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MongoDB is a NoSQL database that Spoo.me uses to store URLs, analytics data, and user information. You can either set up a MongoDB server on your own infrastructure or use a cloud service like MongoDB Atlas.
We strongly recommend using MongoDB Atlas as it offers a generous free tier, automatic backups, and professional management without the complexity of self-hosting.
MongoDB Atlas provides a free M0 tier that’s perfect for most Spoo.me deployments and can handle thousands of URLs without any cost.
1

Create MongoDB Atlas Account

Navigate to MongoDB Atlas and sign up for a free account.
Verify your email address when prompted to activate your account.
2

Create a New Cluster

After logging in, you’ll see the Atlas dashboard.
  1. Click on “Build a Database” or “Create” button
  2. Choose the “M0 Sandbox” option (this is the free tier)
  3. Select your preferred cloud provider (AWS is recommended)
  4. Choose a region closest to your target audience for better performance
  5. Give your cluster a memorable name (e.g., “spoo-me-cluster”)
  6. Click “Create Deployment”
The cluster creation process typically takes 3-5 minutes to complete.
3

Create Database User

Once your cluster is ready, you’ll see a “Connect to Cluster” dialog.
  1. In the “Username” field, enter a username (e.g., “spoo-admin”)
  2. Click “Autogenerate Secure Password” or create your own strong password
  3. Important: Copy and save the password immediately - you won’t see it again
  4. Click “Create Database User”
Store your username and password securely. You’ll need these credentials for your connection string.
4

Configure Network Access

Set up IP address access for your deployment.
  1. Click “Choose a connection method”
  2. Select “Drivers”
  3. In the IP Access List, click “Add a Different IP Address”
  4. Click “Allow access from anywhere” (adds 0.0.0.0/0)
  5. Click “Confirm”
While “Allow access from anywhere” is convenient for development, consider restricting IP access to your server’s IP address in production for better security.
5

Get Connection String

Now you’ll get your MongoDB connection string.
  1. Choose “Node.js” as your driver
  2. Copy the connection string - it should look like this:
mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@cluster0.xxxxx.mongodb.net/?retryWrites=true&w=majority&appName=Cluster0
  1. Replace <username> with your database username
  2. Replace <password> with your database password
  3. Save this complete connection string securely
Your final connection string should look like: mongodb+srv://spoo-admin:[email protected]/?retryWrites=true&w=majority&appName=Cluster0

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Connection String Security

Your MongoDB connection string contains sensitive credentials and should be treated as a secret.
Never commit your connection string to version control or share it publicly. Always use environment variables to store database credentials.

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Environment Variable Usage

When deploying your Spoo.me instance, you’ll use your connection string as the MONGODB_URI environment variable: 
MONGODB_URI=mongodb+srv://username:[email protected]/?retryWrites=true&w=majority&appName=Cluster0

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Alternative: Self-Hosted MongoDB

If you prefer to host MongoDB on your own server, you can install MongoDB Community Edition:
  • Ubuntu/Debian
  • Windows
  • Docker
# Import MongoDB public GPG key
wget -qO - https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-7.0.asc | sudo apt-key add -

# Add MongoDB repository
echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu jammy/mongodb-org/7.0 multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-7.0.list

# Update package database
sudo apt-get update

# Install MongoDB
sudo apt-get install -y mongodb-org

# Start MongoDB service
sudo systemctl start mongod
sudo systemctl enable mongod
Your connection string would be:
mongodb://localhost:27017
Self-hosted MongoDB requires additional configuration for security, backups, and monitoring. MongoDB Atlas handles these concerns automatically.

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Verification

To verify your MongoDB setup is working correctly:
  1. For MongoDB Atlas: Use the “Connect” button in your cluster dashboard and test the connection
  2. For self-hosted: Run mongosh command to connect to your local instance
Once you have your MONGODB_URI connection string ready, you can proceed to the next step of setting up webhooks or choosing your deployment method.

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Troubleshooting

  • Verify your IP address is in the Atlas IP Access List
  • Check if your network firewall blocks MongoDB ports (27017)
  • Ensure your connection string format is correct
  • Double-check your username and password in the connection string
  • Ensure the database user has proper permissions
  • Verify the database name if you’re connecting to a specific database
  • MongoDB Atlas requires SSL connections by default
  • Ensure your connection string includes the SSL parameters
  • For self-hosted MongoDB, configure SSL certificates if needed

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Next Steps

With MongoDB configured, you can now:

Create Webhooks

Set up Discord webhooks for contact forms and URL reporting

Choose Deployment Method

Select your preferred deployment approach
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