Flask & MongoDB Integration

Table of Contents

1. Creating a Free MongoDB Cluster
2. Configuring Database Access
3. Setting Up Network Access
4. Setting Up Flask
5. Running the Flask Application
6. Bonus & Notes

Creating a Free MongoDB Cluster

1. Go to MongoDB Atlas and create a new cluster.
2. Choose the free plan, provide a unique name for the cluster.
3. Select a cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and choose a region (e.g., Mumbai (ap-south-1)).
4. Click Create to finalize the setup.

Configuring Database Access

1. Create a new database and provide a unique name.
2. Add a collection name (must be unique as well).
3. Add a user for authentication.
4. If you haven't created a user, create one now.

Setting Up Database Access

1. Navigate to Security > Database Access.
2. Click Add New Database User.
3. Choose an authentication method (password-based authentication recommended).
4. Enter a username and password (save them for later use).
5. Assign a role with Read & Write Access.

Bonus & Notes

• You can add a temporary database user for limited-time access (6 hours - 1 week).

Setting Up Network Access

1. Go to Security > Network Access > IP Access List.
2. Click Add IP Address.
3. Add your current IP address.

Bonus:

• You can add temporary IP addresses for limited-time access.
• For learning purposes, you can set 0.0.0.0/0 (Allows access from anywhere).
• A faster way is using Security > Quickstart, where you’ll find all necessary options.

Setting Up Flask

Installing Required Packages

1. Install dependencies using:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Alternatively, create a virtual environment and install dependencies:

   python -m venv flask-app-env
   flask-app-env\Scripts\activate  # Windows
   pip install -r requirements.txt

Configuring Environment Variables

Create a .env file and add the following details:

MONGO_URI= "Enter your MongoDB Connection String"
MONGO_DB_NAME= "Enter Database Name"
MONGO_COLLECTION_NAME= "Enter Collection Name"
SECRET_KEY= "Enter your Secret Key (Random Alpha-Numeric)"

Notes:

• SECRET_KEY is used for session management, encryption, and CSRF protection.
• Rename sample.env to .env before running the application.

Running the Flask Application

Run the application using one of the following commands:

flask run

OR

python app.py

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This guide ensures a smooth integration of Flask with MongoDB for your application. 🚀 You can contribute to this demo app, submit PRs 👍