Chapter 1. Getting Started with RavenDB

In this chapter, you will learn about RavenDB database server which is a document-oriented database and belongs to the NoSQL database family. RavenDB is an open source software and it does not use SQL language to manipulate data, but it stores what we call "Documents".

You will start by learning briefly the basics of NoSQL databases, to be familiar with its concepts, and then you will learn about document-oriented databases and the JSON format (JavaScript Object Notation). Before you can start working with RavenDB, we have to set up an environment with system requirements, where you can test and play around with, to get familiar with RavenDB. Then you will go forward by learning how to launch RavenDB and its embedded management tool the RavenDB Management Studio and understanding the basic configuration file application key settings.

Once RavenDB is installed and running, you will learn to open the Management Studio to access the database and create some sample data. Then we will move forward and learn how to shut down the RavenDB server in the Console mode.

In this chapter we will cover: