back4app: Parse migration tool

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If you’ve been using Parse as the backend that supports your mobile, IoT and Web apps, this is the perfect time to try out the back{4}app platform. Parse announced that its service will be discontinued on Jan/2017, made its technology open-source and provided a way to migrate an existing backend hosted by Parse to another BaaS provider. When searching for a new BaaS, we hope that you try out back4app.

The easiest migration path

As the Parse migration guide suggests, you can migrate the Database and API to another BaaS provider or setup the required infrastructure (Parse Server + MongoDB instance) by yourself and so migrate your app.

back{4}app is a great alternative for hosting your Parse app. You don’t need to worry about rewriting your app using another API or learning how to use a new platform. To make things even easier for you to get started, the back{4}app team has created a migration feature that makes it very easy to get your Parse app running in the back{4}app BaaS.

Before you start, we recommend you read the Parse migration guide. When the migration to back{4}app is complete, you can continue to use the Parse client SDKs but using the latest SDK version pointing to the new back4app API address.

Before you start – Sign up/Sign in (No credit card required)

The first step is to create a new account (if you are not a back{4}app user). If you already have an account please just Sign in. On back4app’s home page click on the Sign Up menu on the window’s right side.

Fill your basic user account information: email, password, password confirmation, accept the Terms of use and click on Sign Up.

You will be logged and see our dashboard. Congratulations now you are a back{4}app user!

Now we can Start your Parse app migration. You can migrate your Parse App in 4 simple steps.

1-Backend creation

Already logged in and seeing the back{4}app dashboard click on the Migrate Parse app button.

You’ll see the initial migration wizard screen. Click on Start.

On the next wizard screen, you’ll need to inform your App Id and App Name.
To get that information just access your Parse dashboard, choose the app you want to migrate and click on it. Go to App Settings -> Security & Keys and copy the App Id and Name. For more details about how to get this information click here.

Fill the information and click on the Next button.

At this moment, the back{4}app platform will create all the infrastructure needed to run your app’s backend (Database and Parse Server).

2-Database migration

After creating your infrastructure let’s migrate your database. You’ll see your new database URI, copy it.

Go back to your Parse Dashboard and proceed with the database migration steps as recommended by Parse. Make sure that you have tested your app before completing the Database Migration and proceeding to the next step. For more details about how to migrate your Database on Parse click here.

After you migrate your database using the Parse Dashboard go back to the back{4}app wizard. Check the box: I completed and tested my database migration and then click the Next button.

Now your database is completely migrated.

3-Keys migration

This step is optional. If you don’t want to inform your Parse Keys we’ll generate new keys for you. If you want to use the same Parse keys, please go back to your Parse dashboard and copy them to the back{4}app wizard window. For more details about how to find these keys click here. After that, click on the Next button and go to 4-SDK Update.

4-SDK update

Congratulations you’ve migrated all your Parse app. Now as the last Step, you must update your application with your new API address. Install the last version of Parse SDK that supports the API address update. Update your app and start using the back{4}app API. For more details about how to find the SDK, install it and update your API address click here.

Click on the Finish button. A panel with all your app’s information will be shown.

Congratulations your Parse app migration to back{4}app is successfully concluded.

back{4}app Dashboard – Checking your data

Please check your app on back{4}app Dashboard.

Click on the View app button and see your App Management panel.

After that click on the Parse Dashboard section. The dashboard will open. Now you can navigate through your data and add new features to your app using back{4}app.

If you want to know more about back{4}app click here.

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Alysson Melo

I’m a computer engineer with M.B.A. degree and passionate about startups.

Comments ( 20 )

March 4, 2016ReplyGeorge Gerardis
I have one question. I use PARSE in my apps specifically i use parse for Push Notifications and Login and Sign up controllers of Parse. Do you support also login and signup controllers as parse does?
- March 7, 2016ReplyAlysson Melo
  Yes, we're going to release this feature on the wizard by the end of this week.
March 11, 2016ReplySergey Zhdanov
Hello. Will you support Parse Config?
- March 14, 2016ReplyAlysson Melo
  This feature will be released soon. At this time, we are prioritizing some other features. I can suggest some alternatives to you: 1) Keep using Parse Config on Parse.com Dashboard. You can migrate your DB, use back{4}app API and use this feature on Parse.com. 2) The second suggestion is to create a new class using back{4}app dashboard with the same parameters that you use on Parse.com. 3) And the third alternative is to connect to your DB using a MondoDB client and update this table directly on Database.
March 21, 2016ReplySneha Singh
Hi,do you provide new user email verification like Parse.
- March 23, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Sure! We are still developing the feature in which you will be able to configure it by yourself using back4app.com dashboard, BUT meanwhile you can request us to manually setup it for you through web-site chat.
March 22, 2016ReplyDammy
Hi, how many request per sec does back4app permit?
- April 10, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  There is no limit of requests/sec but only total requests per month
March 30, 2016Replyxwizi
Do you provide all the cloud hosting features. We have a parse app we need to shift it asap. It uses DB, Cloud code, and Express. Can we shift all of this over, Is this as straight forward as point and click and will we see the same performance.
- April 10, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Sure! Follow the steps explained by Alysson in this post and you'll be able to migrate in 5 min :)
April 4, 2016Replykonstantin
Hello. How can i import json or csv files on db?
- May 4, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Hi... We are still adding to our dashboard the feature in which you will be able to import data. Meanwhile, you can import them using cloud functions. I wrote an example showing how: https://gist.github.com/davimacedo/c7738203a2a616b48a22fdc7c00b37d2
April 13, 2016ReplySneha Singh
Hi,will our app become live and use back4app database immediately after migration...?
- May 4, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Yes. Just after the migration, both api.parse.com, parse.com dashboard, parseapi.back4app.com and back4app.com dashboard will be all connecting to the same recent migrated database inside back4app servers. So your app will keep running fine. Then you have to update your client's SDK to the latest version, add one line of code to make them connect to parseapi.back4app.com instead of api.parse.com and publish the new version of your app in the stores. Then your customers will start updating their apps. The ones that already updated, will be connecting directly to parseapi.back4app.com, that will connect to the new database. The ones that not yet updated, will be connecting to api.parse.com that will connect to the same new database. So everything will be synced and working fine. This scenario will work up to Feb 2017 and that's why it is important you start the process as soon as possible. So your customers will have more time to update their apps.
April 13, 2016ReplyT Williams
I have a parse application to migration. It's a small social networking app. If I follow the migration, and complete it, will my clients still be able to access the app since their clients aren't point to back4app? Can the updated apps come out later with the new configuration pointing to back4app? Will push notifications work normally, or is there something additional that needs to be setup?
- May 4, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Hi, Williams. Your not updated customers will keep working fine and you have time to test everything and update them later. Please, see the answer above. About push notifications it is now available both through cloud code and dashboard. You now have to setup them in back4app.com dashboard.
April 28, 2016ReplyAfzaal
I am using back4app.com for my applications. How i can set System emails configurations in back4app.com application? like keys etc? var server = ParseServer({ ...otherOptions, // The email adapter emailAdapter: { module: 'parse-server-simple-mailgun-adapter', options: { // The address that your emails come from fromAddress: '[email protected]', // Your domain from mailgun.com domain: 'example.com', // Your API key from mailgun.com apiKey: 'key-mykey', } } });
- May 4, 2016ReplyDavi Macedo
  Hi, Afzaal for e-mail confirmation and password reset e-mails you can easily setup them through back4app.com dashboard. Just click in your app, then Email Settings. For customized e-mail, you can send them using cloud code and using your preferred email service: mandrill, mailgun or sendgrid. Just require() the npm module and follow provider documentation.
June 24, 2016Replycyrbycyr
Hi there, do I need to update the sdk if I use an app on IONIC ? if yes how ? many thanks.
- June 25, 2016ReplyAlysson Melo
  Yes. you can find the most recent SDK on Parse web page.