Quickstart
Back4App is an open source (based on Parse Platform), low-code platform that helps you to develop modern apps. On Back4App, you will find the following features:
- Data Storage (Relational)
- Cloud Code Functions
- APIs (GraphQL and REST)
- File Storage
- Authentication
- Push Notifications
After creating your Back4App account and your first App, go to your App Dashboard and get your App Keys under App Settings-> Security & Keys(check the image below). Note that you will always need two keys to connect with Back4App, the Application ID, and another key according to the SDK you will use.
JavaScript - React Native
Parse JavaScript SDK can be used in a large amount of platforms and frameworks.
1. Install Parse SDK
Use CocoaPods to add the native RNAsyncStorage to your project:
2. Initialize the SDK using your Application ID and JavaScript Key
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer to save your first data on Back4App. After calling the function go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
JavaScript - React
Parse JavaScript SDK can be used in a large amount of platforms and frameworks.
1. Install the dependency of Parse JavaScript SDK
2. Install the SDK
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer to save your first data on Back4App. After calling the function go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
JavaScript - Node.js
Parse JavaScript SDK can be used in a large amount of platforms and frameworks.
1. Install the NPM module
2. Install the SDK
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer to save your first data on Back4App. After calling the function go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
JavaScript - Angular
Parse JavaScript SDK can be used in a large amount of platforms and frameworks.
1. Install the NPM module
2. Install the SDK
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer to save your first data on Back4App. After calling the function go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
JavaScript - Browser-based application
1. Load external files in an HTML document
Parse JavaScript SDK can be used in a large amount of platforms and frameworks.
After creating your index.html, install Parse SDK directly on it, inside the <head> tag, using the code below.
2. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer to save your first data on Back4App. After calling the function go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
Flutter
Install the latest Parse Flutter SDK in your application. Then, create a Flutter Project:
Create a Flutter Project
Check if everything is OK running the application:
Installing Flutter plugin for Parse Server
Add Parse to the project dependencies to pubspec.yaml file:
In your Dart Code, clean all main.dart code and start a new one importing the Parse SDK.
1. Setting up Parse SDK
2. Initialize the SDK using your Application ID and Client Key
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the complete Install Parse SDK guide for Flutter projects. Also, feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for Flutter.
Android
1. Parse Android SDK Installation
To install the latest Parse Android SDK in your application, go to the build.gradle(Module:app) file and insert the code snippet inside the dependencies{} tag
You can find out which is the latest version of Parse SDK for Android at the Jitpack Website.
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the complete Install Parse SDK guide for Android projects. Also, feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for Android.
2. Initialize the SDK using your Application ID and Client Key
3. Give Permissions and set up your App
You need to grant permission for your Android app to access the internet network. Add the following code snippet to your AndroidManifest.xml file right after the application tag.
Also, inside the applicationt tag, add the following:
4. Initialize Parse SDK
Create a Java file calledApp that extends the Application. Inside App.java onCreate method, right after super.onCreate() call the following code:
Don’t forget to define this file in the AndroidManifest.xml.To do so, go to the AndroidManifest.xmlfile and add the following line of code inside the application tag:
If the name of the java file that extends the Application that you created in the previous step isn’t “App”, don’t forget that the code above should have the correct name of the file (android:name=".name_of_the_file").
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the complete Install Parse SDK guide to Android projects. Also, feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for android.
5. Save your first data on Back4App
Call the function saveNewPlayer. Then, go to your App Dashboard and check the data you’ve just saved.
iOS
Install CocoaPods and Import Parse
Xcode can use CocoaPods as a dependency manager for Swift Cocoa projects. To install CocoaPods, copy the following code snippet, paste it into your terminal, and hit return.
You can refer to CocoaPods Getting Started Guide for additional details.
- Connect your Parse App
Open your project’s AppDelegate file to set up the app’s credentials. Parse SDK for iOS uses these settings to connect to the Back4App servers. At the top of the file, you should see a function called didFinishLaunchingWithOptions. Paste the following code snippet inside this function, and make sure it is above the line that says return true.
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the complete Install Parse SDK guide for iOS Swift projects. Also, feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for iOS.
2. Initialize the SDK using your Application ID and Client Key
3. Save your first data on Back4App
PHP
1. Parse PHP SDK Installation
1.1 With composer
Create a composer.json file in your project's root folder, containing the following.
Run the “composer install” to download and set up the autoloader. After that, you can require it from your PHP script, using the code below.
1.2 With Git
Go to Parse SDK for the PHP page on GitHub and clone it.
Inside your PHP file, include the autoload.php to automatically load the Parse SDK classes.
2. Initialize the SDK using your Application ID, Rest Key, and Master Key.
3. Save your first data on Back4App
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for PHP.
.NET
We need to add some libraries to set up Parse SDK for .NET. We will get them through Nuget Packages. To do so, go to Microsoft Visual Studio, and at the Solution Explorer, click on your app’s name and go to Manage NuGet Packages....
Then, click on Browse to search and install the packages parsed by Parse and Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.AppCompat by Xamarin Inc.
Save your first data on Back4App
Facing any trouble? Feel free to check the official Parse Documentation regarding Parse SDK for .NET.REST
REST
1. Save your first data on Back4App
Open your terminal, and run the following command:
There are many example apps and starter projects to get going
ReactJS Slack Clone - A React template using real-time, relational queries and authentication.
Flutter User Login/SignUp - A user sign-up/login flutter template using Parse.User class.
React Native Associations - A template on React Native digging deeper into associations and relational queries using Pointers andRelations.
Flutter File Storage - Saving files from a Flutter app.
GeoPointers on Kotlin-Android - Exploring GeoPointers in Android.
ToDo List example is Swift-iOS - A ToDo List example in Swift.
After a quick start, we recommend keeping exploring the Back4App main features by checking out the guides below. You will find how to store and query relational data, use cloud functions to add business logic to your backend, use real-time subscriptions to keep your users up-to-date, store files, send push notifications, use the authentication mechanisms available on Back4App, and more. Choose the technology that suits you and enjoy the journey.