Environment Setup

This guide will walk you through setting up your MongoDB development environment on Windows.

Installation Options

MongoDB can be installed on Windows through several methods:

• Official MongoDB installer (recommended for beginners)
• Package managers:
  • Chocolatey
  • Scoop
• Containerization:
  • Docker
• Virtual Machine

We’ll focus on the official installer method as it’s the most straightforward approach.

Installing MongoDB Community Edition

MongoDB provides two essential tools for database interaction:

1. MongoDB Compass - A powerful GUI for visual database management
2. MongoDB Shell - A command-line interface for database operations

Step 1: Download and Install MongoDB

1. Visit the MongoDB Download Center
2. Download the latest MongoDB Community Edition

Step 2: Installation Configuration

During installation:

1. Choose “Complete” at the “Setup Type” step
2. Enable “Install MongoDB as a Service” for automatic startup
3. Select “Install MongoDB Compass” when prompted to install the GUI tool

Step 3: MongoDB Shell Setup

To enable command-line database operations:

1. Visit the MongoDB Shell Download Page
2. Download the latest version
3. Choose your preferred installation method:
   • MSI installer: Automatically handles PATH configuration
   • ZIP archive: Requires manual PATH configuration

If using the ZIP archive, remember to add the MongoDB Shell directory to your system’s PATH environment variable.