This much is confirmed, at the time of writing this article, that MongoDB 3.2 will be out soon. We chatted with official MongoDB website owners and they promptly replied that the 3.2 development version is now out on their site. However, they say, no official launch date for MongoDB 3.2 has been provided as of yet.

With this new version release, MongoDB creators are reaching out to a far wider user base. From data scientists to business analysts, new users are encouraged to use the database for their daily work process flows and technology. As Eliot Horowitz, MongoDB CTO, has stated, “This release continues to make the case for MongoDB as the default database for an organization, by meeting the needs of more mission critical use cases and of more roles within an organization.” Let it be understood that MongoDB 3.2 features mentioned here may change in the final release version. Here is a list of prime features that are part of the MongoDB 3.2 development version:

The MongoDB Compass makes data visualization simple, apart from making schema discovery faster and visualizing ad-hoc queries. A graphic user interface (GUI) tool is reportedly easy to use - potential users need not know the query language to work with it. Suitable for secure and quick deployment, MongoDB Compass reduces the need to find and influence information, thanks to the visual query builder, an integrated feature. Here's a little introduction to the compass.

Visual Query Profiler: The new Visual Query Profiler will make query optimization a faster process. As write latency and query are consolidated and visually represented, picking out latency spikes and slower queries will be easier. Post data analysis, the profiler recommends new index creation for improving query performance.

Simpler deployments: The two application sides to MongoDB - Ops Manager and Cloud Manager are enriched with new features in MongoDB 3.2. These additional strengths make query visualization functioning lighter. Queries not matching the business needs are readily identified. The process of new index additions are a simplified one-click process.

Database capability has been extended in the latest MongoDB version, thanks to the newly introduced pluggable storage engines.You can now select specific technologies to suit your work. In-memory and encrypted storage are new features offered by the brand new storage engines. In-memory storage claims low latency with regard to prime applications like managing user profiles and fraud detection.

Support is still extended to MMAPv1 and WiredTiger engines.The latter has been designated the default storage engine, based of its superior performance. MongoDB developers claim 75% more storage space, thanks to data compression.

More on storage engines. Data encryption in the form of a distinct (now default) storage engine (WiredTiger) is part of the new version. The system key requires external management. For this purpose, the storage engine is in alignment with two control options. One, you can use a keyfile as part of local key management. Two, it is advocated that integration with another appliance is best done with Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP).

Document Validation: There will be no dependencies amidst fields in a single document in matters concerning document validation.This is to ensure that code maintenance needs will be mitigated, to an extent. Yet, validation done on the client side would still make sense. Enforcement options can either be relaxed (invalid documents are merely noted to a log) or strict (show errors), enabling the former option allows this feature to run. Data structure will be controlled with the use of familiar MongoDB expressions.

The new MongoDB BI Connector is intended to provide an edge to Business Intelligence (BI). The new connector for data visualization and BI tools allows countless users to use their data with MongoDB, facilitating instant access to data, minus any intervening layer in between. So no more time-consuming coding or hurdles, the connector integrates well with analytic platforms like Tableau, etc. In fact, the BI tools connector has a very convenient drag & drop feature to use in Tableau. Know more about the new connector here.

Improved Search & Analytics: Brand new aggregation operators will help in finding more options for analytics. The expected result - answers are quickly and simply answered. Among many other new entrants, array operators include: $slice, $sum, $floor, $exp and $ceil.

Fast Failover: A new, improved algorithm helps reduce time in finding the primary failure followed by the replacement. Replica set primary failure is consequently detected and replaced in less than 2 seconds. The time can vary though, depending on a system configuration. Any network-glitch caused false positives are also resolved during the process. Intra-cluster communication also becomes an efficient process, even as the replica set keeps expanding.

Scout: Database administrators and developers can make the most of this visual interface tool and go about sampling on values, collections and data structure, while running statistics.

Tailor-made back-up: Backup files can be stored on file systems that can be laid on network-capable file systems and thus use the present storage base. Backups can now be designed to fit in for specific sections instead of the whole database.

We now conclude this preview of MongoDB 3.2 and await the release of the final version.