iOS: Getting Started with Firebase

Firebase makes building the backend of your app easier with tools like authentication, real-time database, and cloud storage. It simplifies the development process, letting you concentrate on creating great user experiences. In this blog, we’ll show you how to set up Firebase in your iOS app:

Create a Project

Go to the Firebase Console and click on “Add project” to create a new one. Now, let’s follow the below steps to configure your project with the necessary details:

1. Add your project name.
2. Optionally, enable Google Analytics if you need it for tracking app performance.

That’s it. Your project is ready!

Register iOS app in project settings

Go to project settings and navigate to the “General” tab. Tap on the iOS icon to register your iOS app with Firebase:

1. Provide your app’s bundle ID.
2. Optionally, add an app nickname and app store ID.

Download the config file

1. Download the GoogleService-Info.plist file.
2. Move it into the root of your Xcode project and add it to all targets. (You can also find it in the “Your apps” section under the “General” tab)

Tip: Double-check the configuration settings to avoid authentication issues later in the development process.

Integrate Firebase SDK to your app

You can integrate Firebase SDK by:

Using Swift Package Manager:

 // Example Swift Package Manager dependencies
 dependencies: [
     .package(url: "https://github.com/firebase/firebase-ios-sdk.git", from: "9.0.0"),
 ],
 targets: [
     .target(name: "YourApp", dependencies: [
         .product(name: "Firebase", package: "firebase-ios-sdk"),
         // Add other dependencies as needed
     ]),
 ]

1. Open your Xcode project.
2. Navigate to File -> Add Packages.
3. Enter the Firebase package URL: https://github.com/firebase/firebase-ios-sdk.git.
4. Choose the SDK version (default or a specific version).
5. Select the Firebase libraries you need.
6. Click Finish, and Xcode will automatically resolve and download your dependencies.

Using Cocoapods:

1. Install Cocoapods in the terminal (if not installed) usingsudo gem install cocoapods .
2. Create a Podfile in your project folder using pod init
3. Add Firebase dependencies to your Podfile:

# Podfile
 platform :ios, '14.0'
 use_frameworks!

 target 'YourApp' do
     pod 'FirebaseAuth'
     # Add other pods as needed
 end

4. Run pod install in your project directory.

Simply import the required Firebase modules for the services you plan to use.

Verification with Google Analytics (Optional)

If you’ve included the Firebase SDK for Google Analytics, run your app to send verification to the Firebase console, confirming the successful installation of Firebase.

Add initialization code

In AppDelegate.swift file, import FirebaseCore and configure it in the application(_:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:) method:

 import FirebaseCore

 class AppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate {
   func application(_ application: UIApplication,
                    didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey : Any]? = nil) -> Bool {
     FirebaseApp.configure()
     return true
   }
 }

Additionally, for SwiftUI, create an application delegate and attach it to your App struct via UIApplicationDelegateAdaptor or NSApplicationDelegateAdaptor :

import SwiftUI

 @main
 struct YourApp: App {
   // register app delegate for Firebase setup
   @UIApplicationDelegateAdaptor(AppDelegate.self) var delegate

   var body: some Scene {
     WindowGroup {
       NavigationView {
         ContentView()
       }
     }
   }
 }

Secure GoogleService-Info.plist

Ensure the GoogleService-Info.plist and any sensitive information is not exposed publicly on version control or in the app.

Conclusion

This blog covers the steps required to set up Firebase in your iOS app. We’ve covered the fundamental steps like creating the Firebase project, registering the iOS app, obtaining the configuration file, and installing the SDK.

Note: Firebase evolves, and new features are added. Stay informed by checking the official documentation regularly.

References

• Firebase Documentation

Thanks for reading! 🚀 If you found this helpful, give it a like and share with others. Stay tuned for more blogs!

Happy coding! 👩🏻‍💻✨

Originally published at https://chaitalilad.hashnode.dev on January 21, 2024.