connection)?);
 
         let edits = future::try_join_all(
             edits
diff --git a/src/federation/objects/instance.rs b/src/federation/objects/instance.rs
index 9a7c3c3..16b5a65 100644
--- a/src/federation/objects/instance.rs
+++ b/src/federation/objects/instance.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::error::{Error, MyResult};
 use crate::federation::objects::articles_collection::DbArticleCollection;
-use crate::{database::DatabaseHandle, federation::activities::follow::Follow};
+use crate::{database::MyDataHandle, federation::activities::follow::Follow};
 use activitypub_federation::activity_sending::SendActivityTask;
 use activitypub_federation::fetch::collection_id::CollectionId;
 use activitypub_federation::kinds::actor::ServiceType;
@@ -55,11 +55,7 @@ impl DbInstance {
             .collect()
     }
 
-    pub async fn follow(
-        &self,
-        other: &DbInstance,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
-    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    pub async fn follow(&self, other: &DbInstance, data: &Data<MyDataHandle>) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let follow = Follow::new(self.ap_id.clone(), other.ap_id.clone())?;
         self.send(follow, vec![other.shared_inbox_or_inbox()], data)
             .await?;
@@ -70,7 +66,7 @@ impl DbInstance {
         &self,
         activity: Activity,
         extra_recipients: Vec<DbInstance>,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> Result<(), <Activity as ActivityHandler>::Error>
     where
         Activity: ActivityHandler + Serialize + Debug + Send + Sync,
@@ -91,7 +87,7 @@ impl DbInstance {
         &self,
         activity: Activity,
         recipients: Vec<Url>,
-        data: &Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+        data: &Data<MyDataHandle>,
     ) -> Result<(), <Activity as ActivityHandler>::Error>
     where
         Activity: ActivityHandler + Serialize + Debug + Send + Sync,
@@ -111,7 +107,7 @@ impl DbInstance {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Object for DbInstance {
-    type DataType = DatabaseHandle;
+    type DataType = MyDataHandle;
     type Kind = ApubInstance;
     type Error = Error;
 
diff --git a/src/federation/routes.rs b/src/federation/routes.rs
index ac0632c..436a3aa 100644
--- a/src/federation/routes.rs
+++ b/src/federation/routes.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::database::DatabaseHandle;
+use crate::database::MyDataHandle;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::activities::accept::Accept;
 use crate::federation::activities::follow::Follow;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ pub fn federation_routes() -> Router {
 
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn http_get_instance(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<FederationJson<WithContext<ApubInstance>>> {
     let db_instance = data.local_instance();
     let json_instance = db_instance.into_json(&data).await?;
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ async fn http_get_instance(
 
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn http_get_all_articles(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<FederationJson<WithContext<ArticleCollection>>> {
     let collection = DbArticleCollection::read_local(&data.local_instance(), &data).await?;
     Ok(FederationJson(WithContext::new_default(collection)))
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async fn http_get_all_articles(
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn http_get_article(
     Path(title): Path<String>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<FederationJson<WithContext<ApubArticle>>> {
     let article = {
         let lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ async fn http_get_article(
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn http_get_article_edits(
     Path(title): Path<String>,
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
 ) -> MyResult<FederationJson<WithContext<ApubEditCollection>>> {
     let article = {
         let lock = data.articles.lock().unwrap();
@@ -93,12 +93,9 @@ pub enum InboxActivities {
 
 #[debug_handler]
 pub async fn http_post_inbox(
-    data: Data<DatabaseHandle>,
+    data: Data<MyDataHandle>,
     activity_data: ActivityData,
 ) -> impl IntoResponse {
-    receive_activity::<WithContext<InboxActivities>, DbInstance, DatabaseHandle>(
-        activity_data,
-        &data,
-    )
-    .await
+    receive_activity::<WithContext<InboxActivities>, DbInstance, MyDataHandle>(activity_data, &data)
+        .await
 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 707e1b0..075c6fa 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
-
-use activitypub_federation::config::FederationMiddleware;
-use axum::{Router, Server};
-
 use crate::api::api_routes;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
 use crate::federation::routes::federation_routes;
+use crate::utils::generate_activity_id;
+use activitypub_federation::config::FederationMiddleware;
+use axum::{Router, Server};
+use diesel::Connection;
+use diesel::PgConnection;
 use federation::federation_config;
 use std::net::ToSocketAddrs;
 use tracing::info;
@@ -36,3 +36,9 @@ pub async fn start(hostname: &str) -> MyResult<()> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+pub fn establish_db_connection() -> MyResult<PgConnection> {
+    // TODO: read from config file
+    let database_url = "postgres://fediwiki:password@localhost:5432/fediwiki";
+    Ok(PgConnection::establish(&database_url)?)
+}
diff --git a/src/utils.rs b/src/utils.rs
index dd9e87d..6883a7d 100644
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+use crate::database::edit::DbEdit;
+use crate::database::edit::EditVersion;
 use crate::error::MyResult;
-use crate::federation::objects::edit::{DbEdit, EditVersion};
 use anyhow::anyhow;
 use diffy::{apply, Patch};
 use rand::{distributions::Alphanumeric, thread_rng, Rng};
diff --git a/tests/common.rs b/tests/common.rs
index f30c9f9..dfb241e 100644
--- a/tests/common.rs
+++ b/tests/common.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use activitypub_federation::fetch::object_id::ObjectId;
 use fediwiki::api::{
     ApiConflict, CreateArticleData, EditArticleData, FollowInstance, GetArticleData, ResolveObject,
 };
+use fediwiki::database::DbArticle;
 use fediwiki::error::MyResult;
-use fediwiki::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
 use fediwiki::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use fediwiki::start;
 use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
diff --git a/tests/test.rs b/tests/test.rs
index ed6b16c..2a01662 100644
--- a/tests/test.rs
+++ b/tests/test.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ use common::get;
 use fediwiki::api::{
     ApiConflict, EditArticleData, ForkArticleData, ResolveObject, SearchArticleData,
 };
+use fediwiki::database::DbArticle;
 use fediwiki::error::MyResult;
-use fediwiki::federation::objects::article::DbArticle;
 use fediwiki::federation::objects::edit::ApubEdit;
 use fediwiki::federation::objects::instance::DbInstance;
 use serial_test::serial;
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ async fn test_fork_article() -> MyResult<()> {
     assert!(fork_res.local);
 
     let beta_instance: DbInstance = get(data.hostname_beta, "instance").await?;
-    assert_eq!(fork_res.instance, beta_instance.ap_id);
+    assert_eq!(fork_res.instance_id, beta_instance.ap_id);
 
     // now search returns two articles for this title (original and forked)
     let search_form = SearchArticleData {