Question

I am wondering if it is possible to use a mongodb geospatial index with Meteor architecture.

Minimongo does not implement geospatial indices, but does this mean that we cannot use this mongo feature on the server side?

For example, with the todos app, if we use location on the todo, will it be possible to do:

// Publish complete set of lists to all clients.
Meteor.publish('todos', function (lon,lat) {
   return Todos.find({loc: {$near:[lon,lat]}}).limit(2);
});

And on the client side :

Meteor.subscribe('todos', lon, lat );

Answer 1

Yes, you can use the MongoDB geospatial index within Meteor, and you can create that index from within your Meteor app too.

– Geospatial Search

I’m using the $within operator below, as opposed to the $near operator mentioned above, but this still applies:

Meteor.publish('places', function(box) {
    return Places.find({ loc : { $within : { $box : box }}});
});

Reminder: These kinds of geo queries are only available on the server (currently).

– Creating a Geospatial Index from within Meteor (rather than in a MongoDB shell)

Places._ensureIndex({ loc : "2d" });

e.g. You could use the above in your bootstrap.js.

Also, you’ll probably want to put your ensureIndex in Meteor.startup, or perhaps when you’re inserting some initial data.

---

Warning: As mentioned here, the above method of calling ensureIndex is a work around for want of an official way to call it, so please expect that this might change.

Update: now reflects changes in Meteor 0.5.0, see @Dror‘s comment below.