Firebase Remote Config - Pro Tips

Pro tips for using Firebase Remote Config as feature-flag engine in mobile apps.

Presentation given at Seven Masters by iMasters, Firebase Edition (august / 2017).

Transcript

1. REMOTE CONFIG
   pro tips
   Ubiratan Soares
   August / 2017
   

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8. PRO TIPS
   

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9. Attention to tool
   limits and policies
   1
   

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11. Do not forget to
    provide the
    default values
    2
    

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13. // At application setup level
    FirebaseRemoteConfig
    .getInstance()
    .setDefaults(R.xml.remote_config_defaults);
    ➜ ~/path/to/app/main tree res
    res
    !"" xml
    !"" remote_config_defaults.xml
    

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14. Beware of backward
    compatibility for
    configs
    3
    

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15. Assign values by
    build type per
    config
    4
    

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16. Choose the proper
    activate / fetch
    strategy for configs
    5
    

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17. Default Expires = 12h
    activateFetched()
    Async Fetching
    RemoteConfig SDK
    ACTUAL
    VALUES
    getXYZ()
    CACHED VALUES
    fetch(timeToCache)
    

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18. Are the upated
    values for configs
    needed right now ?
    

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19. Load values for the next
    time usage, at application
    lifecycle level.
    For non-critical configs
    

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20. If you cannot wait for the
    next interaction with your
    app …
    Can user wait for the actual
    values for configs at current
    app section ?
    

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21. Waiting for refresh
    Fetch and activate using
    callback and provide the
    proper visual feedback
    (usually a blocking, loading screen)
    

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22. If actual config
    values are critical
    for feature …
    

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23. Fetch and activate using
    callback before user
    interaction with remote-
    controled feature
    No delays accepted
    

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24. Find a way to override
    config`s local caching
    when needed
    6
    

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25. Default Expires = 12h
    activateFetched()
    Async Fetching
    RemoteConfig SDK
    ACTUAL
    VALUES
    getXYZ()
    CACHED VALUES
    fetch(timeToCache)
    

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26. Monitor application
    foreground / background
    dance and re-fetch with
    cache invalidation at
    transition
    

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27. Force a
    fetch with cache purging
    + activate using a
    push notification
    

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28. FINAL REMARKS
    • RemoteConfig is a great tool for feature-flagging
    • Deadly simple to integrate with provided SDKs
    • Beware of basics (default values, limitations, config compatibilities, etc)
    • Choose the proper fetch+activate strategy for each config
    

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29. UBIRATAN
    SOARES
    Computer Scientist by ICMC/USP
    Software Engineer, curious guy
    Google Developer Expert for Android
    Teacher, speaker, etc, etc
    

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30. THANK YOU
    @ubiratanfsoares
    ubiratansoares.github.io
    https://br.linkedin.com/in/ubiratanfsoares
    

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