Hi Devs! If you’re thinking of learning Firebase and need to know if it is good for you, this article will help you. It will tell you why Front-end developers (web developers and app developers) should learn Firebase in 2023.
What are the Firebase benefits, and how can it help you become a better front-end developer?
Are such queries forming in your mind?
If yes, just read this entire guide.
Although Firebase has been around for a while, it gained popularity in the last few years due to the rise of the Google Cloud Platform and the introduction of other Firebase services.
Firebase is an excellent tool for front-end developers skilled in React.js or Angular.
Firebase Cloud functions, FireStore, and FireAuth are all available at Bcoder.
This mobile application development platform can be used by mobile developers and people who use Swift or iOS to create mobile applications. In addition, Firebase can be used to build the back end of apps.
Front-end developers are more likely to get stuck when there is no API to consume. For example, they need an API to authenticate users, download data, and make payments. If that API is not available, then they can’t move forward.
Many companies have both back-end and front-end developers. However, for demo and POC purposes, it is difficult to feel supported if there is no back-end developer or you don’t know how the back-end works. Fortunately, this solution solves the problem by providing a database and prebuilt APIs. It also includes authentication and payment support.
Based on our experience, we can tell you that you can manage CRUD, authentication, and payment, which is a prerequisite for POC for any application.
This article will explain why front-end and back-end developers should learn Firebase. It can also help them create mobile apps quickly in 2023.
What is Firebase?
Firebase, an online cloud-based suite that Google provides, as mentioned, is a back-end service to mobile and web apps. It is also known as a BaaS (Back-end as a service), providing all the benefits and convenience of a back-end without the hassle of creating one.
Front-end developers can use Firebase to store and retrieve data from a NoSQL database called Firestore. They also can authenticate users using Firebase Auth. You will see a significant decrease in development time once you understand how to use its services.
Firestore is a JSON object that developers can manage in real time. Firebase Authentication allows you to configure the data you need for your application. It was created by the same people that built Google Sign-in and Smart Lock.
Firebase Cloud Functions is also available that allows you to run JavaScript code on a Node.js server and can be used to deploy all your applications to Firebase hosting.
To learn more about Firestore, you can visit our Firebase Firestore course for iOS.
Also Read: Advance iOS App Development Course
Firebase Features
Wondering what its features are?
Read ahead!
- Realtime Database
The future is now possible with real-time data. It is unlike anything else.
You will need to make HTTP calls to access and sync data from most databases that will give you the data you request.
Firebase doesn’t connect through regular HTTP when you connect to your app. Instead, a WebSocket is what you use to connect to Firebase. WebSockets is faster than HTTP. One socket connection is sufficient, so you don’t need to make multiple WebSocket calls. Your data will sync automatically through one WebSocket as fast as the client’s network allows.
Firebase automatically sends you updated data whenever it is available. All clients connected receive the latest data almost immediately after a client saves any changes to the data.
- File Storage
Firebase Storage is a quick and easy way to save binary files, most commonly images. But it could also be any other file. Firebase Storage uses its own security rules to protect your GCloud bucket and grant detailed write privileges for authenticated clients.
- Authentication
Firebase auth comes with an integrated email/password authentication system. It supports OAuth2 for Google and Facebook as well as Twitter and GitHub. For the most part, we’ll be focusing on email/password verification. Firebase’s OAuth2 system, which is mostly copy/paste, is well-documented.
Let’s be honest if you have ever created an authentication system. Custom authentication is horrible. Firebase Auth is integrated directly into Firebase Database so that you can control who has access to your data. This is just an aside. It’s not. Firebase Auth is the second reason you’ll love it.
- Hosting
Firebase offers a simple-to-use web hosting service that can host all your static files. They are served by a global CDN using HTTP/2. Firebase hosting uses Superstatic to simplify your development. This can be run locally for all your testing. Superstatic is BrowserSync middleware. Gulp is used in the following implementation, but it’s completely optional.
The BrowserSync +Superstatic development environment is very user-friendly. BrowserSync handles the reloading of your development app across all connected devices. Superstatic replicates Firebase hosting locally so that you can deploy directly to Firebase.
- Fully-featured Platform
Firebase has integrated several new and old Google products. Unfortunately, these features still need to be covered in depth.
These features are available for iOS and Android app development courses but not for the web.
- Remote Configuration
- Test Lab
- Crash
- Notifications
- Dynamic Links
- AdMob
Firebase 2023: Why Front-end Developers Should Learn It?
Now that we know what Firebase can do let’s summarize why Front-end Developers should learn Firebase. Here are the top reasons both front-end and mobile app developers will be able to benefit from Firebase.
- Front-end Development Unblocked
Firebase offers a pre-made back-end system for front-end developers that they can use to hook their GUI without waiting for the back-end’s availability.
- Rapid Development
Firebase offers authentication, payment, API, and database services essential to any front-end application. This makes it much easier to reduce development time. Although it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of Firebase services, a course on Firebase Fundamentals by Bcoder, a mobile app development training institute in Johannesburg, can be an excellent resource for those starting.
- Code that works better
Firebase might be thought to mean that you are locked into the Google Cloud Platform. This means you won’t be able to deploy your web app or mobile app onto AWS Azure, GCP, or any other Cloud platform. However, that is false. You can easily encapsulate interaction within the service or data layer if you adhere to standard coding practices and separation of concerns.
Developers use Firebase in most cases for development and a back-end on production. This allows them to design the app so that it is easy to switch back ends. This results in a more elegant structure.
- Simplicity and Speed
Firebase offers lightning-fast data storage and a straightforward API that can be attractive if you consider Firebase for Production.
This is why front-end developers need to learn Firebase. These are just a few reasons, but there are many others. Firebase constantly evolves, adding new services to ensure production becomes more popular.
Firebase is an excellent resource for learning Angular, React.js, or Vue.js. In addition, it can help you develop projects and master the front-end framework you choose.
- All services on one platform
Firebase provides developers with a complete list of products to aid their development. Firestore’s Realtime Database and Firebase allow you to perform cloud media storage efficiently and enable serverless app development via integrated Cloud Functions.
Firebase is a platform that covers all aspects of the application development process. It includes features to create, release, monitor, and update applications. It also provides tools that allow users to interact with and continue using the platform.
- Powered by Google
Google powers Firebase, one of technology’s most trusted and respected names.
Firebase, acquired in 2008, has undergone many changes and development to become the reliable platform it is today. Firebase leverages Google Cloud’s power and many other Google services.
Firebase, now part of the Google Cloud Platform, integrates well with many third-party services and works in perfect harmony.
Since its acquisition, Google has invested heavily in Firebase and delivered a more robust product.
- Serverless
It takes work to scale up or down servers. Mainly, scaling up a cluster of databases is challenging. In addition, optimizing performance for large workloads requires the expertise of experienced engineers.
Firebase is a solution to this problem and offers an entirely serverless environment.
It has a serverless architecture. As a result, users pay per request and do not need to worry about managing or maintaining server infrastructure. Moreover, it’s different from a traditional server that must remain functional.
Firebase users pay only for server usage due to its serverless nature. Because of this, scaling is less critical because efficiency is higher.
Developers have the freedom to take a hands-on approach when it comes to DevOps, infrastructure setup, and capacity planning.
- Machine Learning
Machine learning is a critical component of the transformation of the information technology industry. It’s already happening in many ways. Gartner predicts that 30% of businesses will employ ML in some of their business processes.
Firebase also offers developers the opportunity to use machine learning. Both iOS and Android developers can use ML, regardless of their level. Firebase includes an HTML kit that provides access to APIs for various mobile platform features such as text identification, face detection, and image labeling.
Based on the requirements of their applications, developers can choose between Cloud and on-device APIs.
8. Traffic Generation
Firebase allows app indexing. This enables users to reengage Google Search users through app links. Search once can increase your application ranking by indexing it. This allows you to make your app more visible to users who can install it. The Android Instant App can be used by developers to access application content.
9. Monitor Errors
Firebase’s Crashlytics tool is excellent for quickly finding and fixing issues. Firebase can detect fatal and non-fatal errors and generate reports based on the impact these errors have on users’ experience.
10. Backups
Firebase provides optimal security and availability with regular backups.
Apps are protected against any loss of data by using the automatic backup feature. Moreover, developers can configure the Realtime Database to back up their data automatically. The auto-backup settings can be accessed by clicking on the Backups tab in Firebase Database.
FAQs
- What are the most popular apps built with Firebase?
Popular apps built with Firebase are:
- Alibaba
- The New York Times
- Todoist
- Le Figaro
- eBay Motors
- On which platform can I create an app with Firebase?
You can create your app with Firebase on the following platform.
- Android
- iOS
- Web
- What are the benefits of Firebase?
Firebase is Google’s mobile app development platform. Firebase’s benefits include the following:
- An end-to-end development environment.
- Faster time-to-market to create apps.
- Scalable infrastructure.
- What are the core Firebase features?
Firebase includes database management, file storage, and cloud code. Some other core features are analytics, scalable hosting, machine learning, and analytics.
- Which are the best alternatives for Firebase?
– Back4app
– Backendless
– AWS Enhance
– Parse
– Kinvey
To Sum it Up!
Firebase is Google’s mobile app development platform. Firebase’s benefits include a complete development environment, faster time-to-market to create apps, and scalable infrastructure. Firebase is a great product, but it has its downsides. Firebase is a closed-source platform that locks in vendors and provides NoSQL databases.
Firebase categorizes its features into Build, Release & Track, and Engage. These features can be used at different stages in an app’s development cycle.
Firebase is not the only competitor. Back4app, Backendless, and AWS Amplify are some of the most prominent. In addition, Kinvey and Parse are also available.
This article should help you better understand Firebase and make informed decisions about learning this in the future.