Parse Server

Judgement

What it is

Framework or platform

What it does

The open-source Parse backend for Node.js, providing a data API, user auth, files, push notifications, cloud code and GraphQL on MongoDB or Postgres.

Adopt it when

You want a mature, self-hosted app backend with SDKs for many platforms, or you are migrating an old Parse app.

Watch out

Its object model and cloud code feel dated, and you run and scale the Node and database tiers yourself.

Ready for

Production-ready

Runs as

Self-hosted server and library

Built with

JavaScript, Node.js, Express, MongoDB and PostgreSQL

How established

Established: started 10 years ago, latest release 8.6.119.

What the license allows

You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.

Judged on 2026-11-03 from the project's README and GitHub data. The license and age lines are worked out directly.

Built from

Follow it down: Parse Server → V8 → LLVM project → runs on a microchip

How compilers were built, back to punched paper tape

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