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Robo 3T: A free and easy-to-use MongoDB GUI with auto-completion and dark theme



Robo 3T: A Free, Open-Source MongoDB GUI




MongoDB is one of the most popular NoSQL databases in the world, powering millions of applications across various domains and industries. However, working with MongoDB can be challenging without a proper graphical user interface (GUI) that can simplify and enhance the user experience. That's where Robo 3T comes in.


Robo 3T (formerly Robomongo) is a free, lightweight, open-source MongoDB GUI that offers an embedded mongo shell, real auto-completion, and support for MongoDB 4.0. In this article, we will explore what Robo 3T is, how to download and install it, how to use it, and what is the future of this tool.




robo 3t




What is Robo 3T?




Robo 3T is a native and cross-platform MongoDB manager that allows you to connect to your MongoDB servers, browse and query your data, and perform various operations on your collections and documents. Robo 3T is designed to be fast and snappy, using very little of your machine resources. It is also open-source, meaning that you can access its source code, contribute to its development, or fork it for your own purposes.


Features and benefits of Robo 3T




Some of the main features and benefits of Robo 3T are:


Embedded mongo shell




Robo 3T integrates the mongo shell, the official command-line interface for MongoDB, into its GUI. This means that you can execute any mongo command or script directly from Robo 3T, without having to switch to a separate terminal window. You can also enjoy syntax highlighting, error checking, and command history in the embedded shell.


Real auto-completion




Robo 3T provides real auto-completion for both shell commands and JavaScript code. This feature helps you write faster and more accurate queries and scripts, as well as discover new commands and functions. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to navigate through the suggestions and insert them into your code.


Support for MongoDB 4.0




Robo 3T supports the latest version of MongoDB, which is 4.0 at the time of writing this article. This means that you can use Robo 3T to connect to MongoDB Atlas, the cloud-based service for MongoDB, as well as to local or remote MongoDB instances. You can also use Robo 3T to work with new features in MongoDB 4.0, such as multi-document transactions, change streams, and aggregation enhancements.


How to download and install Robo 3T




Downloading Robo 3T




To download Robo 3T, you need to visit its official website at [ and click on the download button for your operating system. You can choose between Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux versions. The download file size is around 20 MB.


Robo 3T download


Robo 3T vs Studio 3T


Robo 3T tutorial


Robo 3T connect to MongoDB Atlas


Robo 3T dark theme


Robo 3T import JSON


Robo 3T export CSV


Robo 3T query builder


Robo 3T aggregation pipeline


Robo 3T create database


Robo 3T create collection


Robo 3T create index


Robo 3T create user


Robo 3T authentication


Robo 3T SSL


Robo 3T SSH tunnel


Robo 3T replica set


Robo 3T sharded cluster


Robo 3T backup and restore


Robo 3T find and replace


Robo 3T autocomplete


Robo 3T keyboard shortcuts


Robo 3T update document


Robo 3T delete document


Robo 3T insert document


Robo 3T view document


Robo 3T edit document


Robo 3T copy document


Robo 3T duplicate document


Robo 3T rename collection


Robo 3T drop collection


Robo 3T drop database


Robo 3T count documents


Robo 3T sort documents


Robo 3T filter documents


Robo 3T projection documents


Robo 3T limit documents


Robo 3T skip documents


Robo 3T explain query plan


Robo 3T run mongo shell commands


Robo 3T run JavaScript code snippets


Robo 3T syntax highlighting


Robo 3T code formatting


Robo 3T code folding


Robo 3T code completion


Robo 3T code validation


Installing Robo 3T




To install Robo 3T, you need to follow these steps:


  • For Windows users: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the instructions on the screen. You can choose the installation directory and whether to create a desktop shortcut or not.



  • For Mac OS X users: Open the downloaded DMG file and drag the Robo 3T app to the Applications folder.



  • For Linux users: Extract the downloaded TAR.GZ file and run the Robo 3T binary file from the bin folder.



After installing Robo 3T, you can launch it from your desktop or applications menu. You should see a welcome screen like this:


Now you are ready to use Robo 3T to connect to your MongoDB servers and databases.


How to use Robo 3T




Creating and managing connections




To connect to a MongoDB server, you need to create a connection in Robo 3T. You can do this by clicking on the "Create" button on the welcome screen, or by selecting "File -> Connect" from the menu bar. You will see a dialog box like this:


You need to enter the following information for your connection:


  • Name: A friendly name for your connection, such as "Localhost" or "Atlas Cluster".



  • Type: The type of connection, either "Direct Connection" or "Replica Set / Sharded Cluster". The latter option is for connecting to multiple MongoDB nodes that are part of a replica set or a sharded cluster.



  • Address: The host name or IP address and port number of your MongoDB server. For example, "localhost:27017" or "cluster0-shard-00-00-jxeqq.mongodb.net:27017". You can also add multiple addresses separated by commas for replica set or sharded cluster connections.



  • Authentication: The authentication method and credentials for your MongoDB server. You can choose between "No Authentication", "Basic Authentication", or "Kerberos / LDAP Authentication". For basic authentication, you need to enter the database name, user name, and password. For Kerberos / LDAP authentication, you need to enter the service name, user name, and password.



  • SSL: The SSL settings for your MongoDB server. You can choose between "Use SSL protocol", "Use SSL protocol with self-signed certificate", or "Use SSL protocol with custom CA certificate". For the last option, you need to provide the path to your CA certificate file.



  • SSH: The SSH settings for your MongoDB server. You can use this option if you want to connect to your MongoDB server through an SSH tunnel. You need to enter the host name or IP address and port number of your SSH server, as well as the user name and password or private key file for SSH authentication.



After entering the required information for your connection, you can click on the "Test" button to check if your connection is valid and working. If everything is OK, you will see a green check mark and a message saying "Connection successful". If there is an error, you will see a red cross mark and an error message explaining the problem.


Once you have tested your connection, you can click on the "Save" button to save your connection settings. You will see your connection listed on the welcome screen, as well as in the left panel of the main window. You can double-click on your connection to open it and see its databases and collections.


Exploring and querying data




To explore and query your data in Robo 3T, you need to select a database and a collection from the left panel of the main window. You will see a tabbed interface with three tabs: Documents, Aggregation, and Shell.


The Documents tab shows you all the documents in your collection in a table format. You can sort, filter, paginate, edit, delete, or add documents using the toolbar buttons or the right-click menu. You can also view the documents in JSON format by clicking on the JSON View button.


The Aggregation tab allows you to create and run aggregation pipelines on your collection. An aggregation pipeline is a series of stages that transform and process your data in various ways. You can add, edit, delete, reorder, or run stages using the toolbar buttons or the right-click menu. You can also view the results of each stage in JSON format by clicking on the Result View button.


The Shell tab gives you access to the embedded mongo shell that we mentioned earlier. You can write and execute any mongo command or script in this tab, as well as use auto-completion, syntax highlighting, error checking, and command history features. You can also view the output of your commands or scripts in JSON format by clicking on the Output View button


Importing and exporting data




Robo 3T also allows you to import and export data from and to your collections. You can do this by selecting a collection from the left panel and clicking on the "Import" or "Export" button on the toolbar. You will see a dialog box like this:


You can choose the format of your data, either JSON or CSV, and the file path of your data source or destination. You can also specify some options for your import or export operation, such as:


  • Drop collection before importing: This option will delete all the existing documents in your collection before importing new ones.



  • Ignore empty fields: This option will skip any fields that have empty or null values in your data source.



  • Use header line as field names: This option will use the first line of your CSV file as the field names for your documents.



  • Export all fields: This option will export all the fields in your documents, regardless of their values.



  • Export query result: This option will export only the documents that match a query that you can enter in the text box below.



After choosing your options, you can click on the "Import" or "Export" button to start the operation. You will see a progress bar and a message indicating the status of your operation. You can also cancel the operation at any time by clicking on the "Cancel" button.


What is the future of Robo 3T?




The acquisition by 3T Software Labs




In 2017, Robo 3T was acquired by 3T Software Labs, the company behind Studio 3T, another popular MongoDB GUI. The acquisition was announced in a blog post by both parties, stating that they share a common vision of providing the best tools for MongoDB users. They also assured that Robo 3T will remain free and open-source, and that they will continue to develop and support it.


The release of Studio 3T Free




In 2020, 3T Software Labs released Studio 3T Free, a free version of their flagship product, Studio 3T. Studio 3T Free offers more features and functionalities than Robo 3T, such as visual query builder, SQL query, schema explorer, data compare and sync, and more. However, Studio 3T Free also has some limitations, such as:


  • It can only connect to one MongoDB server at a time.



  • It can only run one task at a time.



  • It does not support MongoDB Enterprise features, such as LDAP authentication, Kerberos authentication, and encryption at rest.



  • It does not support some advanced features, such as IntelliShell, aggregation editor, SQL import/export, and more.



Studio 3T Free is aimed at individual developers and students who want to use a more powerful MongoDB GUI without paying for a license. However, Robo 3T still has its own advantages, such as being lighter, faster, and simpler to use.


Conclusion




Robo 3T is a free, open-source MongoDB GUI that offers an embedded mongo shell, real auto-completion, and support for MongoDB 4.0. It is a great tool for MongoDB users who want to connect to their servers, browse and query their data, and perform various operations on their collections and documents. Robo 3T is easy to download and install, and has a user-friendly interface that allows you to work with your data in a fast and efficient way.


If you are looking for a more advanced MongoDB GUI with more features and functionalities, you can try Studio 3T Free, which is also free but has some limitations. Alternatively, you can upgrade to Studio 3T Pro or Enterprise versions, which offer the full range of features and support for MongoDB Enterprise users.


Whether you choose Robo 3T or Studio 3T Free (or both), you can be sure that you are using one of the best MongoDB GUIs available in the market today. You can also benefit from the continuous development and support from 3T Software Labs, which is committed to providing the best tools for MongoDB users.


Frequently Asked Questions




  • What is Robo 3T?Robo 3T is a free, lightweight, open-source MongoDB GUI that offers an embedded mongo shell, real auto-completion, and support for MongoDB 4.0.



  • How to download and install Robo 3T?To download and install Robo 3T, you need to visit its official website at [ and click on the download button for your operating system. You can choose between Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux versions. Then, you need to run the downloaded file and follow the instructions on the screen.



  • How to use Robo 3T?To use Robo 3T, you need to create a connection to your MongoDB server, enter the required information, and test your connection. Then, you can select a database and a collection from the left panel and explore and query your data using the Documents, Aggregation, or Shell tabs. You can also import and export data from and to your collections using the Import or Export buttons.



  • What is the difference between Robo 3T and Studio 3T Free?Robo 3T and Studio 3T Free are both free MongoDB GUIs from 3T Software Labs, but they have some differences. Robo 3T is lighter, faster, and simpler to use, while Studio 3T Free offers more features and functionalities, such as visual query builder, SQL query, schema explorer, data compare and sync, and more. However, Studio 3T Free also has some limitations, such as connecting to only one MongoDB server at a time, running only one task at a time, not supporting MongoDB Enterprise features or some advanced features.



How to get help or support for Robo 3T?If you need help or support for Robo 3T, you can visit its official website at [ and check its documentation, blog posts, or FAQ section. You can also join its community forum at [ and ask questions or share feedback with other users and developers. You can also report bugs or request features on its GitHub repository at [


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