Back to the Mac: Parse Adds OS X Support • Hacker News Board

Re: Back to the Mac: Parse Adds OS X Support

#21

Post by josephlord » Mon, Nov 19, 2012, 11:45 PM UTC

stevoski wrote: post #2

When I read the "About Parse" page I read this, I can't quite work out what Parse exactly is, why I would use it, and how I would benefit from it. Here's what I read: "Parse is transforming the way mobile applications store, sync, and push data. Our vision is a world where mobile developers never have to develop, deploy, or maintain their own server-side stack. Our simple but powerful native mobile SDKs provide all t…

On iOS I'm using it to log errors and usage info (how often different features are used). I'm only sending/storing simple JSON which I can pull out later as required with simple scripts.

I'm not using it for anything that I couldn't write a server for but it would have been a couple of days for me to set it up securely and it comes with libraries with useful fuctions like sendEventually which will save the update to send later if it can't connect straight away (again saving me time).

Parse has more advanced features like user registration that I'm not using (I don't need them at the moment but I'm also nervous to get myself locked in too deeply). It also offers a mechanism that takes some of the work out do implementing push messages. I might investigate the push mechanisms yet.

I think it makes sense to speed up implementation where you want features not supported by iCloud such as cross platform support or to share content between users.

Re: Back to the Mac: Parse Adds OS X Support

#22

Post by adelevie » Mon, Nov 19, 2012, 11:48 PM UTC

holgersindbaek wrote: post #12

HectorRamos wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can use the JavaScript SDK[1] to build a webapp companion quite easily. This is how we implemented the mobile webapp version of our Anypic app[2]. Parse also has a REST API[3] which can be used from your web application backend of choice. [1]: https://parse.com/docs/js_guide [2]: https://anypic.org [3]: https://parse.com/docs/rest

Nice. Sounds like the REST way would be best, doesn't it? If you are using Rails at least.

Check out https://github.com/adelevie/parse-ruby-client and https://github.com/adelevie/parse_resource.

Also, with properly-configured ACLs, you should be fine using the JS SDK client-side with a Rails backend.

Re: Back to the Mac: Parse Adds OS X Support

#23

Post by josephlord » Mon, Nov 19, 2012, 11:49 PM UTC

slater wrote: post #7

stevoski wrote: post #2

When I read the "About Parse" page I read this, I can't quite work out what Parse exactly is, why I would use it, and how I would benefit from it. Here's what I read: "Parse is transforming the way mobile applications store, sync, and push data. Our vision is a world where mobile developers never have to develop, deploy, or maintain their own server-side stack. Our simple but powerful native mobile SDKs provide all t…

Glad I'm not the only one scratching my head on just WHAT Parse actually is. The way their website seems go out of its way to NOT tell you what it is made me wonder if it's some convoluted Flash-to-ObjC doodad (or some other, similarily 'unpopular' way of doing things). At least they have a healthy ratio of cloud icons, pricing links and testimonials on the site...? ;)

It's a JSON store and libraries to support access to it. Plus ability to set up users and push messages and maybe a couple of other things.

Re: Back to the Mac: Parse Adds OS X Support

#24

Post by wallflower » Tue, Nov 20, 2012, 4:50 AM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #20

untog wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt it very much. It is sometimes difficult to explain something you spend all your time thinking about to a third party- because you rarely have to ask yourself "what is this in ten words or less", you're not well practised at it.

I don't believe for a second that for all the attention Parse has received, the idea of an elevator pitch has never come up.

Word of mouth on Parse is tremendous. I'm just waiting for their merger announcement with Urban Airship...

We use both, so it won't matter.

I always thought the Parse elevator pitch was something like:

- We provide an API-driven cloud database that doesn't limit you to the iCloud

or

- The more complicated the app, the more backend/infrastructure required. We simplify your backend.