Install Parse Server To Use As Backend For Android Apps

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Tung Dao Xuan, tungdx1210@gmail.com, is the author of this article and he contributes to RobustTechHouse Blog

Introduction

In this blog article I assumed you know what Parse Server is and that you are trying to learn how to install it to use as your backend for your Android mobile application.

The next section, I am going to show you how to install Parse Server in your local machine and write a small TodoList application using Parse SDK Android in just few minutes.

Installing Parse Server

Prerequisites

Node 4.3
MongDB version 2.6.X or 3.0.X
Python 2.x (For Windows users, 2.7.1 is the required version)

Installation

npm install -g parse-server

Running Parse Server locally

Step 1: Start MongoDB

Step 2: Start ParseServer with your application info

parse-server --appId APPLICATION_ID --masterKey MASTER_KEY

For example as following figure

Writing TodoList application

To connect with Parse Server you can use Parse Android SDK, go here https://parse.com/docs/android/guide to learn more.

Step 1: Add dependencies

compile 'com.parse.bolts:bolts-android:1.+'
compile 'com.parse:parse-android:1.+'

Step 2: Add permissions in AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />

Step 3: Connect Parse Android SDK with Parse Server

public class TodoApp extends Application {
    //TODO change your_host_ip
    private static final String HOST = "http://your_host_ip:1337/parse/";

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        Parse.initialize(new Parse.Configuration.Builder(this)
                .applicationId("todolist")
                .clientKey(null)
                .server(HOST)
                .build());
    }
}

Note:
– Change your_host_ip to your Parse Server ip address
– Specify TodoApp.java class in AndroidManifest.xml

<application
    android:name=".TodoApp">
.
.
.

</application>

Step 4: Save a Todo

private void saveTodo(String todo) {
    ParseObject parseObject = new ParseObject("TodoList");
    parseObject.put("todo", todo);
    parseObject.saveInBackground();
}

Step 5: Get Todo list

ParseQuery<ParseObject> query = ParseQuery.getQuery("TodoList");
query.findInBackground(new FindCallback<ParseObject>() {
    @Override
    public void done(List<ParseObject> objects, ParseException e) {
        if (e == null) {
            displayData(objects);
        } else {
            //handle the error
        }
    }
});

That’s it. It is pretty simple to use Parse Server as your backend. You do not need know coding for your backend while still having a backend for your mobile application. Isn’t that cool or what!