We connect the mobile and web apps we build to Google's Firebase platform, which provides services such as push notifications, sign-in, real-time data and crash reporting. We have used Firebase in our own client projects, in several of our mobile apps.

Firebase takes care of services that every modern app needs but that are costly to build and run yourself. Push notifications reach Android and iPhone users, sign-in works with phone, email and social accounts, and crash reports show which problems real users are hitting, so they can be fixed quickly.

What we build with it

  • Push notifications with Firebase Cloud Messaging
  • Real-time chat and live updates
  • Phone, email and social sign-in
  • Crash reporting and usage analytics

How it works

  1. The app is registered in a Firebase project owned by your business, for Android, iOS and web as needed.
  2. When a user installs the app and allows notifications, the app registers with Firebase and the device token is saved in your system.
  3. When something happens — a new order, a message, an approval — your system asks Firebase to send a notification to that user's devices.
  4. Where real-time features are used, the app listens for changes and updates the screen as soon as data changes.
  5. Crash reports and usage events flow into the Firebase console, where we monitor app stability after each release.

Data exchanged

  • Device tokens and notification content
  • User identifiers for sign-in
  • Real-time data such as chat messages or live status
  • Crash reports and anonymised usage events

What is needed to set it up

  • A Firebase project in a Google account owned by your business
  • App registrations for Android, iOS and web
  • An Apple push key for iPhone notifications
  • Service credentials configured server-side

Good to know

  • Push notifications through Firebase Cloud Messaging carry no per-message charge. Other services, such as database usage and phone sign-in by SMS, are billed by Google by usage on your own account.
  • The location of some Firebase data is chosen when the service is first set up and cannot easily be changed later, so it is decided at the start.
  • Analytics collection should be disclosed in your privacy policy, and in the app store privacy details.