Resolving ‘zsh Command Not Found: Mongo’ After Installing MongoDB 4.2 with Homebrew

When installing MongoDB 4.2 using Homebrew, users might encounter the error message zsh: command not found: mongo. This issue typically arises because the MongoDB binary isn’t correctly added to the system’s PATH. Resolving this error is crucial for MongoDB users as it ensures they can access and manage their databases via the command line, enabling efficient database operations and development workflows.

Common Causes

Here are common causes for the ‘zsh: command not found: mongo’ error after installing MongoDB 4.2 using Homebrew:

1. Path Configuration Issues:

   • Incorrect PATH Variable: Ensure the MongoDB binaries are in your PATH. Add the following to your .zshrc file:

     export PATH="/usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin:$PATH"
     

     Then, reload your shell:

     source ~/.zshrc
     

2. Installation Steps:

   • Homebrew Installation: Verify MongoDB is correctly installed via Homebrew:

     brew install [email protected]
     

   • Linking MongoDB: Ensure MongoDB is linked correctly:

     brew link [email protected] --force
     

3. Executable Permissions:

   • Permissions Issue: Ensure the MongoDB binaries are executable:

     chmod +x /usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin/*
     

4. Homebrew Services:

   • Service Not Started: Start the MongoDB service using Homebrew:

     brew services start [email protected]
     

These steps should help resolve the ‘command not found’ error. If issues persist, double-check the installation paths and configurations.

Verifying Installation

Here are the detailed steps to verify the installation of MongoDB 4.2 using Homebrew and check if it’s correctly installed and accessible:

Installation Steps

1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed):

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
   

2. Tap the MongoDB Homebrew Tap:

   brew tap mongodb/brew
   

3. Install MongoDB 4.2:

   brew install [email protected]
   

4. Start MongoDB:

   brew services start [email protected]
   

Verification Steps

1. Check MongoDB Service Status:

   brew services list
   

   Ensure [email protected] is listed as started.

2. Verify MongoDB Installation:

   mongod --version
   

   This should display the version of MongoDB installed.

3. Connect to MongoDB:

   mongo
   

   This should open the MongoDB shell, indicating that MongoDB is running and accessible.

Updating PATH

1. Open the Zsh configuration file:

   nano ~/.zshrc
   

2. Add the MongoDB binary directory to the PATH:

   export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/mongodb/bin
   

   Replace /path/to/mongodb/bin with the actual path to your MongoDB binary directory. Common locations include:

   • macOS: /usr/local/mongodb/bin
   • Ubuntu: /usr/bin/mongodb/bin
   • Windows (using WSL): /mnt/c/Program\ Files/MongoDB/Server/4.2/bin

3. Save the changes and close the text editor.

4. Reload the Zsh configuration:

   source ~/.zshrc
   

5. Verify the MongoDB installation:

   mongo --version
   

This should resolve the ‘zsh: command not found: mongo’ error.

Troubleshooting Steps

Here are the troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Installation:

   • Ensure MongoDB is installed: brew list | grep mongodb.

2. Check PATH:

   • Add MongoDB to your PATH in .zshrc:

     export PATH="/usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin:$PATH"
     

   • Apply changes: source ~/.zshrc.

3. Check MongoDB Binary:

   • Verify the MongoDB binary location: ls /usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin.

4. Restart Terminal:

   • Close and reopen your terminal to apply changes.

5. Check for Typo:

   • Ensure you are typing mongo correctly.

6. Reinstall MongoDB:

   • Uninstall and reinstall MongoDB:

     brew uninstall [email protected]
     brew install [email protected]
     

7. Debugging Tips:

   • Check for errors in .zshrc.
   • Use echo $PATH to confirm MongoDB is in your PATH.
   • Run which mongo to see if the command is recognized.

These steps should help resolve the ‘command not found’ error.

To Resolve the ‘zsh: command not found: mongo’ Error

Ensure that MongoDB is installed by verifying its presence in your system’s list of installed packages using brew list | grep mongodb.

Check if the MongoDB binary directory has been added to your PATH environment variable in the .zshrc configuration file. If not, add it manually and apply the changes by running source ~/.zshrc.

Verify that the MongoDB binary is located at the expected path, such as /usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin, and restart your terminal to apply any changes.

Additionally, double-check for typos in the command you’re trying to run, and consider reinstalling MongoDB if all else fails.