Computer Science BS Journal (CST363) : Week 7

 This week we installed and used MongoDB. It was super new to me and I haven't really used the command prompt very much so when I was running into errors while trying to load my JavaScript file I got a bit irritated. I got it working eventually after realizing I had to move my file to a different directory and type out the full path when trying to load it. That solved all my issues. I followed the same steps when loading the other two files provided for the lab and it went smoothly. Here are some things I noticed when comparing Mongo DB with MySQL.

Similarities

  1. Database Management: Both are database management systems used to store, retrieve, and manage data.

  2. Cross-Platform: Both are cross-platform and run on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

  3. Indexing: Both support indexing for faster queries.

  4. Replication: Both support data replication for high availability.

  5. Security: Both offer authentication, authorization, and encryption features.

  6. Community and Support: Each has strong community support, robust documentation, and commercial services available.


Differences

FeatureMongoDB (NoSQL)MySQL (Relational SQL)
Data ModelDocument-based (JSON-like BSON)Table-based (rows and columns)
SchemaSchema-less or dynamic schemaRigid schema (predefined tables)
Query LanguageMongoDB Query Language (MQL)Structured Query Language (SQL)
TransactionsSupports multi-document transactions (since v4.0)ACID-compliant transactions by default
JoinsLimited support via $lookupStrong support for joins across tables
ScalabilityBuilt for horizontal scaling (sharding)Vertical scaling (with some clustering)
Use Case FitUnstructured/semi-structured dataStructured data with strong relationships
Storage FormatBSON (binary JSON)Traditional relational formats


When to Choose Each

Choose MongoDB when:

  • You need to store unstructured or semi-structured data.

  • The schema changes frequently or is undefined at design time.

  • You are building a modern web/mobile app with fast iterations.

  • Horizontal scalability is a priority (e.g., large-scale analytics, IoT, big data).

  • You're working with nested documents or arrays (e.g., catalog data, user profiles).

Choose MySQL when:

  • Data integrity and consistency are critical (banking, e-commerce).

  • You need complex queries with joins and transactions.

  • You have a well-defined schema and relationships.

  • You are using legacy systems or applications built with a traditional LAMP stack.

  • You require industry-standard tools and mature SQL support.


Summary

Use Case    Best Option
Highly structured data    MySQL
Flexible, evolving schema    MongoDB
Complex joins and transactions    MySQL
Horizontal scalability    MongoDB
Fast prototyping    MongoDB

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Computer Science BS Journal: Week 4

  Part One: Set Your Educational Goals  Something I want to achieve by the end of this CS program at Monterey Bay is to have a portfolio full of projects. We learned in the recent weeks that a portfolio is more important than a resume for a programmer and I stand by that. I would like to have several large scale projects completed with my group and perhaps a few solo projects in said portfolio so I may display all that I have learned. My goal? Port-Fillio (Fill out my portfolio). Part Two: Set Your Career Goals      It may not seem like much but my career goals are sort of simple. I want to be a full-stack developer, the company I work for does not matter to me so much as the work-life balance. Traveling is very important to me so a remote job that gives me the freedom to move around is a must. I envision myself with my significant other putting in our hours and then going out to explore a new country we just landed in. This lifestyle has already been attained b...
Read more

Computer Science BS Journal: Week 2

Image
                                               Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy The Effective Study Skills google document goes into detail that every person is different when it comes to studying and retaining knowledge. Key tips and tricks that are proven to help with your studies are highlighted throughout the document which bring insight into how you should prepare yourself for a study session and how you should conduct your studies. Poor study skills are wasted time, and wasted time leads to frustration and low grades. From the document I can say that the top 3 things highlighted that I am already good at are scheduling, extracting important details, and reviewing and revising. On the other hand the top 3 things I feel that I need to work on are taking notes, taking examinations and gathering materials when I write. I tend to review...
Read more

Computer Science BS Journal: Week 5

Image
Post Interview Reflection Report Introduction : Who you interview and why. The expert’s name, title, and organization. A brief background on why you selected this person. I interviewed Joshua Brackett, he's been a close friend of mine for going on 8 years and he works in the same industry I'm looking to transition into. Joshua is a Customer Success Engineer working at Zipline. I decided to interview Joshua because as I mentioned, he's a close friend of mine and I felt it would be a more meaningful interview asking him directly. During the interview I felt like the information and tips I was getting was directed at me and not just a broad overview of his industry/job. Summary : Key takeaways from the conversation (e.g., career advice, insights into industry trends, technical challenges). Some key takeaways I got from the conversation was that a) your portfolio means a lot when you're looking for a job, technical knowledge is important for the interview process but they a...
Read more