MongoDB released the source code for mongot, the core engine powering its Atlas Search and Vector Search capabilities. The code is available under the Server Side Public License (SSPL). Developers who self-manage their deployments gain increased visibility and control over how text and vector queries are indexed, executed, and ranked.
This move aims to empower developers to build more robust, production-ready Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems for AI applications. mongot was previously an opaque, Atlas-only service. Open-sourcing now allows teams to inspect and debug the search engine’s components directly.
The SSPL allows developers to view, modify, and use the code. However, the SSPL is not a traditional open-source license. It includes provisions preventing cloud service providers from offering mongot as a commercial service without a licensing agreement. This announcement strengthens MongoDB’s data platform for the growing demands of AI development.