MongoDB Powering MTV's Web Properties

MongoDB
May 10, 2011
#Releases

An interview with Jeff Yemin, Director of Content Management Systems at MTV Networks and a presenter at the upcoming MongoNYC conference.

What do you work on at MTV Networks?
I manage the backend development of our next-generation content management system.

Tell us how MTV Networks is using MongoDB. What is the size and scope of the CMS application that you have built?
MongoDB is the repository that powers our CMS, which will eventually be used to manage and serve content for all of MTV Networks’ major websites.

Can you tell us why you chose MongoDB?
I have to save something for my actual talk! But briefly, MongoDB is a good fit for a lot of reasons. The schema-less document structure provides a lot of flexibility, while the search capabilities provide a lot more value than you get with key-value stores. At the same time, from an operational perspective, it feels very much like MySQL, so our systems and DBA groups are quite comfortable managing the deployment.

What were some of the challenges you faced using MongoDB for a large enterprise application?
The biggest was probably convincing people that it was a good idea. Like most enterprises that have been around for a while, we have a long history of using relational databases, so this is a pretty big change for us.

What’s next for MongoDB at MTV?
Right now MongoDB is powering the recently re-launched spike.com, and we are going to be rolling it out on many other major sites within the next year, most likely including gametrailers.com, thedailyshow.com, comedycentral.com, nick.com, and numerous international properties. We’ll also be rolling out new MongoDB-based applications for social activity tracking and online polls.

Learn more at Jeff’s talk at MongoNYC on June 7. Register before May 17 to take advantage of early bird pricing, which is only $50.

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Java is on the Rise, Be-aware!

Improving scalable Java application development with MongoDB + Morphia: Over the last year I have seen a significant rise in the number of questions and interest from both the greater Java community and enterprise Java shops about MongoDB. Coming from the MongoDB and Java worlds (among others), this is something I have watched with great interest and excitement. As one of the authors and project leads for Morphia (MongoDB Java ORM) I have seen a lot of questions relating to both the core driver and how to build Java applications with MongoDB. A lot of these questions arise from the paradigm shift users experience when moving from the standard SQL/JPA/Hibernate platforms/frameworks to the document oriented world of MongoDB. For the last year or so, Morphia has – how long that seems looking back – bridged the gap between the document/map/dictionary world of the core MongodDB Java driver with the cleaner POJO (domain objects) design pattern, which is much friendlier for business logic. Over the last few months, the Java MongoDB ecosystem has started to drastically evolve. New features in the core MongoDB server continue to distinguish the product from the crowd and new engineers are joining the MongoDB open source community by contributing Java persistence (mappers) frameworks and libraries. As one of the main authors of Morphia, I envision many of the projection/mapping features which we have implemented being included in the core MongoDB Java driver, similar to what other drivers support (.Net/C#, and dynamic languages). Even before I joined 10gen I had been in discussions of how to best integrate the user experience from high-level abstractions such as the JPA EntityManager and DAO pattern into the features supplied with the basic driver. Now that I am a member of the team, and have direct access to the driver (and the great team that has been maintaining it internally, along with the numerous community patches), I am finally in a great position to help make that integration possible. I will in fact be in the best position of all to make this vision come true: I get to do the integration :-) Major Version Changes Let’s talk a little about the changes coming in the 3.0* Java driver. First, we have some great ideas of how to improve overall performance for frameworks; these ideas primarily have come from the need to reduce the impedance mismatch of the current driver when being used from frameworks like Morphia , Casbah , and many others. One of the performance improvements we have in mind will allow us to remove the need to decode binary BSON , to a temporary java map (DBObject) and then to the final format. In some of the very high volume and real-time analytics deployments, this will be an amazing performance improvement. In addition to reduced latency, the change will also reduce resource allocation as well. A little code: With Morphia, and soon the driver, you can do things like this: @Entity class Customer { @Id ObjectId id; String name; String[] projects; } Save, and find, a single Model/Entity Datastore ds = …; ds.save(new Customer(“Scott Hernandez”, new String[]{“java”, “morphia”, “casbah”})); // QBE(query by example) Customer scott = ds.find(Customer.class, new Customer(“Scott Hernandez”)).get(); //Iterate over all customers for(Customer customer : ds.find(Customer.class)) print(customer); Use the fluent query interface. //Use the fluent query interface Query<Customer> findMe = ds.find(Customer.class).field(“projects”).equal(“java”); Customer scott = findMe.get(); //The query is validated by your java class scott.name = “Scott D. Hernandez”; //change a field ds.save(scott); //save the whole object Update just a field or two at a time. //Update on one field, without needing the full customer object UpdateOperations<Customer> updates = ds.createUpdateOperations(); updates.add(“projects”, “support”); UpdateResults<Customer> res = ds.updateFirst(findMe, updates); Coming very soon we will have better support for mock frameworks and testing isolation by providing interfaces to the major components in the driver. Many (open source) projects built on the driver already have support for mock and isolated testing so having the driver support is a great benefit for all. Compatibility On the path to these changes we have many other milestones to hit as well. Some of these are internal changes while others will have some outwardly facing impact. The premier goal we have is to make sure that the MongoDB Java driver stays backwards compatible; this will reduce the need for existing applications and deployments to make any changes as we make improvements. There will be some changes that might not fit in this goal but we will keep them as small as possible and highlighted in the release notes. Events and More Content Java Web Apps Webinar , May 12, 1:30p ET/ 10:30a PT We will be hosting an online webinar to talk about one way to build webapps using Java and some common open source frameworks (Guice, Stripes and Morphia) in about week. You can learn more and register here: http://www.10gen.com/webinars/javawebapps MongoSF + MongoNYC MongoSF is a one day conference dedicated to MongoDB on May 24th. There will be loads of talks, including a bunch about MongoDB with Java and Morphia. Find out more about the event and registration at www.mongosf.com . Register soon, because it’s nearly sold out already. MongoNYC will be held on June 7th and will contain a very similar number of tracks for those on the other coast. More Blogs This is just the start of the blogging about the changes coming to the Java driver. There will be many more in-depth posts regarding parts of the driver and interfaces changes. Feedback I can be contacted via email as scott -at- 10gen (dotcom). Please feel free to submit patches or file issues: http://github.com/mongodb/mongo-java-driver http://jira.mongodb.org/browse/Java –Scott

May 5, 2011

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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