How Parse wants to make mobile backends easy (video) | Hacker News Reader

How Parse wants to make mobile backends easy (video)

gigaom.com

59 pointscsmajorfive8 comments

Now, about the service itself: why would I prefer to use Parse over iCloud (which is something that must be disrupting their business plan)? The iCloud APIs will solve exactly the problem they are describing in their pitch, and not only do I (as an iOS developer) not have to learn the "server stuff", but I don't even have to worry about subscribing to a "server stuff" service, since iOS users get 5GB minimum of (free) storage space.

I suppose if Parse's APIs allow me to access the same data from multiple platforms (iOS, Android, etc.), and I'm making a x-platform mobile app that needs to save data, then that's a valid use case. But is it compelling enough?

The Parse API does allow access from multiple platforms. But beyond that, with iCloud all data is inherently tied to a single user. You couldn't build something like a global high score list, or a way for users to message each other, or share content.

The goal of Parse is to make it possible to build any application you can imagine without having to run your own server.

If we're still talking iOS, the Game Center APIs allow me to do all of what you're describing, which means even less server-side code to write, and with the added benefit of leveraging a Game Center halo effect.

We've found that people actively dislike Game Center. The UI clashes and it doesn't integrate with their own credentials.

Game Center is not a silver bullet any more than iCloud is. The anecdote is interesting, but the point I'm trying to make is that the two APIs get the job done and require even less coding than what you'd need using Parse.

I'd love any service that can easily make my backend mobile.

What I really appreciate is the fact they have client libs for both Android and iPhone. Developing for both platforms it's a huge win to be able to use the same system everywhere.

At first, I didn't realize that the ad that precedes the video wasn't describing Parse. Only when the two founders appeared did I clue in that the stuff about market research was nothing to do with their product. I know videos get monetized with ads these days, but I don't think you can find a worse genre of ad to lead off an elevator pitch video.

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