What is our primary use case?
We utilized Firebase in many cases, such as volume, storage, hosting Angular and static pages, normal dynamic pages, and OAuth requirements. We also used it to create credentials for DART for our Android and Flutter applications. It is a Google-backed platform for Android applications. We have mobile applications for both Android and iOS devices, which we initially developed separately. Now, we are using Flutter for our mobile applications. We were utilizing Firebase primarily for our Android applications.
What is most valuable?
The authentication feature is good. I would rate it around eight out of ten. The process was seamless and straightforward for Gmail users. However, the authentication process was different and challenging for Microsoft accounts. While integrating it into an Angular or mobile application was easy for Google users, it was a plug-and-play. Non-Google users require additional conditions and configurations.
What needs improvement?
In terms of DevOps, such as CI/CD deployments and integrating webhooks with GitHub, GitLab, or other platforms, Firebase does not offer those capabilities at that level.
The only issue is that it is connected to GCP, not AWS or any other platform. The building process is specific to GCP. Thus, the challenge lies in directly integrating the build with GCP.
It is very difficult to manage. When deploying code to a platform, I must indicate the target site or web subdomain to which it should be deployed. Additionally, I need to decide whether to ignore certain files or directories, such as node modules .env files, or cache related to the website. The script must be written to handle these details. While Firebase supports Next.js and React.js applications, the performance was below 65-70%, which affects scalability.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Google Firebase for three and a half years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We need to focus more on the code level. We used GIF files and large banners, which significantly impacted loading times. Additionally, building and deploying the website has its challenges. We depend on external tools like GitHub Actions or Jenkins for the build process. This dependency is a major drawback because Firebase doesn't offer a built-in build service. Consequently, I have to handle the build process elsewhere and then deploy it to Firebase, which adds complexity.
I rate the solution's stability a five or six out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
They have to work more on the DevOps part. It is improving very rapidly. We require Firebase on automation requirement. Vercel is giving that as of now.
15-18 users are using this solution.
I rate the solution’s scalability a five or six out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Since it is connected to Google through GCP, we have partnered with a channel partner for billing and support. We contacted the channel partner rather than Google directly.
What was our ROI?
The features are good, but automation is taking a major role in every domain and category.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Firebase is cheap because bandwidth usage depends on the GCP. What we were paying for was what we were getting. If we want more features, then we have to go for another platform.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend the solution based on the target audience. Suppose a company has a minimal budget for cloud platforms and offerings. In that case, Firebase might be a good option, especially if they already use Angular, as Firebase is compatible with Angular and PHP. If a company's developers are skilled in Angular and don't want to invest in React, which can be more expensive in the current market, Firebase is a suitable alternative.
Additionally, considering the growth of customer usage is essential. For example, if the number of requests has increased from 1,000 per day to 10,000 per day, the platform should be able to scale accordingly. If customer usage is relatively low, Firebase can be a cost-effective choice. However, for higher usage levels, other platforms may be more appropriate.
The performance depends on the quality of the code, how well it is optimized, the files we upload, and how we use the browser or website.
Overall, I rate the solution a four out of ten.