Firebase: a great backend service for android application

Today the world is all about connected devices, social media and internet. Building a mobile app also means think about a back-end. Sometime ago, mobile developers need to build their own back-end providing data storage, user authentication and some REST API. Nowadays back-end as service like Firebase can handle server side tasks and give interesting features to Mobile Applications.

In this talk we will explore Firebase for mobile applications. Then, after a brief explanation of the Firebase Structure, we will move into the technical part of the talk, where attendees will see how easy it is to integrate Firebase in Android Applications.
Finally The talk provides some Android Firebase examples about authentication, using data storage, security and working offline.

Transcript

1. FIREBASE A great backend service for android application WILFRIED MBOUENDA MBOGNE / @EWILLY ANDROID DEVELOPER / @LINKYOURTHINGS
2. AGENDA Why we need Firebase ? Firebase Structure Hands on code
3. @ewilly1 Android Developer
4. Why we need Firebase ?
5. the full stack
6. The full stack is never really that simple
7. You do it yourself
8. Creating an app shouldn't require managing complex infrastructure.
9. FIREBASE The Realtime Backend for your App
10. Firebase Structure
12. FORGET THE SERVER Firebase apps can run on client-side code only
13. CLOUD DATABASE NoSQL data-store Returns JSON from a RESTful API
15. REALTIME DATA Whenever data is updated in Firebase, it sends the update down to every listening client
17. SDKs
18. STORE DATA Firebase ref = new Firebase("https://<your-firebase-app>.firebaseio.com/message"); ref.setValue("All the things");
19. SYNC DATA Firebase ref = new Firebase("https://<your-firebase-app>.firebaseio.com/message"); ref.addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() { @Override public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot snapshot) { System.out.println(snapshot.getValue()); } @Override public void onCancelled(FirebaseError error) { } });
20. OFFLINE
21. INTERMITTENT OFFLINE What happens when you go through a tunnel?
22. INTERMITTENT OFFLINE What happens when you go through a tunnel? Firebase clients store a local cache of your data. When the user goes offline, the app still works as expected with the local cache.
23. EXTENDED OFFLINE What happens when you go on a flight?
24. EXTENDED OFFLINE What happens when you go on a flight? On mobile, Firebase persists data to a local store. The app will continue to work even across app restarts.
25. ONE LINE OF CODE Firebase.getDefaultConfig().setPersistenceEnabled(true);
26. Firebase supports several forms of authentication Email & Password Google Twitter Facebook Github Anonymous ...and even custom backends
27. AUTHENTICATION ref.authWithOAuthToken("google", "<OAuth Token>", new Firebase. AuthResultHandler() { @Override public void onAuthenticated(AuthData authData) { // the Google user is now authenticated with your Firebase app } @Override public void onAuthenticationError(FirebaseError firebaseError) { // there was an error } });
28. SECURITY { "rules": { ".read": true, ".write": true, } } By default everyone can write and read
29. { "rules": { ".read": true, ".write": false, } } Everyone can read, but no one can write
30. { "rules": { ".read": true, "message": { ".write": false } } } Secure specific parts of your Firebase
31. { "rules": { ".read": true, "message": { ".write": "auth !== null", ".validate": "!data.exists()" } } } Special variables to power authentication
32. { "rules": { ".read": false, ".write": false, "users": { "$userid": { ".read": "true", ".write": "auth.uid === $userid" } } } } Use $wildcardsas route parameters
33. Hands on code
34. Create an account + app Install Firebase - gradle Add Internet permission - manifest Setup Firebase
35. Create an account
37. dependencies { compile 'com.firebase:firebase-client-android:2.5.0+' } Install Firebase - gradle
38. <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" /> Add Internet permission - manifest
39. @Override public void onCreate() { super.onCreate(); Firebase.setAndroidContext(this); // other setup code } Setup Firebase
42. FOCUS ON YOUR APP The user doesn't care about the backend What matters is that your app is fast and enjoyable
43. ASSETS USED • https://www.firebase.com/docs/android/quickstart.html • https://github.com/WillyShakes/AlarmQuote
44. ASK ME QUESTIONS WILFRIED MBOUENDA MBOGNE / @EWILLY ANDROID DEVELOPER / @LINKYOURTHINGS