Setting Up ArangoDB Locally: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up ArangoDB on your local machine is straightforward, allowing you to start building applications that utilize its powerful multi-model database features quickly. In this guide, we will walk through the installation process for various operating systems, basic configurations, and how to access the ArangoDB Web Interface.

Step 1: Download ArangoDB

Visit the Official Website: Navigate to the ArangoDB Download Page.
Choose Your Operating System: ArangoDB supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Select the appropriate version based on your OS.
 

Step 2: Install ArangoDB

For Windows:

1. Run the Installer: Double-click the downloaded .exe file.
2. Follow Installation Steps: Choose the installation directory and whether you want to create a shortcut.
3. Finish Installation: Complete the installation process.

For macOS:

1. Using Homebrew: If you have Homebrew installed, run the following command in your terminal:

bash
brew tap ArangoDB/arangodb
brew install arangodb

 

2. Manual Installation: Download the .dmg file, open it, and drag ArangoDB into your Applications folder.

For Linux:
1. Debian/Ubuntu:

bash
wget https://download.arangodb.com/arangodb3/DEBIAN/Release.key
sudo apt-key add Release.key
echo "deb https://download.arangodb.com/arangodb3/DEBIAN/ buster main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/arangodb.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install arangodb3

2. Red Hat/CentOS:

bash
sudo yum install https://download.arangodb.com/arangodb3/RPM/arangodb3-3.8.0-1.el7.x86_64.rpm

 

Step 3: Start ArangoDB

Once the installation is complete, you need to start the ArangoDB service.

On Windows:

• Use the Start menu to find "ArangoDB" and start it.

On macOS and Linux:

• You can start ArangoDB from the terminal:

bash
arangod

 

Step 4: Access ArangoDB Web Interface (ArangoDB Studio)

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8529. You will see the ArangoDB Web Interface, also known as ArangoDB Studio.

Step 5: Create Your First Database

1. Log In: The default username is root with no password. You can set a password during your first login.
2. Create a New Database:

• Click on the “Databases” section in the left sidebar.
• Click the “Create” button.
• Enter a name for your database (e.g., my_first_database).

 

Step 6: Create Your First Collection

Once your database is created, you can add collections:

1. Navigate to Collections: Select your new database from the sidebar.
2. Create a Collection: Click “Create” and name your collection (e.g., users).

 

Step 7: Insert Your First Document

Now that you have a collection, let’s add a document.

1. Select Your Collection: Click on users.
2. Insert Document: Click the “Insert Document” button and enter the following JSON:

json
{
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john.doe@example.com",
  "age": 28
}
 

Step 8: Query Your Data

You can use AQL to query your collection. For example, retrieve all users:

aql:
FOR user IN users
  RETURN user
 

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed ArangoDB, created your first database and collection, and inserted a document. In the next post, we will explore ArangoDB's querying capabilities using AQL in greater detail, allowing you to manipulate and retrieve your data efficiently.