Invite Your Boss to the Business Track at MongoNYC

Meghan Gill
May 23, 2013 | Updated: May 22, 2015
#mongodb days

MongoDB Days have traditionally been focused on the developer community, with lots of technical talks on application design, deployment best practices, and ops war stories. MongoNYC will carry on the tradition of including many deep technical sessions, with talks from the 10gen staff on the latest features in 2.4, as well as presentations from MongoDB community members on their experiences deploying MongoDB in real-world scenarios.

But this year at MongoNYC, we’re introducing a new track aimed at IT managers, directors, and C-level executives who aren’t knee-deep in code. The business track will include case studies from 10gen customers with a focus on the business benefits of using MongoDB, such as reduced cost, new revenue streams and competitive advantaged. We’ll look at the steps enterprises take to adopt NoSQL and open-source technologies, and how you can learn from their experiences.

Here are some of the talks included on the business track at MongoDB NYC:

Telefonica explains how it reduced development time by over 80% from its previous Oracle implementation, building a rich, globally available user data management system.
ADP describes how it built a mobile app in just a few months to let customers view payroll and benefits information on their devices of choice, differentiating ADP from stale on-premise solutions.
Criteo shows how it supported 200,000% growth over five years and global expansion to 7 continents migrating away from SQL Server to MongoDB for its core business, improving online shopping by bringing the performance of search to display advertisers.
And more.

So if you’re a developer or DBA who loves MongoDB, but you’ve only been able to use it for small or side projects, consider inviting your boss to MongoNYC this year. Or, attend the business track and return to the office as an advocate for the business advantages of MongoDB in your enterprise.

For more information on MongoDB NYC or to register, please visit http://www.10gen.com/events/mongonyc-2013. Tomorrow is your last chance to register at the early bird rate, which is only $75. Looking forward to seeing you there.

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New Geo Features in MongoDB 2.4

Motivation Geometric processing as a field of study has many applications, and has resulted in lots of research, and powerful tools. Many modern web applications have location based components, and require a data storage engines capable of managing geometric information. Typically this requires the introduction of an additional storage engine into your infrastructure, which can be a time consuming and expensive operation. MongoDB has a set of geometric storage and search features . The MongoDB 2.4 release brought several improvements to MongoDB’s existing geo capabilities and the introduction of the 2dsphere index . The primary conceptual difference (though there are also many functional differences) between the 2d and 2dsphere indexes, is the type of coordinate system that they consider. Planar coordinate systems are useful for certain applications, and can serve as a simplifying approximation of spherical coordinates. As you consider larger geometries, or consider geometries near the meridians and poles however, the requirement to use proper spherical coordinates becomes important. In addition to this major conceptional difference, there are also significant functional differences, which are outlined in some depth in the Geospatial Indexes and Queries section of the MongoDB documentation. This post will discuss the new features that have been added in the 2.4 release. What’s New Storing non-point geometries Unlike the 2d index, which only allowed the storage of points, the 2dsphere index allows the storage and querying of points, lines, and polygons. To support the storage of different geometries, instead of introducing a proprietary format, MongoDB conforms to the GeoJSON standard. GeoJSON is a collaborative community project that produced a specification for encoding entities in JSON. It has garnered significant support, including the OpenLayers project , PostGIS , and has growing language support for python and ruby . Here are a few simple examples of GeoJSON embedded documents: A BSON Document with a GeoJSON Point embedded in the geo field: { geo: { type: “Point”, coordinates: [100.0, 0.0] } } A BSON Document with a GeoJSON LineString embedded in the geo field: { geo: { type: “LineString”, coordinates: [ [100.0, 0.0], [101.0, 1.0] ] } } A BSON Document with a GeoJSON Polygon embedded in the geo field: { geo: { type: “Polygon”, coordinates: [ [ [100.0, 0.0], [101.0, 0.0], [101.0, 1.0], [100.0, 1.0], [100.0, 0.0] ] ] } } Note: A GeoJSON Polygon’s coordinates are an array of arrays of point specifications. Each array of point specifications should have the same starting and ending point to form a closed loop. The first array of point specifications defines the polygon’s exterior geometry, and each subsequent array of point specifications defines a “hole” in the polygon. Polygons should be non self-intersecting, and holes should be fully contained by the polygon. Inclusion searches on a sphere The new $geoWithin operator, which takes a Polygon geometry as a specifier, returns any geometries of any type that are fully contained within the polygon. It will work well without any index, but must look at every document in the collection to do so. Intersecting geometries on a sphere The new $geoIntersects operator, which takes any geometry as a specifier, returns any geometries that have a non-empty intersection with the specifier. $geoIntersects also works well without an index, and must also look at each document in the collection. Better support for compound indexes The 2d index can only be used in a compound index if 1. it is the first field, 2. there are exactly two fields in the compound index, and 3. if the second field isn’t a 2d index. 2dsphere indexes aren’t limited in this way, which allows us to pre-filter based on a non-geo field - which is often more efficient. Consider the following queries: Find me Hot Dog Stands in New York state i.e. use a compound index: (business_type, location). Find me geometries in New York state that are Hot Dog stands i.e. use the compound index: (location, business_type) The first query will be much more efficient than the second, because business_type is a simple text field, and greatly reduces the set of geometries to search. Additionally, we can have multiple 2dsphere indexes in the same compound index. This allows queries like: “Find routes with a start location within 50 miles from JFK, and an end location within 100 miles of YYC”. How it Works Everything starts when you insert a geometry into a 2dsphere index. We use the open source s2 C++ library from google to select a minimal set of cells that fully cover a geometry. This set of grid cells is called a covering, and the size of the cells is dynamic (between 500m and 100km on a side) based upon the size of the polygon being covered. fig 3 - A very low granularity covering of the entire United Kingdom fig 4 - A fairly granular covering of the A4 around Trafalgar Square. Each cell in these coverings is now added to a standard B-tree index, with a key that is easily calculable by the location on surface of the sphere - more granular(smaller) cells will have the same prefix as a larger cell that occupies the same area of the surface of the sphere. Intersection & Within searches Finding geometries that may be intersecting or within a search polygon becomes as easy as generating a covering for the search specifier, and for each cell in that covering, query the B-tree for any geometries that interact with these cells. Once the list of possibly interacting geometries has been retrieved from the index, each geometry in checked in turn to see if it should be included in the result set. Near searches The near search provided by the $near operator is implemented by doing $within searches on concentrically growing donuts (circular polygons with with circular holes). We encourage user feedback and testing on these new Geo features and are excited to see what the community builds. Map images ⓒ OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license (CC-BY-SA). Map data ⓒ OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL).

May 21, 2013

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Being Latine in Tech: Two MongoDB Employees Share Their Advice on Building Careers in Engineering

Ashley Naranjo and Martin Bajana, members of MongoDB’s employee resource group QueLatine, share their career journeys and offer insight into how other members of the Latine community can build careers in tech. Jackie Denner: How did you make your way into the tech industry? Ashley Naranjo: I am a first-generation Latina with a passion for Information Technology and a knack for problem-solving. After graduating early from high school, I embarked on a career in Nursing. I chose Nursing initially because I wanted to make a difference and help others, but my path took an unexpected turn when COVID-19 reshaped our world. In light of the circumstances, I reevaluated my options and decided to seize an opportunity with a program called Year Up . During the intensive six-month training and deployment phase, I not only completed rigorous coursework but also obtained IT Google Coursera certifications and actively pursued CompTIA certifications. This experience allowed me to secure an internship at Meta (Facebook) as an Enterprise Operation IT Support Tech, where my love for technology blossomed. During my time at Meta, I had the privilege of assisting diverse Meta users worldwide with a wide range of technical issues, including troubleshooting, software and hardware support, internal access permissions, and more. The exposure to a global tech environment further fueled my passion for the field. When my internship concluded, I was offered a 1-year contract role with Meta to continue my work as a support tech for the same team. Throughout that year, I immersed myself in all aspects of technology, maximizing my learning opportunities and applying my networking skills. As time went on, I knew I needed a new challenge. This led me to embark on a search for an exciting role, which eventually brought me to MongoDB. I am passionate about driving technological innovation, and MongoDB is a place where I can make an impact. Martin Bajana: My interest in technology stems from a variety of sources. From a young age, I developed a strong passion for video games and exploring new technologies. Whether it was experimenting with the latest gaming consoles or delving into computer hardware, I relished the opportunity to learn and understand the inner workings of these technologies. In school, I discovered my affinity for mathematics, which further solidified my decision to pursue a career in the tech industry. Choosing to study computer science in college was a natural progression for me, as it allowed me to combine my love for technology with my aptitude for problem-solving. After completing my education, I was recruited by Verizon, where I worked on front-end applications and Android development. Although the transition was initially challenging, I persevered and regained my confidence. It was during this period that I realized a career in technology was my long-term aspiration. Throughout my tenure at Verizon, I embraced opportunities to work across various teams, acquiring valuable experience and honing my skills. Eventually, I made the decision to join MongoDB, which has provided me with an enriching journey and the chance to shape my career in the tech industry. JD: Have there been any challenges you've faced throughout your career? AN: Imposter syndrome has been a significant challenge for me throughout my career, and it's something I still deal with to this day. When surrounded by my talented colleagues, I would often compare myself to them and focus on my perceived weaknesses and flaws, leading to a lack of self-confidence. However, I tackled this issue by addressing my feelings with my manager. Her support and guidance helped me realize my own potential and acknowledge my accomplishments. Maintaining a positive mindset has enabled me to view myself as a competent engineer and recognize the value I bring to my team. I have learned to take ownership of my successes and embrace opportunities for growth. Stepping out of my comfort zone has become a regular practice, as personal and professional development often stems from embracing challenges and discomfort. By giving myself permission to take up space and be confident in my abilities, I have been able to overcome imposter syndrome and continue to thrive in my role. MB: I have been fortunate enough to work for companies and teams that value and respect me for the work I deliver. Being in the tech industry and growing up in a culturally diverse region of the country, I have had exposure to individuals from various backgrounds and identities, which has made me more comfortable as a Latinx individual in the industry. My personal goal is to promote a work environment where everyone is judged based on the contributions they bring to the team, rather than their identity. I believe in supporting and respecting the identities of my peers and coworkers while fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality. JD: How has MongoDB supported your career growth and development? AN: In my time working at MongoDB, I have experienced exceptional support that has greatly contributed to my professional development and growth. As an engineer at MongoDB, I have been provided with numerous opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills through participation in tech talks, hackathons, and continuous learning about emerging technologies. I am grateful for the proactive approach taken by my manager and team leaders in fostering my growth as an engineer. Additionally, MongoDB's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through the company's DEI initiatives. Platforms like our employee resource group “QueLatine” have made me feel a stronger sense of connection and belonging, particularly among my Latinx peers. By recognizing the power of our diverse backgrounds and experiences, MongoDB empowers us to have a meaningful impact in the industry. MB: I have experienced full support from my leader since day one. They have proactively sought to understand my career goals and have helped me create a clear career path to achieve those goals. This level of support has enabled me to take on challenging projects and initiatives within the company, allowing me to grow and develop in my career. Furthermore, MongoDB offers a wealth of learning and development resources to its employees, which I have fully utilized to continue learning and growing my skill set. JD: What is your advice for other Latines who want to begin careers in tech? AN: Having made a significant career change myself, I can empathize with the challenges that come with exploring new paths, particularly in the tech industry. As a Latina in tech, I feel a strong desire to encourage and raise awareness within our community about the incredible resources and opportunities that are available to us. My advice to others who may be considering a similar journey is to prioritize the continuous development of your technical skills, actively seek out mentoring opportunities, push yourself beyond your comfort zone by honing your networking abilities, and most importantly, believe in yourself and your ability to achieve great things! MB: Navigating the vast world of technology can certainly be overwhelming, but it's important not to fear feeling lost. Even after 12 years in this career, there are still days where I come across something I've never heard of before. Fortunately, we live in a world abundant with resources for continuous learning. My advice is to take the time to explore and ask questions. Seek out open-source projects that you can contribute to, and connect with other professionals in the tech industry who can share their experiences and provide guidance. Additionally, taking advantage of hackathons and other tech events can expose you to new technologies and ideas. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and most importantly, don't give up! Join us in transforming the way developers work with data. Build your tech career at MongoDB .

September 20, 2023