Just three weeks after going public, MongoDB Inc. today unveiled a new release of its popular open-source NoSQL database that addresses several major operational requirements for enterprise users.

The first is improved support for applications that must quickly adapt to changes in the information they process. Even something as seemingly basic as a weather app, for example, needs to regularly refresh temperature and humidity levels based on measurements from the field. MongoDB 3.6 packs a mechanism called Change Streams that allows developers to handle such updates in real time without writing complex code to query their database deployments manually. 

The feature should enable the platform to compete more directly against niche systems such as InfluxDB that are specifically designed to handle changing data. MongoDB can’t match every function, but the addition will make it considerably easier to handle certain core use cases.

The capability is joined by Retryable Writes, another new feature aimed at saving time for developers. MongoDB 3.6 can automatically redo a database update if the action is interrupted, which means there’s one less failure scenario to address during development.

MongoDB is rolling out the new database version alongside an update to its Compass management product. Originally launched in 2015, the tool enables users to interact with MongoDB via a visual interface instead of the command line. The update introduces a free edition and a plugin framework that enables companies whose requirements may not be met by the default feature set to create custom extensions.

Compass is designed for use not only by developers but also the administrators supporting their work, who should benefit from the enhancements as well. Moreover, they’re gaining a new whitelisting feature in MongoDB 3.6 that makes it possible to automatically block inbound connections unless they come from a preapproved internet protocol or IP address. That’s a valuable addition, particularly in view of the hacking campaign which compromised over 27,000 MongoDB deployments earlier this year.

MongoDB 3.6 is set to launch early next month. The features in the release will also be incorporated into MongoDB Atlas, the paid managed edition of the database, alongside a new tool that lets companies copy their data across multiple cloud locations.

Image: MongoDB