Parse Server Features

There are less than 60 days left for Parse complete shut down and thousands of apps haven’t yet concluded the migration process. There is nothing new on this information, but what most of people don´t know is that Parse Server is different from Parse and the migration process will not be straightforward. There are several features still now available on Parse Server and the users will need to find a workaround to fully benefit from Parse Server.  

Parse Server Missing Features

If you are about to migrate from Parse to Parse Server here is the list of Parse Server missing features. Parse Open Source is NOT a copy of Parse! There are major variations between both platforms.

• Simple Provisioning / Deployment
• Analytics
• Push Notifications
• Database Auto Indexing
• Social Integrations
• In App Purchase Receipt Validation or iOS
• Background Jobs
• Authentication
• System Emails
• Global Config
• Session Features
• Webhooks
• Files
• Uptime Monitoring
• Cloud Code
• Teams & Multiple Apps
• Clone & Transfer Apps

Simple Provisioning / Deployment

Parse Server is an Open Source framework and has to be downloaded, deployed and hosted on a third-party provider.

Analytics

Parse used to provide very useful metrics regarding app utilization and user retention, but Analytics Dashboard is not implemented on Parse Server. There is no adapter to an external service or a pre-built template.

Teams & Multiple Apps

The way Parse Server was created it allows only one app deployment at a time. With Parse Server the user cannot manage multiple developers and teams.

Push Notifications

The lack of Push Notifications is the main missing feature of Parse Server. The open source version enables Push Notifications, but the Dashboard is not configurable and user friendly.

Database Auto Indexing

This is particularly important for large apps and large databases. Parse provides an auto indexing database tool to optimize performance, but Parse Server don’t have this feature available.

Social Integrations

Parse Server does not support Twitter, Facebook and LinkeIn integrations and the adapters are still missing.

In App Purchase Receipt Validation or iOS

The receipt for an app or in-app purchase is a record of the sale of the application and any in-app purchases made from within the application. This feature is not available on Parse Server.

Background Jobs

Parse provides many ways to schedule and customize background jobs. That´s not the case for Parse Server. This feature is not available on the open source version of Parse.

System Emails

System created e-mail are not supported by the Open Source version. The way to overcome it is to modify the index.js.

Global Config

This feature permits the user changing the behavior of the application without rebuilding the feature from scratch. This feature is extremely important because it allows changes without the need of the app update and download by the end user.  

Session Features

The Open Source version don’t allow the option to expire inactive sessions and cancel a session on password changes.

Webhooks

Is a method of expanding or changing the behavior of a web page, or web application, with custom callbacks. Are not supported on Parse Server and workaround is using Cloud Codes.

Files

The file storage on Parse Server is very limited and it can handle only 16MB of files.

Uptime Monitoring

Parse Server does not provide a dashboard to monitor application uptime. The uptime will rely on the third party provide which will host Parse Server.

Cloud Code

Native Cloud Code modules are not supported by Parse Server.

Clone & Transfer Apps

These features are not available on Parse Server and will need to conducted manually.

Parse to Parse Server Comparison

What is the workaround for the missing features?

Simple Provisioning / Deployment

• Deploy to a Parse Hosting provider. You can try Back4app.
• Deploy to Heroku. 
• Use AWS and hire a Parse Server engineer to create your own infrastructure.

Analytics

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server and integrate with Google Analytics or Mix Panel.
• See a complete list of possible options below.  

           App Analytics Providers

Teams & Multiple Apps

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Deploy Parse Server for every Parse App. 
• Customize Parse Server. 

Push Notifications

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server to properly send push notifications.
• Integrate Parse Server with a Push Notification service like One Signal.

Database Auto Indexing

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Run Parse Server without index optimization.
• Develop your own Auto Indexing feature.

Social Integrations

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Develop the adapters to connect with Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

In App Purchase Receipt Validation or iOS

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

Background Jobs

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server and integrate with Kue. 

Authentication

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

System Emails

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server and integrate it with Mailgun and Mandrill.

Global Config

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

Session Features

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

Webhooks

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

Files

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Customize Parse Server.

Uptime Monitoring

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• User Uptime monitoring tools. Please see list below.

http://mashable.com/2010/04/09/free-uptime-monitoring/#C92Nm2WnFkqx

Cloud Code

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• User Uptime monitoring tools. Please see list below.

Clone & Transfer Apps

• Use a Parse Server Hosting provider. Try Back4app.
• Copy the entire database, deploy it on a new instance and reinstall Parse Server.

Conclusion

Before conducting the Parse to Parse Server migration, you need to carefully assess how the missing features of Parse Server will affect your application. After doing it, you will have basically 3 options to move on.

• Parse Hosting Service
• Self-Hosting
• Move away from Parse technology and use another BaaS – Backend as a Service provider.