Firebase: the New Hotness in Android Development

Google announced new additions for Firebase at I/O 16 that redefines it as a unified back end for apps. As part of the upgrade, Firebase will now provide a fully integrated back end and analytics platform for app developers. The new feature set comes just in time for mobile app developers as Facebook has scheduled the shuttering of its popular BaaS platform Parse.

Firebase was acquired by Google in 2014, but no major changes were released from the platform until the keynote at I/O 16. The new version combines Google demographic, interest and location information with in-app demographics and segments based on user behavior in an all-in-one package. Analytics form the backbone of the service as it connects development with user growth, retention and earnings.

For app development, Firebase will improve upon its existing database service with real-time database hosting, storage, cloud messaging and remote config. It will integrate with social and e-mail provider authentication systems as well as any custom ones already built. Crash reporting can drill down to specific app states and user actions to help determine the causes for crashes. The Test Lab for Android allows developers to test on the most popular devices, and run robo or custom tests before shipping.

On the business side of things, features like Dynamic Links, Invites and AdWords integration will help with user acquisition, while notifications can now be sent via Firebase Cloud Messaging, a no-code messaging service that can be triggered by user action, or broken down by audience segments. In conjunction with the remote config feature, notifications can be used to deliver personalized experiences to users to aid in retention. Also, integration with AdMob will help in monetizing an app’s user base.