Split mongo overview documentation

docs/en_us/developers/source/change_log.rst

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ Change Log
 
    * - Date
      - Change
+   * - 11/07/14
+     - Created the :ref:`edX Modulestores` section and added the :ref:`Split
+       Mongo Modulestore` chapter.
    * - 06/23/14
      - Added a :ref:`Preface` with resources for course teams, developers, researchers, and students. 
    * - 05/20/14

docs/en_us/developers/source/index.rst

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Contents:
     browsers.rst
     overview.rst
     extending_platform/index
+    modulestores/index
     xblocks.rst
     pavelib.rst
     public_sandboxes.rst

docs/en_us/developers/source/modulestores/index.rst

+.. _edX Modulestores:
+
+###########################
+edX Modulestores
+###########################
+
+.. toctree::
+    :maxdepth: 2
+
+    overview
+    mixedmodulestore
+    split-mongo
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docs/en_us/developers/source/modulestores/mixedmodulestore.rst

+#################
+MixedModuleStore
+#################
+
+MixedModuleStore provides a common API for all modulestore functions.
+
+In addition, MixedModuleStore allows you to select which modulestore a
+specific course is stored in (XMLModuleStore, DraftModuleStore, Split Mongo)
+and routes requests for that course to the correct modulestore.
+
+MixedModuleStore can also handle some conversions from one modulestore to
+another.
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docs/en_us/developers/source/modulestores/overview.rst

+#################################
+Overview of the edX Modulestores
+#################################
+
+The edX Platform uses several different modulestores to store course data. Each
+of these modulestores is in use on edx.org.
+
+See:
+
+* `XMLModuleStore`_
+* `DraftModuleStore`_
+* :ref:`Split Mongo Modulestore`
+
+***************
+XMLModuleStore
+***************
+
+The XMLModuleStore was the first modulestore used for the edX Platform.
+
+XMLModuleStore uses a file system that stores XML-based courses.  When the LMS
+server starts, XMLModuleStore loads every block for every course into memory.
+
+XMLModuleStore is read-only and does not enable users to change a course
+without restarting the server.
+
+*****************
+DraftModuleStore
+*****************
+
+DraftModuleStore was the next generation modulestore and provides greater
+scalability by allowing random access to course blocks and loading blocks on
+requests.
+
+DraftModuleStore allows editing of courses without restarting the server.
+
+In addition, DraftModuleStore stores a draft version of some types of blocks.
+
+*****************
+Split Mongo
+*****************
+
+Split Mongo is the newest modulestore.  See the :ref:`Split Mongo Modulestore`
+chapter for more information.
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docs/en_us/developers/source/modulestores/split-mongo.rst

+.. _Split Mongo Modulestore:
+
+############################
+Split Mongo Modulestore
+############################
+
+See:
+
+* `Overview`_
+* `Split Mongo Data Model`_
+* `Split Mongo Capabilities`_
+
+
+************************
+Overview
+************************
+
+*Split Mongo* is the term used for the new edX modulestore. Split Mongo is
+built on mongoDB. For information about mongoDB, see the `mongoDB website`_. 
+
+The "split" in Split Mongo refers to how a course is split into three types of
+information:
+
+* The course identity, referred to as the `course index <Course Index>`_.
+* The `course structure <Course Structures>`_.
+* The course content, referred to as `XBlock definitions <XBlock Definitions>`_.
+
+This separation of identity, structure, and content enables course authors to
+use more advanced capabilities when developing and managing courses.
+
+.. _mongoDB website: http://www.mongodb.org
+
+************************
+Split Mongo Data Model
+************************
+
+In the Split Mongo data model, edX courses are split into three collections:
+
+* `Course Index`_
+* `Course Structures`_
+* `XBlock Definitions`_
+
+=============
+Course Index
+=============
+
+The course index is a dictionary that stores course IDs. Each course ID points
+to a course structure.
+
+The course index supports multiple branches of a course.  The index can store
+multiple entries for a course ID, with each entry pointing to a different
+course structure that corresponds to a different branch.
+
+As currently implemented, for each course, there is a branch for both the
+published and draft versions of the course. The published and draft branches of
+the course point to different structures.
+
+In the edX Platform:
+
+*  Students using the LMS see and interact with the published version of the
+   course.
+
+*  Course staff using edX Studio make changes to the draft version of the
+   course. 
+
+   *  When the user changes a the course outline, display names, the course
+      about page, course updates, other course pages, sections or subsections,
+      the draft branch is automatically published; that is, it becomes the
+      published branch.
+   
+   *  For units and components, changes are saved in the draft branch. The user
+      must publish the unit to change the draft branch to the published branch.
+      When the user begins another set of changes, the draft branch is updated.
+
+Course Reruns
+**************
+
+The edX Platform enables you to rerun a course.  When you rerun a course, a new
+course index is created. The new course index points to the same course
+structure as the original course index.
+
+==========================
+Course Structures
+==========================
+
+The course structure defines, or outlines, the content of a course.
+
+A course structure is made up of blocks in a tree data structure. Blocks are
+objects in a course, such as the course itself, sections, subsections, and
+units.  A block can reference other blocks; for example, a section references
+one or more subsections. Each block has a unique ID that is generated by the
+edX Platform.
+
+Each block in the course structure points to an XBlock definition. Different
+blocks, in the same or in different structures, can point to the same
+definition.
+
+Course structures, and each block within a structure, are versioned. That is,
+when a course author changes a course, or a block in the course, a new course
+structure is saved; the previous course structure, and previous versions of
+blocks within the structure, remain in the database and are not modified. 
+
+==========================
+XBlock Definitions
+==========================
+
+XBlock definitions contain the content of each block. For some blocks, such as
+sections and subsections, the definition consists of the block's display name.
+For components, such as HTML or problem components, the definition also
+contains the content of the object. A definition can be referenced by multiple
+blocks.
+
+XBlock definitions are versioned. That is, when a course author changes
+content, a new XBlock definition for that object is saved; the previous
+definition remains in the database and is not modified.
+
+************************
+Split Mongo Capabilities
+************************
+
+The Split Mongo data model enables the edX Platform to implement advanced
+content management functionality. Specifically, Split Mongo is designed to
+enable:
+
+* `Multiple Course Branches`_
+* `Versioning`_
+* `Content Reuse`_
+  
+While these capabilities are not fully implemented in the edX Platform, Split
+Mongo is designed to allow future enhancements that enable these content
+management capabilities.
+
+========================
+Multiple Course Branches
+========================
+
+Split Mongo enables multiple branches of a course. The `course index <Course
+Index`>_ can have multiple entries for a course ID, each of which points to a
+different structure.
+
+The edX Platform currently uses a draft and a published branch for a course.
+Future enhancements may use other branches.
+
+============
+Versioning
+============
+
+In Split Mongo, every change to a course or a block within the course is saved,
+with the time and user recorded.
+
+Versioning enables future enhancements such as allowing course authors to
+revert a course or block to a previous version.
+
+==============
+Content Reuse
+==============
+
+By using pointers to reference XBlock definitions from `course structures
+<Course Structures>`_, Split Mongo enables content reuse. A single `XBlock
+definition <XBlock Definition>`_ can be referenced from multiple course
+structures.
+
+Future enhancements to the edX Platform can allow course authors to reuse an
+XBlock in multiple contexts, streamlining course development and maintenance.
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