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NOTICE: Firebase ANE is currently in Beta mode and is not yet available to public. Make sure you are registered in our newsletter to be notified as soon as it's ready.
Thanks for your interest in our Firebase Air Native Extension. This Wiki includes all the information you would need to setup Firebase services in your Air app. But before talking about the tech side, let's take a few minutes and see why Firebase is such a big deal.
In Google words, Firebase is:
Firebase gives you the tools to develop high-quality apps, grow your user base, and earn more money. We cover the essentials so you can monetize your business and focus on your users.
If you're not already familiar with Firebase, the description above would seem too abstract, too general. So, let me put it this way, Firebase is one of the most popular replacements for Parse and since Parse shutdown, Google invested hugely on the Firebase project to improve it in the best possible way. The release of Firebase V3.x.x was huge and their main landing page moved from firebase.com to firebase.google.com with this announcement from James Tamplin.
Firebase is expanding to become a unified app platform for Android, iOS and mobile web development.
I believe that the Firebase project is awesome and will help mobile app developers BIG time. It will cut down the amount of time you would spend on setting up server-side logics and besides that, it ensures that your content will always be available to your users as fast as possible. No matter how large your app would grow, your Firebase server-side configuration can also grow with that and you don't have to worry about server costs and setup troubles.
Moreover, Firebase pricing plan is unbelievably generous! You can start with a free plan and upgrade only if your app is a hit. You pay as you go, risk free! Below is the list of all the current services that Firebase provides.
- Analytics Reimagine analytics for mobile
- Cloud Messaging (FCM) Deliver and receive messages across platforms reliably
- Authentication Reduce friction with robust authentication
- Realtime Database Store and sync app data in realtime
- Storage Store files with ease
- Remote Config Customize your app on the fly
- Crash Reporting Keep your app stable
- Notifications Engage with users at the right moment
- App Indexing Drive organic search traffic to your app
- Dynamic Links Send users to the right place inside your app
- Invites Empower your users to share your app
- AdWords Acquire users with the reach of Google
- Admob Monetize through engaging ads
With the Firebase Air Native Extension, we are providing you with native access to all these Firebase features.
You will simply save a lot of time and money if you decide to use Firebase. Just do the calculation! Making the decision to use Firebase is entierly up to you. Though, there are a few kinds of questions you might face soon or later when you are learning more about Firebase which I try to answer them in simple words right here:
- GCM is depricated in favour of FCM. Does that mean that I am forced to move to Firebase? No, you're not forced! Our GCM ANE will continue to work as Google has said that. If you are using GCM, and you have already setup your server with that, you can continue working with that with no problem.
- Admob is now part of Firebase. Does it mean that I have to enable the Firebase ANE in my app? No you don't, we have updated our Admob ANE so it can be used with or without Firebase. It's totally optional.
- My app is already online working with my own VPS/dedicated server, can I move to Firebase? Of course you can! You just need to make sure you are transferring the data correctly to your Firebase database/storage. It can be a hard transition based on how your app works, but it's doable. besides that, you can move only part of your data to Firebase, for example you can move your server side files only to Firebase and leave the database as it is, or vice versa.
Don't be fooled by the long list of features Firebase provides! We have transpiled every Firebase library to ActionScript through our pile of Firebase ANEs. You can use only the ANEs you need. All of our Firebase ANEs will run over the FirebaseCore.ane. For instance, if you wish to use the Firebase Cloud Messaging service, FCM, you would need to embed the Core Firebase ANE first and then embed the FCM ane and then, you will have access to all the features that FCM provides.
To begin with, read the get started section on the right side of this Wiki page. Also you will enjoy watching this introduction video:
DISCRIMINATION: We have copied and when needed has modified the Google documents so it will fit the needs of Adobe Air community. If you wish to see the original documentations in Android/iOS, visit here. But if you are interested to do things in Adobe Air, then you are in the right place.