MongoDB has been designed for versatility, but the techniques you might use to build, say, an analytics engine or a hierarchical data store might not be obvious. In this talk, we'll learn about MongoDB in practice by looking at four hypothetical application designs (based on real-world designs, of course). Topics to be covered include schema design, indexing, transactions (gasp!), trees, what's fast, and what's not. Sprinkled with tips, tricks, shoots, ladders, and trap doors, you're guaranteed to learn something new in this interdisciplinary talk.