Mastering Firebase for Android Development

Build real-time, scalable, and cloud-enabled Android apps with Firebase

Ashok Kumar S

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781788624251
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Cloud Computing
• Index: Computer Science

Develop a fully functional dynamic Android application using the latest features of FirebaseAbout This Book• Explore all the latest tools in Firebase—Firebase Firestore, ML-Kit, and Firebase Predictions• Master Firebase cloud messaging, remote configuration, and work with a real-time database• Make your app a global success with the help of Google Analytics and AdMobWho This Book Is ForMastering Firebase for Android Development is for individualslooking to extend their skills with Firebase and build faster, scalable, and real-time mobile applications. Basic understanding of Android programming is necessary. In all, this in-depth guide is an accessible pathway to mastering Firebase.What You Will Learn• Learn about Firebase push notifications and write backend functionalities• Identify the root cause of an application crash and diagnose and fix bugs• Store different Multipurpose Internet MailExtension(MIME) type files• Explore web hosting and connect the Firebase functions to the host website• Send push notifications and understand the deep integration of analytics tools and cohorts• Market and monetize your application using Firebase Adwords and Admob• Build a secure authentication framework while enhancing the sign-in and on-boarding experience for end usersIn DetailFirebase offers a wide spectrum of tools and services to help you develop high-quality apps in a short period of time. It also allows you to build web and mobile apps quickly without managing the infrastructure.Mastering Firebase for Android Development takes you through the complete toolchain of Firebase, including the latest tools announced in Google IO 2018 such as Firebase ML-Kit, FireStore, and Firebase Predictions.The book begins by teaching you to configure your development environment with Firebase and set up a different structure for a Firebase real-time database. As you make your way through the chapters, you'll establish the authentication feature in Android and explore email and phone authentication for managing the on-boarding of users. You'll be taken through topics on Firebase crash reporting, Firebase functions, Firebase Cloud, Firebase Hosting, and Cloud Messaging for push notifications and explore other key areas in depth. In the concluding chapters, you will learn to use Firebase Test Lab to test your application before using Firebase Performance Monitoring to trace performance setbacks.By the end of the book, you will be well equipped with the Firebase ecosystem, which will help you find solutions to your common application development challenges.Style and approachA step by step guide taking you through the different features of Firebase

Arsenal for Your Files – Firebase Cloud Storage

"The more storage you have, the more stuff you accumulate."

— Alexis Stewart

Cloud Storage for Firebase is an intense, straightforward, and economic data storage service built at Google scale. The Firebase SDKs for Cloud Storage add Google security to file transfers and downloads for your Firebase applications, paying little respect to network quality. You can utilize SDKs to store pictures, audio, video, or other client produced content. On the server, using Google Cloud Storage, we can get access to these stored files.

Firebase Cloud Storage allows web and mobile platforms to upload and download files more elegantly and securely. Firebase SDK offers a library for Firebase Cloud Storage. Developers can write programs that can upload or download the user files. Also, Firebase SDK handles weak network connections by itself. Firebase SDK can re-initiate the process from where it stopped. It also helps developers to be less concerned about saving users time and bandwidth.

Firebase Cloud Storage is one of the most significant components in the Firebase toolchain. At the time of writing this book, Firebase Cloud Storage supports the iOS, Android, web, C++, and Unity platforms.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Overview of Firebase Cloud Storage
• Creating references
• Uploading and downloading files
• File Metadata
• Deleting files
• Handling common errors
• Security and rules
• Extending with Cloud Functions
• Integrating with Google Cloud

Firebase a Cloud Storage

Firebase Cloud Storage service is built for scaling storage, up to exabytes, if and when it's required. Firebase also allows a smooth transition from prototype to production, using existing file storage infrastructure. Firebase Cloud Storage helps to store files inside a Google Cloud Storage Bucket. Later, the data can be accessed from Firebase and Google Cloud.

Firebase Cloud Storage permits files of any type to be stored using the Google Cloud Storage platform. All the data that we upload is saved in a Google Cloud Bucket. By default, all the data and files are stored in a single bucket, but Firebase also allows configuring multiple buckets. Firebase handles everything in the background, from resuming the upload process to retrying the loss of connectivity.

Firebase enables developers to add custom metadata to files. Similar to Real-time Database, Firebase Cloud Storage also has a set of rules and security parameters to ensure the data remains safe. Using Firebase authentication, we can make sure only authorized users are allowed to upload and download files. Also, Firebase Cloud offers robust operations, robust security, and high scalability.

The Firebase Cloud Storage filesystem is similar to a filesystem in an operating system, and Cloud Storage uses the hierarchical structure of nodes, which expresses the idea of files, directory, and subdirectories in a filesystem. Files and directories are accessed th...