Firebase – Testreveal

Top 15 Alternatives To Firebase

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Super Admin Testreveal

If it is your prime aim to deliver web apps without having to write server-side programming code, you have an excellent option coming in the form of Firebase database. This is a technology that ensures a swift and easy development of web and mobile apps which can run on platforms like OS X, web, iOS and Android.

When you have Firebase by your side, you need not get bogged down by over-provisioning servers alongside building REST APIs. You can get away with these two requirements with some basic configuration.

With so much going in favor of Firebase, below are the top 15 alternatives of Firebase that can become your top choices.

Parse server	Kinvey	Gamesparks
Back4app	PubNub	Deployd
Kumulos	Atmosphere	Hood.ie
Kuzzle	AWS Amplify	Heroku
Cloudboost.io	Firehose	GUN

1. Parse server

Parse is an open-source mobile & web application platform. It has a strong developer community making it one among the best firebase alternatives.

Parse provide a handfull of backend tools helping developers to store data, manage identity, run custom codes etc. Easy customization of your app’s foundation is another advantage of Parse server.

Key features

Offers a better user experience.
Easy view of analytics & push notifications.
Unlimited access to the software
Hosted in almost all environments.

Visit Website

2. Kinvey

Kinvey provides the best cloud backend services on any app. It has higher flexibility for developers to setup & scale different mobile apps.

Kinvey can set up the majority of the cloud services and other backend elements. Kinvey’s business logic makes it popular among developers that they can easily host codes

Key features

Add amultiple users.
Choose from a variety of authentication systems
Limitless data storage.
Instant and secure syncing between apps & backend.

Visit Website

3. Gamesparks

Gamesparks is a dedicated gaming app development platform with a developer-friendly interface. This alternative is both highly scalable & flexible.

Other innovative features include latest messaging & social tools. Gamesparks is easier to optimize and build amazing server-side components.

Key features

Live gaming & meta-game options.
Social matchmaking & multiplayer.
Enable easy IT asset management.
Develop attractive game apps.

Visit Website

4. Back4app

Back4app is devoted to creating quality mobile and web applications. Whether it be single or cross-platform, back4app provides more ease to developers and focus them on another aspect of apps.

It helps to speed up the development process to about 80% along with efficiently hosting IoT, web, and mobile applications. Back4app has multiple solutions for rapid integration & convenient app development.

Key features

Open-source & has private cloud options.
Relational databases via GraphQL or REST APIs.
Automated backups with the real-time database.
Highly optimized storage methods.

Visit Website

5. PubNub

PubNub is popular for its versatile streaming abilities. You can create promising web and mobile apps with PubNub.

The most attractive feature is that it can send instant mobile push notifications even the app is not running. If you are planning for a chat service app, PubNub is perfect for accompanying you in the whole backend services.

Key features

Integrate playback options.
Stream controllers with a single connection.
Transfer trillions of messages.
Scalable chat APIs.

Visit Website

Read Also : A Tutorial on Firebase Hosting 2020

6. Deployd

Deployd is one of the open-source firebase alternatives. It is an adaptive API design platform empowering developer to engage in trouble-free app development on both web and mobiles.

It’s quicker test API helps while developing user interface making it an amazing solution. Deployd has HTTP and REST APIs which can be hosted by cloud platforms.

Key features

Easier testing procedures
Javascript is used throughout
Intuitive web-based dashboard
Easy developer-friendly deployment.

Visit Website

7. Kumulos

Kumulos is a driving solution for effective mobile app development business. Developers can rely on this multi-tenant solution to provide easy to use in-app messaging service to your clients.

Kumulos ensures a winning branded messaging app where your clients can conduct campaigns and gauge its effects.

Key features

Focused on Push notification platforms.
Closer client engagements.
Timely reports on app management.
Improve app’s commercial performance.

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8. Atmosphere

Atmosphere is a perfect tool for designing both client & server-side frameworks. This technology is so popular that this is compatible on majority servers and browsers.

Atmosphere supports long-polling, HTTP Streaming, Web Sockets and Server Sent Events (SSE) along with JSONP.

Key features

Best asynchronous web applications.
Free to download.
Detailed API Documentation.
Easy to scale.

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9. Hood.ie

Hood.ie is a self-hosted platform helping developers to manage multiple solutions. It is a highly supporting alternative with a small developer community. Hood.ie comprises offline resources that can productively utilize its amazing features in each app.

Key features

Local & hosted development.
Simple Javascript-based services.
Dream-code Driven API.
Simple & easy procedures.

Visit Website

10. Kuzzle

Kuzzle is an amazing backend platform that is highly flexible and a boon for developers. This is best suitable for web, mobile, and IoT application development.

Kuzzle is designed with an emphasis on rapid market methods & enabling higher ROI for developers. These factors make it preferable than firebase or others include real-time functionality & multi-protocol API.

Key features

Advanced search options
Highly flexible backend services
Manage push notifications
Real-time geofencing & data sync.

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11. AWS Amplify

AWS is a package of excellent backend tools making developers & organizations conduct easier app development.

The most striking feature is that it can create serverless apps that can integrate with Javascript-based front-end elements. It comprises a declarative API to handle multiple cloud operations.

Key features

Work with multiple vendors & buyers.
Real-time database
Instant push notifications.
Multiple cloud operations.

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12. Heroku

Being one among the best firebase alternatives, Heroku is a service-based system with a powerful development ecosystem.

With an app-centric approach, Heroku serve as an all-in-one solution for developers. Heroku is rich with the latest backend developer tools and workflows.

Key features

Easy customization of app stacks.
Easy service add-ons.
Instant troubleshooting of issues.
Regular audits & high protection.

Visit Website

13. Cloudboost.io

Cloudboost.io is one of the reliable firebase alternatives with features like push notifications, user authentication, slack integration, cache, and more.

This is an open-source platform where developers can make easy backend operations without any troublesome vendor lock-ins. You can assure supreme UI & UX features in mobile and web applications you create.

Key features

Easy offline syncing.
Effortless real-time app development.
Unlimited storage.
Robust APIs with high connectivity

Visit Website

14. Firehose

Firehose is one of the best alternatives for firebase with comprising RESTful design principles. The elaborate rewriting procedure is absent here. Firehose never requires complex protocols.

You can use those subcodes that easily work with the client-side Javascript. Firehose enables in creating real-time web applications at ease.

Key features

Active web frontend Dashboard
Easy backup & restore.
Effective database service.
High data protection.

Visit Website

15. GUN

Gun helps in managing error-free backend services. Website app development is easier and the resources focus on the minute fragments of app development.

Gun is an open-source alternative that is best for managing small applications. The enterprise package for buying the platform is about $999.

Key features

Decentralized & specific databases.
Excellent database engine.
Real-time user & app management.
Secure app data.

Visit Website

Read Also : An Overview of Firebase Cloud Functions 2020

Closing Thoughts

Notwithstanding the fact that Firebase comes with a plethora of mobile app development features supporting you to scale your infrastructure requirements, it is time you check out the perfect substitutes that are now available.

Each of the above alternatives of firebase showcases great features & complements each other in terms of the functionalities and tools they comprise.

Developers can lead an errorless backend process with these amazing solutions. You can decide & choose the best alternative to develop and deploy your apps with satisfaction.

How To Build An Angular 5 Project With Bootstrap 4 and Firebase?

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

Are you looking to set up your first ever Angular 5 application? Getting such a project up and running is a lot easier than you think. Angular version 5 is quite new in the industry with amazing features and this version was rolled just a few months ago. Ahead of Time compiler, optimization with boosted speed and smaller bundles, and lighter and faster Http Client module are among the notable updates with the new version. Setting up an Angular 5 project has become the dream of many programming enthusiasts now. Adding the other technological advancements of the time, Bootstrap 4 and Firebase to the project can really make a difference in the final outcome.

Here you can see an overview of how to set up an Angular 5 Project with Bootstrap 4 and Firebase.

Set up Angular 5 Project

First let us see how to set up an Angular 5 project without much hassles:

The very first step is to setup an Angular project which is performed using Angular CLI. See that the installation of command line interface is done in case Angular CLI is not available in your system.
Now you can use the ‘ng’ command to commence a new Angular project. An application that works already will be created then. A single command generates components, services, routes and pipes.
The command line parameter ‘new’ has to be used and the new project’s name should be specified.
The development web server can be launched by executing the command ‘ng serve’ in the project folder.
Following this, the server will get started and you can now access the application. You can see a ‘welcome to app’ screen with some support links to help you with the journey.

Set up Firebase Project

Once you set up the Angular 5 project, you can move to the phase of setting up the Firebase project.

In the Firebase back-end, you are supposed to create a new Firebase project. After that the related project settings need to be transferred inside the Angular application.
Followed by that, the Angular project and Firebase libraries need to be linked to the project
Now you can visit the Firebase website in order to set up a new Firebase project
There you can easily set up a new account and use your Google credentials to sign in.
Once you have logged in, the link ‘Go To Console’ has to be clicked for getting the Firebase back-end.
In this place, the ‘Add project’ has to be clicked to link a new Firebase project or simply choose from your existing projects.
Now you can see the project console. There the link ‘Add Firebase to your web app’ can be clicked.
Now you will see the JavaScript code that guides you to the initialization of the Firebase project for the particular website.
However, for making this Firebase configuration a part of your Angular project, only a section of that code snippet is required. The key-value pairs within the config object has to be copied at first and those pairs has to be inserted within the file.

How to Add Bootstrap 4?

Finally, you can add the Bootstrap 4 to the already set up Angular 5 project. See the steps:

Use the NPM command for the installation of Bootstrap 4 into the project folder
Include the Bootstrap CSS file also in the project folder in order to access Bootstrap CSS classes for the project components
Use the Bootstrap Starter Template to include a Bootstrap user interface in the project application.
A starter template website gets opened in another browser window when you click on Starter template.
While opening the source code view of the browser, the starter template’s HTML markup code can be accessed.
The necessary code parts can be copied and then paste into your project application.
Use the Angular CLI again for including a new component to the project as you need to add the starter template’s navigation bar now.
Use Bootstrap 4 Angular directives in order to give Angular framework the complete control for updating DOM elements.

This is just a rough idea for building an Angular 5 project from scratch and adding Bootstrap 4 and Firebase to it. However, for a comprehensive project that has an unparalleled performance, you have to bring in advance features and customize it to your actual requirements. A dedicated effort from an enthusiast with a sound knowledge about the technical whereabouts is needed to set up a final project that is error free and that meets the specific requirements.

In fact, Angular 5 was designed with people’s need in mind and so utilizing its possibilities in the right way is the key. Unlike conventional options, offline experience and push notifications are far better with this latest version. By avoiding unnecessary run time code, the application has now become faster and lighter. With Angular 6 and 7 expected to get released in the upcoming years, the technology world have a lot to hope for. This amazing JavaScript framework was built with the aim to satisfy both users as well as developers.

A Tutorial on Firebase Hosting

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

If you are looking to host your NextGen web app safely, Firebase from Google can put you at ease by providing fast, reliable and secure static hosting for your web app. Offering production-grade web content hosting, Google Firebase enables you to effortlessly deploy web apps and static web page content and connect to CDN (content-delivery network) with single command.

Furthermore, with all-in-one Firebase hosting solution, you are exempted from sizing up various available cloud based hosting service providers.

The prerequisite you need to do to get started with Firebase hosting is:

Install the latest version of nodejs
Secure an uninterrupted Data connection
Create a Google Firebase account

Here is the brief tutorial on Firebase hosting for you.

Features That Make Firebase a Reliable Choice:

Before opting for Google Firebase, you may wish to clear your doubts about whether or not it is a great choice. Hence, here are all the features of Firebase hosting from Google for you to learn.

1) Content security

Firebase hosting is served over a secure connection using modern web. It has a built-in SSL which requires no further configuration, ensuring that the content is always delivered with un-compromised security standard at any point of time.

2) Speedy content delivery

Since each file you upload is on SSDs as cached at CDN edges, you can be sure your web app content is delivered fast to users around the world.

3) Quick deployment

Firebase comes with CLI which deploys your app in a few seconds. Due to CLI, you can easily upload your files from local directory to hosting server and add deployment targets into your build process.

4) One-click roll backs

Any mistakes or error made during the hosting process is undoable as Firebase Hosting enables you to manage the full version and release with one-click rollbacks.

How Does it Work?

Built with the idea of modern web development, Firebase console makes deploying the simple landing page or scalable and complex web app quite simple. The successful hosting gives your app the feel-good features, defined infrastructure and incredible tools designed to manage static websites.

WithFirebase CLI, you are able to deploy files from local directory to hosting server that has SSL configuration on global CDN. The project is given a sub-domain of firebaseapp.com. Its lightweight configuration options enable you to build sophisticated progressive web apps. Developers can easily rewrite URLs or set-up custom headers.

When site is ready for production, you can connect your own domain name to Google Firebase Hosting and also get SSL certificate for enhanced content security.

Why to leverage Google Firebase hosting?

For business-grade apps, it is important to choose a robust, scalable, and flexible framework for web application development. Google’s Firebase promises the most integrated platform for dynamic mobile apps. Some of its pros are:

1. Competitive analytics

Google Firebase comes with a free analytics dashboard that has innovative qualities and capacity to report up to as many as 500 event types. Due to its ability to provide you with crystal clear insight for understanding user behaviour, it is easy to optimize your application for better performance, scalability and personalization. Some of the crucial features of Firebase analytics are:

Streamlined segmentation of users
Unlimited reporting
Integration with other essential services.

2. High-quality and interactive applications

With Firebase, developers can enjoy ample space to create unique, interactive and high-quality apps using its incredible features and functions. Some of the remarkable, innovative features of Google Firebase are:

Authentication
Crash reporting
Storage and data syncing
Remote configuring
Real-time database
Cloud messaging
Test Lab

With these features, you can store, sync, add and integrate important data in real-time, which in turn makes user experience even more gratifying.

3. App Marketing Feature: Invites

After developing your business-focused app, you can walk an extra mile to compel users to consider and install your app. Firebase contains a feature called ‘invites’ which enables word-of-mouth advertising. Invites empowers your marketing efforts such as sending personalized invitations messages and email to prospects and existing clients, thereby advertising your app.

4. Better User engagement

You definitely want your app to do well and impress users with its scalable features and secure usage. Some of the built-in features of Google Firebase that satisfy this purpose for you are:

App indexing
Dynamic Links
Integrating Adwords
Real-time Notifications

How to get started with Hosting?

With Firebase, app development process gets simple as your app’s static assets (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) can be easily deployed and hosted with Google Firebase over HTTPS and backed by a global CDN.

Step-1 Install the Firebase CLI

To install Firebase hosting, the CLI requires you to first install Node.js(version 5.10.0 or greater) and npm. To install them both, follow the instructions given on.

After getting Node.js and npm installed, you can go ahead and install the Firebase CLI via npm:

npm install -g firebase-tools

And then, you can re-run the above command in order to update to the latest version.

Step-2 Initialize your app

If you have your Firebase app ready to deploy, you can go inside the project directory to run the command:

$ firebase init

This action creates a firebase.json settings file in the root of your project directory.

Step-3 Add a file

After following step 2, upon initializing your app, you will be asked to use the directory as the public root by default. This is helpful when you don’t have a valid index.html file in your public root directory.

Step-4 Deploy your website

At this stage, you are able to deploy your website, which you can do by running:

$ firebase deploy

In the end, you will see your app deployed at the domain<YOUR-FIREBASE-APP>.firebaseapp.com

Step-5 Manage and rollback deploys

From the Hostingpanel in the Firebase Console you can see a full history of your deploys. To roll back to a previous deploy, hover over its entry in the list, click the overflow menu icon, then click “Rollback”.

Now your app is ready to share with the world! Next up, check out how to customize hosting behavior, connect a custom domain, or take a look at the full documentation for the Firebase CLI.

Conclusion:

With these many benefits and easy-to-install process, Google Firebase console incontrovertibly emerges as the most viable option especially for business apps. Equally appealing to start-ups and big brands, Firebase is a great choice for business app development. Everybody wants their business to grow exponentially, which is where Firebase framework can be leveraged to gain optimal results.

11 Benefits of Using Firebase For an App Development Project

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

Developing a website or a mobile application could be an exhaustive process as it involves a lot of time and cost. Nevertheless, there are a lot of services, on the other hand, which are capable of assisting the development work in various ways. And one of them is through Firebase. This creative way takes away a major chunk of the burden from the developers’ shoulders.

Launched in the year 2012 April, Firebase is a framework that was anticipated to be a real-time database providing its APIs, letting users save and sync information across various customers. And this was the story when it first got launched. But when it was taken over by Google after 2 years, today, the same Firebase offers various functions that companies might find exceptionally valuable. To our surprise, Firebase has reached to 450, 000 plus developers currently from 110, 000 when it was taken over by Google in the year 2014.

Now, what is a Firebase exactly?

Firebase is a framework which helps in developing websites and web applications for companies across the globe with real-time database and that means when one user updates his or her record in the database, then that particular update would be projected to all users whether it is the website or a web application. This gives a basic and unified platform with rich features so that developers need not configure their server while using Firebase. The framework will take care of everything automatically.

There are a number of components which make working with Firebase excellent from a developer’s eye, which pertain to the core technology of the development. This will help to maintain the state of harmony between the developer and the customer by causing a minimal delay of work.

Now let’s check out some of the top benefits of using Firebase

1. Hosting

Production-grade web content which helps the developers in effectively sending apps and static content to CDN ( content delivery network) by just using one command. The process is extremely easy in Firebase as it consists Auto Provisioned SSL (Security Socket Layer) certificate ideas, Customized domain support, and Global CDN regardless developers are sending a single landing page or a complex web application. Hosting provides the best features and tools that are customized to build and manage static websites.

2. Authentication

Firebase authentication provides instant UI libraries, backend services, simple to utilize SDKs so that you can confirm customers over your app. It supports authentication utilizing username, email ids, or passwords. In addition, developers are allowed to let users sign in to their Firebase application either by utilizing FirebaseUI as a drop in authentication solution or by utilizing the Firebase Authentication SDK to manually incorporate sign-in techniques into the app.

3. Cloud Messaging

A cross-platform messaging solution, Firebase cloud messaging, allows users dependably send messages at literally no cost. You can let a customer know that a new message or another type of information is accessible for synchronization. Also, developers can send notifications to engage users and drive maintenance.

4. Test Lab

Used for testing the app on devices posted in a Google data center, this feature assists developers in finding issues with only happen on specific device configuration. Test Lab result consists of videos, images, logs, etc. that are available in your project in the Firebase console. In addition to that, this feature is capable of practicing your app constantly and will look for crashes even if you didn’t compose any test code for your app.

5. Notifications

Mobile app developers will get focused user notifications. This gives a choice for both developers and companies who are looking for an adaptable notification platform that needs basic coding work to start and a graphical console for sending messages.

6. Invites

Do you want to increase your users and compel them to download your application then word of mouth advertising stands out from the crowd? With the help of this feature, Firebase can actually make it happen. You can easily send customized messages emails and invitations to all your prospective clients.

7. Crash Reporting

This feature will help in creating a detailed report of the error that is categorized into groups of comparative stack flow picked out by the seriousness of impact on users. Apart from that, you can get registered to custom events that will help in figuring out a crash before it even happens.

8. Real-time database

It is a cloud-hosted database. Information will be stored as JSON and can be synchronized continuously to every related customer. This is especially true when you develop cross-platform apps with Android, iOS, JavaScript SDKs, the major role of your client’s demand will be depending on the real-time database example and continuously getting updates with the latest data. By using the Firebase Real-time database feature, there will be no need to build your own database or API as the Framework will be able to manage all the parts which generally come along by creating a backend for applications. It provides a flexible and expression based rules language to describe how organized your data should be and when the data should be scrutinized from or created to.

9. Storage

This feature is developed for application developers who feel the necessity to store and serve user-curated content such as images and videos. This feature provides safe document transfers and downloads for Firebase apps no matter how bad the network quality is. You can use it to save images, audios videos, and other user-curated content. Supported by Google cloud storage, Firebase storage is extremely cost- affordable.

10. Powerful Links

These powerful links will drastically change behavior to give the best user experience across various platforms such as social media networking platforms, emails, or any other promotions to improve user engagement, maintenance, and value to gain end to end insights Into all your development sources via analytics on the Firebase console.

11. App Indexing

By utilizing this feature, you can easily get to index your App in Google search. For example, if your app is already downloaded on a user’s device And whenever he searches for similar content, it will live your application directly from the search page. And if users don’t have your app then it a download button pops up in search results page.

Almost all features can be can be utilized and implemented while using Firebase. However, they have their own restrictions and trade-offs. For instance, unless your app is running over a unified database that is being edited by the various number of users at the same time and the updates are needed to be notified, the utilization of Firebase is not legitimized. As important review features and functions can be run by MySQL database.

Nevertheless, if you have a business app to be built, then Firebase is one of the best options. With effective and result-driven features, Firebase is all you need to launch your application.

Tips To Use Firebase Security Rules To Build Incredible Web Apps

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

Firebase Security Rules control the access that users of your web apps have to read and write your database. The real-time database rules help determine who can use how much data, the structure of your data and how indexes work. Once defined properly, these rules remain active on Firebase servers and are applied automatically all the time. Users’ request to read and write will be fulfilled only if your rules consider it fair and allowable.

Firebase rules recognize authenticated users and allow them full access to your database by default. This sensible approach keeps at bay undesirable access and protects your database from being abused. You can always customize your rules around authentication, though. However, it is not always easy to set up Firebase security rules to protect database. Let’s learn more about all the necessary tips to use Firebase rules for web apps.

Introduction to Firebase security

Firebase real-time security is comprised of handy tools for web app developers to manage the overall security for the app. With Firebase authentication and validation tools running on server, it becomes easy to:

Authenticate users
Limit their access to database
Define permissions
Validate inputs/functions

The quintessential aspect of Firebase-powered apps is that it handles more client-side code unlike other available technology stack in the market. This ensures that your approach to secure your app is unique and deep with strong protective layers within.

The Central Components of Security Rules

There are three major components to Firebase Security rules:

User identification
Data Access Control
Input Validation (to create, read, update & delete Operations)

Once you know user’s identity through Firebase rules, you are allowed to automatically set restrictions for what action they can perform to the database (such as reading, updating or deleting).

The Firebase authentication process involves two options:

1. Firebase UI Auth: This option along with a few good code lines can help establish a complete sign-in system in your app for Web, iOS and Android. It will ask for user email, password, Google+, Facebook, GitHub, etc.

2. Firebase SDK Authentication: This one allows complete freedom to manage authentication based on your choice. You can also opt for Facebook and Google Sign in as Valid Identity providers.

The successful sign-in gives you access to user’s basic profile which is useful while controlling user’s access to stored data.

Firebase Database Rules

The security of Firebase is attributed to powerful JSON-formatted security language. Due to its great flexibility, you can easily access and define rules in Firebase Console using Database->Rules tab.

Firebase Security Rules structure contains syntax like JavaScript and is divided in four types:

.read: Defines when and if users are allowed to read data.

.write: Determines if and when users can write data.

.validate: It defines a value in a correct format and its child attributes and data type.

.indexOn: Specifies a child to index to support ordering and querying.

Firebase Authentication Process

Identifying your users is a basic and the first step when it comes to securing your app. As all users have unique story and profile, their data and capabilities vary from person to person. In chat apps, users are allowed to create messages and delete them if they wish. Deleting messages sent by other users is impossible, though.

Through firebase authentication, users can sign in to your app. It involves popularly used authentication practices with inherent support for Google, Twitter or Facebook along with email login, anonymous log-in, etc.

Authorization

After identifying users, the next step is to limit and control their access to your database. Firebase authentication and Database Rules can be applied to perform data restrictions in several scenarios such as:

Strictly authenticated users can access(read) data
Authenticated users are allowed to only write to his own node
No one can create a new node except users

Built in variables and functions present in the Firebase security rules allow to refer to other paths, authentication information and server-side timestamps. Using similar format of rule that includes user ID obtained from Firebase authentication, you can also grant write access for authenticated users as well.

Data validation Phase

Owing to seamless nature of Firebase database rules, you can easily tweak and apply changes during development process. However, data should remain consistent once your app is finally ready. The validate rule of Firebase is to bring in validation logic with the same expression as used for .read and .write rules. However, validation rules do not cascade and have to be true for .write to come to effect.

Just like .read and .write rules, you can use the same built-in variables and functions to create Validation rules that know all data locations in your database.

Using Predefined Variables

Firebase has certain predefined variables you can find handy to define security rules that restrict, usher, read, write and validate. A few of them are:

auth: Functions as token payload of authenticated users

root : A node that represents the root path in the Firebase database before the attempted operation.

newData : Contains data that exists after the attempted operation

Data : Contains the data that existed before the attempted operation

now:The current time in milliseconds

$ variables:A wildcard path used to represent ids and dynamic child keys.

Defining database indexes

The Firebase Database security makes it possible to order and query data. Indexes are declared with .indexOn rule.

The data of small sizes do not require indexes during development because of ad hoc querying. However, before the app is launched, it is important to specify indexes for your queries so that it will still work when the app is scaled up.

Conclusion:

This blog was our attempt to show how Firebase Database and security appears and works for mobile app and web developers while creating incredible web apps. Hope you will learn a few tips you may need for your next mobile or web app development project. You can always find more details about how to set up and define different security rules for user authentication, authorization and validation by reviewing Firebase Security Rules. If you are trying to build a highly secure, functional and user-friendly app, you can seek collaborative assistance from our company.

An Overview of Firebase Cloud Functions

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

The use of Google cloud platform is not something new nowadays. A large user base are making use of its possibilities to save the device space and access the data anytime they lost their phone data. Have you heard about Google cloud functions, a joint venture of the Firebase and Google Cloud Platform teams?

Back-end code is often required for web and mobile applications to perform actions such as processing long running tasks or sending out notifications. The back end runs on a server in case of conventional approach. This phenomenon is made a lot easier than you can think by using firebase cloud functions in which the back-end code runs in the cloud.

For new users who would like to learn more about firebase cloud functions, here is an overview of its features, working and implementation, capabilities and other advantages that made it the talking point.

What are Firebase cloud functions?

This server less compute solution from Google is ideal for setting up event driven applications. The cloud functions in fact help to run backend code automatically as a reaction to the triggered events. And cloud functions for firebase is exclusively for firebase developers that enable them to add server-side code to integrate its features. A collaboration of HTTPS requests and Firebase features lets you trigger events. The Google’s cloud will store your code and a managed environment runs it. So you can be free from the role of managing and scaling the servers of your own.

Integration with Firebase platform:

The use of cloud functions together with Admin SDK lets the integration across firebase features. For third party services integration, there is option to write web hooks on your own. As the cloud functions lessen the boilerplate code, it gives way for easily using Google Cloud and Firebase within your function. The written functions can respond well to events by other Google Cloud and Firebase features.

Types of triggers:

When you write a function, it can respond to events created by Google Cloud features and Firebase which are termed as triggers.

Some of the most common triggers include:

Realtime Database Triggers: In this case, users can respond well to changes that occur in the Firebase Real-time Database.
Firebase Authentication Triggers: At the time a user account is created or deleted, code is executed in response through Firebase authentication. This trigger gets invoked in many cases such as a user sets up an account and password, a user signs in for the initial time with federated identity provider and more.
HTTP Triggers: At times of an HTTP request, such triggers are invoked.
Cloud Storage Triggers: A firebase cloud function is executed in case files and folders are uploaded, updated, or deleted in Google Cloud Storage.

Some of the other triggers include Cloud Pub/Sub Triggers, Cloud Firestore Triggers and Crashlytics Triggers.

A function’s lifecycle

The cycle starts off with writing codes for a novel function by the developer. Followed by that, an event provider will be selected. The conditions are then defined according to which the execution of function happens. The function is then deployed by the developer and Firebase takes the role of connecting to the chosen event provider.

Here are the probable step wise happenings of the rest of the function’s cycle:

The code gets evoked once the function’s conditions matches the event generated by event provider
The instances get cleaned up in case the function remains idle
More instances are created by Google in case many events are handled by functions making them busy
Once the updated code gets deployed by developer to update function, the older version instances get cleaned up and new instances replace them
In case the function gets deleted by the developer, it is followed by cleaning up of instances. The connection or link between the event provider and function also gets removed.

Implementation path

This phase involves three main sections including setting up of cloud functions, followed by writing functions and finally deploying and monitoring.

Let us see in detail:

The Firebase CLI is installed at first. In the particular Firebase project, the cloud functions are initialized.

JavaScript code is written in order to manage events from Google Cloud services, Firebase services and other similar event providers.

The functions are finally deployed by making use of the Firebase CLI. The Firebase console can be used to see and look for through the logs.

Privacy and security

It is common that developers look to power over application logic in server in order to keep away from interference from the client side. As here it is completely insulated from the client side; that is not a problem with Firebase cloud functions. You can be sure about keeping up the privacy and follow what exactly is needed.

Zero maintenance

The maintenance part is the headache for the users handling all platforms but the case is different in Firebase cloud functions which has zero maintenance. All what you have to do is to set out your TypeScript or JavaScript code to the servers with just a single command. Firebase will do the rest by automatically scaling up computing resources to synchronize with the users’ usage patterns. Unlike other platforms, there is nothing to think hard regarding server configuration, provisioning new servers, credentials, or decommissioning old server.

Running code in cloud- key benefits:

When the code is running in the cloud instead of the traditional approach, you can come across various advantages:

There is no necessity for you to run your own server and maintain it.
In case of the back-end code, an isolated code base can be used
The billing is done only for the code’s real executing time
High scalability is possible in case of the cloud infrastructure

More use cases with firebase cloud functions:

Apart from the many advantages and benefits when using firebase cloud functions, here you can see the possible user cases:

User notifications are send out at times of events
Welcome email is send out at time of a user sign up
Confirmation emails are send out in case the users subscribe or unsubscribe
In order to make the data base clean and up to date, Real-time Database Tasks are performed which are automated
In case a user deletes his account, the contents are deleted from the database
For a Real-time Database list, the count of elements are tracked
Intensive tasks are executed in the cloud itself and not in your data base
At the time of uploading of an image into the database, thumbnails for the same are generated automatically
Bulk emails can be send to users for particular cases
Even in cases of third party services, integration is possible
In case of insertion of text into the Real-time Database, Google Translate service helps with the translation
Payments are processed in a lot easier way

Firebase cloud functions have in fact set the technology world on fire with its innovative technologies and the way it has positively impacted the whole scenario. In short words, this innovative cloud functions just remain as a folder in your project which contains an index file and their own node modules.

You can simply run your back-end code without giving a second thought. However, organizing them can get messy if you follow an unstructured way. The most accepted solution is to name the files by the way in which it triggers and you can get the most out of this innovative solution.

13 Best Parse Alternative Services for Mobile Apps Database 2020

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Super Admin Testreveal

Parse is an Open-Source BaaS (Backend-as-a-Service) platform and a part of the Software Development Kit (SDK) that will enable developers to build a mobile backend for all sort of apps. These apps can run on Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, Android and iOS. Parse not only assists developers to deploy apps quickly, it can also effortlessly bring down boiler plate code when attempting to update apps with additional features.

This backend tool named Parse shares its name with Parse Inc., a company that was acquired by Facebook which later announced the closing down of its services by January 2017. Thus, if you are on the lookout for time-tested and reliable substitutes of Parse, here are 13 app development options that can be availed by you in 2018.

1. Appcelerator

If you as a mobile app developer are looking for an all-in-one platform that will become an instrument to churn out mobile API, you can check out Appcelerator. Through Appcelerator, you can not only deliver native apps but also offer real-time analytics. Tagged as a cross-platform tool, Appcelerator employs JavaScript through which developers can offer a host of features to users.

Along with push notifications, you can also stay connected with data sources and provide custom analytics which are linked to User Interface. Founded in 2006, Appcelerator is the new kid on the block of Axway; a B2B company that acquired Appcelerator.

2. Built.io

Promising integrated platforms and back-end services, Built.io helps mobile app developers come up with amazing user experiences. Launched in 2007, Built.io can be deployed on VMware vCloud Air, Amazon Web Services and IBM SoftLayer. While this is an MBaaS platform, you can also churn out content management solutions through Built.io.

Incorporating pluggable architecture that facilitates custom-made projects, it is through Built.io that you can meet your business needs. You can bank upon this back-end choice to come up with APIs that can be connected with the overall ecosystem of enterprises.

3. AnyPresence

Launched in 2010, AnyPresence is an enterprise platform facilitating digital transformation. It is through its BaaS concept that developers can come up with cross-platform applications. Allowing you to offer application programing interfaces, AnyPresence has been making its strong presence felt as a patronized enterprise-level app.

A higher-level enterprise coupled with strong customer support and developer features are the hallmark of this tool.

4. Kii

Recognized as a single-window full stack platform for all your app and smart device requirements, Kii is poised to deliver greater user experiences. You can employ the mobile backend services of Kii to deliver scalable and high-performing mobile apps that can run on multiple operating systems.

Kii is a comprehensive option which can help you develop, scale and test alongside optimize your requirements and implement them. With Kii, you can substantially cut down your mobile app development period, which in turn helps you cut down operational and developmental costs.

5. CloudMine

If you are looking to build a healthcare application in a short time without any financial hardships, then CloudMine can be your top bet. All thanks to the Micro-services and SDKs offered by CloudMine that you can not only cut down your development time but can also secure your data storage.

Tagged as a Platform-as-a-Service option, CloudMine brings to the table a host of features including advanced analytics, big data processing, data normalization, real-time streaming and self-serviced data recovery. Partnering with Apprenda, a PaaS provider, CloudMine which was launched in 2011 is a top choice for building engaging mobile apps that are driven to add value to your healthcare business.

6. Appery

Next in the list of alternatives to Parse is Appery; a choice that will help you create new RESTful APIs which require very little programming in MySQL, SAP, Oracle, SharePoint or LDAP. Identified as an Enterprise Level MBaaS platform, Appery helps you come out with secure, reliable and scalable online apps that can be seamlessly deployed across premise servers.

Proud of its state-of-the-art technologies, Appery can become your first choice to build mobile web apps and hybrid apps that promise a superior user experience. Catering to the development needs of over 300,000 global developers, Appery offers MBaaS mobile backend services along with server code, push notifications and database functions.

7. Kony

In keeping with the next-gen needs of the banking industry, Kony which was incorporated in 2007 offers digital banking experiences through its industry-specific apps. Tagged as a leading enterprise mobility company, Kony makes its strong presence felt in the sphere of mobile application development. Kony is a trusted name amongst global banking clients looking to offer custom-made digitized solutions.

While you can build multi-channel apps with Kony, you can also deliver them at a rocket speed. Mindful of agility, flexibility and security, Kony comes as a blessing to financial institutions through its unique Mobile Fabric MBaaS Integration feature.

8. Telerik

To offer modern User Interface (UI) to all its clients is the unwritten promise kept up by Telerik at all times. Through Telerik, you can build up-to-date user interface for mobile apps. Making use of JavaScript and .Net, Telerik blends the capabilities of productivity and reporting tools that are patronized by over 2.1 million developers from across the globe.

Set up with stringent security and encryption measures, Telerik can handhold enterprises eyeing to scale their operations. Global giants like Dell, Microsoft, Sony and IBM are the esteemed clients of Telerik.

9. Kumulos

If it is your dream to deliver simple yet affordable and powerful mobile apps through an effective mobile app performance platform, then Kumulos can be your top choice. Identified as a one-stop-shop to manage the performance of commercial and technical mobile apps, Kumulos helps you derive the best business results.

Through push notifications, you can assist your clients build and implement marketing campaigns that will attract the attention of new customers. Incorporating the Backend-as-a-Service concept, Kumulos is built on MBaaS technology has the support of KScript, RESTful API and Hookup as part of mobile SDK.

10. Kinvey

Another alternative that is very close to the functionalities of Parse is Kinvey; a leading mobile app development platform. Established in 2010, Kinvey can build mission-specific apps which can digitize your entire business without any hassles.

Kinvey brings a lot to your table in the form of Cloud storage, customized business logic and push notifications.

11. FireBase

Firebase comes with a plethora of benefits. With a commitment to deliver better mobile apps that will help you grow your business, FireBase keeps up this promise at all times. Built on Google infrastructure, FireBase provides databases, analytics along with crash reporting and messaging services.

For all those developers who are looking to sync their web-based and mobile apps with real-time data, Firebase comes as a top pick. Along with authentication, Firebase offers static hosting; a feature that makes it a typical replacement for Parse.

12. SkyGear

Looking to build apps on a reliable backend? Then, look no further and sign up with Skygear; an open-source SDK for web, IoT and mobile apps. Equipped with a plethora of backend functions, Skygear, an MBaaS platform simplifies the task of adding new features to your existing apps. The luxury of building apps faster makes Skygear stand out from other platforms. It is through a simple click that you can launch your application, without getting bogged down by deployment issues.

With Skygear as a perfect substitute for Parse, you can add a long list of reusable plugins and effortlessly code chat apps along with messenger bots and social platforms.

13. Backendless

Founded in 2012, Backendless is another MBaaS platform that can substitute Parse. If you are looking to develop mobile apps backed by a powerful cloud backend, then it is time you check out the functionalities of Backendless. Offering a perfect blend of reliable and secure hosting services, Backendless delivers the best file storage solutions to its clients. With Backendless, you can not only generate dynamic content but can also store static files.

Specially designed for enterprisesrunning on venture capital, Backendless offers scalable app solutions that not only streamline but also accelerate your application development.

Closing Thoughts

It will not be an overstatement to quote that the mobile app development is a limitless domain, characterized by rapid changes. Poised for an exponential growth, this territory of mobile app development is dictated by state-of-the-art tools which will eventually push the demand for mobile apps. Since Parse is no longer an option to you, you as a developer will benefit a great deal by weighing the benefits of the above-mentioned tools that will come handy in 2018.