While the hype surrounding NoSQL database technology has become deafening, there is real substance beneath the often exaggerated claims. But like most things in life, the benefits come at a cost. Developers accustomed to data modeling and application development against relational database technology will need to approach things differently. This white paper highlights the differences between a relational database and a distributed document-oriented database, the implications for application development, and guidance that can ease the transition from relational to NoSQL database technology.