This is updated as of Parse v1.2.17, Ruby v2.0.0, and RubyGems v2.2.0.

1. Installing Ruby and Rubygems (and HomeBrew).

     ruby -v
     brew install ruby
     gem -v
     sudo gem update --system

   – Alternatives to Parse: Stackmob, Appcelerator, Applicasa, Kinvey

2. Installing Parse with Cocoapods (cocoapods.org)

   – From command line, run ‘sudo gem install cocoapods’
   – Create Podfile with:

     platform :ios, '7.0'
     pod 'Parse'

   – From command line, run ‘pod install’
   – Remember to only use *.xcworkspace and not *.xcodeproj

3. Manually Installing Parse (parse.com/quickstart)

   [Without Cocoapods]
   – Download SDK, unzip and copy to Frameworks directory.
   – Select project => “Build Phases” => “Link Binary With Libraries”
   – Manually add libraries (Required for Parse):

     AudioToolbox.framework
     CFNetworking.framework
     CoreLocation.framework
     libz.1.1.3.dylib
     MobileCoreServices.framework
     QuartzCore.framework
     Security.framework
     StoreKit.framework
     SystemConfiguration.framework

4. Setting Up Workspace with Parse (parse.com/quickstart)

   – Login to your Parse account.
   – Create a new application and go to quickstart.
   – In .pch file (or AppDelegate.m), add

     #import <Parse/Parse.h>

   – Get code snippet from parse.com and in LLAppDelegate.m, paste the following inside the application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: function:

     [Parse setApplicationId:@"YOUR_APPLICATION_ID_HERE"
                 clientKey:@"YOUR_CLIENT_KEY_HERE"];

   – Run Command Shift K to clean project

5. Creating a PFObject:

     PFObject *loginCreditionals = [PFObject objectWithClassName:@"LoginCredentials"];
     loginCreditionals[@"name"] = self.usernameTextField.text;
     loginCreditionals[@"password"] = self.passwordTextField.text;
   
     [loginCreditionals saveInBackgroundWithBlock:^(BOOL succeeded, NSError *error) {
       if (succeeded) {
         UIAlertView *alertView = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"Save" message:@"Your object saved" delegate:nil cancelButtonTitle:@"Ok" otherButtonTitles:nil];
         [alertView show];
       } else if (error) {
         NSLog(@"%@", error);
       }
     }];

   – Login to parse.com and verify object created.

6. Querying a PFObject:

     @property (strong, nonatomic) NSMutableArray *credentials;
     PFQuery *queryForCredentials = [PFQuery queryWithClassName:@"LoginCredentials"];
     [queryForCredentials findObjectsInBackgroundWithBlock:^(NSArray *objects, NSError *error) {
       if (!error) {
         self.credentials = [objects mutableCopy];
         [self.tableView reloadData];
       };
     }];

   – Output data in UI and test in Simulator.