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So now you know what Firebase is, but why would you want to use it? You may be wondering how Firebase could add value to your application. Should you use it to build all of your core features, or maybe just a selection of them? Firebase is an immensely powerful tool, but knowing when to use it is key. In this video, we'll answer those questions.
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Imagine this, you have an idea
that could be the next big thing.
0:00
You're so excited to get working on it.
0:04
Immediately, you shoot out a text
to a few of your developer
0:06
buddies trying to spur some excitement
amongst them and get them to help you out.
0:09
Before you know it,
0:13
you guys are hacking away on
the app prototype in your basement.
0:14
Sleep is replaced by seemingly gallons
of coffee and energy drinks, and
0:18
you all lose track of time.
0:21
You've got the interface looking perfect,
animations are smooth.
0:22
And you've even stirred up some
excitement on social media.
0:27
This is it, we're gonna be huge,
you think to yourself.
0:29
Just one minor issue,
nobody has set up the back-end yet.
0:33
How are we going to
authenticate our users?
0:37
What about storage for
their awesome cat pictures?
0:39
[SOUND] How about user communication?
0:42
How are you going to grow user
engagement with your app?
0:44
How will you even know how
many people are using the app?
0:47
What about crashes?
0:50
We're all highly competent developers, but
maybe a bug sneaks through our QA process.
0:52
Early on that's bound to happen, right?
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There are about a million different
Android phones we need to test this on to
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make sure we don't frustrate
any of our user base.
1:02
How are we going to get our hands on
all of those devices for testing?
1:04
I know, I know, perhaps that's
something you should have planned for
1:08
before you got hacking.
1:11
But hey, we're all guilty of poor
planning at some point in our lives.
1:12
Just roll with me here in
this hypothetical example.
1:16
These are all questions that should come
up when putting together the next hot app.
1:19
Luckily, one of your developers begins
to vaguely recall a presentation about
1:24
something called Firebase.
1:28
Immediately the Google foo intensifies,
and your team begins realizing that
1:29
Firebase is the perfect solution to
all of the issues you currently face.
1:33
Firebase's motto is Develop,
Grow and Earn.
1:38
And after all, isn't that everyone's goal?
1:41
The realtime Database, cloud messaging,
authentication, cloud Storage, and
1:43
hosting all provide you with
the tools to focus on development and
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let them handle the back-end specifics.
1:51
With analytics,
remote configuration capabilities,
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push notifications,
Google app indexing, dynamic links,
1:57
and app invites, you can grow your
application beyond your wildest dreams.
2:00
After you've developed your app and
tweaked it to perfection,
2:05
Firebase's integration with AdMob
will help the cash start flowing in.
2:08
Okay, so that works great if you're
trying to be the next big startup.
2:12
But what if you're a project manager for
an established organization trying to
2:16
make a decision on how to add a particular
feature to your team's application?
2:20
Is Firebase a good fit for you?
2:24
The answer is,
without a doubt, absolutely.
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Due to the modular nature of Firebase you
can use whichever of its features that
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suit your use case.
2:33
Imagine there was an app used by billions
that let you read 159 characters of
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someone's thoughts at a time?
2:38
Revolutionary, I know.
2:41
What if their team wanted to test how user
behavior would change if they wanted to
2:43
allow a specific demographic of their
users to post 200 characters at a time
2:47
instead?
2:50
Firebase remote config would easily
allow them to select a demographic
2:52
to allow such a thing.
2:55
How about an app that allows you to give
strangers rides to try to replace taxis?
2:57
What if they wanted to send push
notifications whenever their drivers were
3:01
close to picking up their passengers?
3:04
Firebase push notifications
would work perfectly for that.
3:06
Firebase offers features for
every use case.
3:10
I hope I've begun to shed some light on
how it can benefit you and your team.
3:13
Another thing that makes Firebase so user
friendly is it's scaling capabilities.
3:17
Let's check out some information
on Firebase's pricing model.
3:22
Feel free to follow along with
the link in the teacher's notes.
3:25
Included free without limits
are analytics, Google app indexing,
3:28
authentication, cloud messaging,
crash reporting,
3:32
dynamic links, app invites,
push notifications and remote config.
3:34
Just imagine all the time you would save
by not having to create that functionality
3:39
in your app from scratch.
3:42
All the other features, including the
realtime database, storage, hosting, and
3:43
test lab, include generous free quotas
that you would more than likely never have
3:47
to worry about for hobby projects and
proof-of-concept projects.
3:51
The free tier for the realtime
database comes with the ability for
3:55
a hundred users to connect simultaneously,
use 1 GB of storage, and
3:57
allow users to download 10 GB per month.
4:01
There is also a monthly payment
plan with higher limits.
4:04
And if neither the free tiered nor
4:06
the monthly paid plans suit your needs,
there's a pay as you go plan.
4:08
I know it's always nice to get free stuff.
4:12
But as my grandpa used to say, if you're
not paying taxes, you're not making money.
4:14
So rather than being sad that you have
to pay money if you cross a certain
4:19
threshold, take that as a sign of
success that your app has made it and
4:22
you're in the big times now.
4:26
I hope these two videos have helped
convince you that Firebase is a valuable
4:28
tool for your development life cycle.
4:31
Continue on to our platform-specific
workshops in the teacher's notes to learn
4:34
how to start using Firebase today.
4:37
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