Top Related Projects
Google Cloud Client Library for Node.js
AWS SDK for JavaScript in the browser and Node.js
Parse Server for Node.js / Express
An isomorphic Javascript client for Supabase. Query your Supabase database, subscribe to realtime events, upload and download files, browse typescript examples, invoke postgres functions via rpc, invoke supabase edge functions, query pgvector.
Quick Overview
Firebase Admin Node.js SDK is an official library that enables server-side integration with Firebase services. It provides a set of tools for developers to interact with Firebase features such as Authentication, Realtime Database, Cloud Firestore, and Cloud Messaging from Node.js applications.
Pros
- Comprehensive access to Firebase services from server-side applications
- Strong typing support with TypeScript
- Official support and regular updates from Firebase team
- Seamless integration with other Google Cloud services
Cons
- Requires careful management of credentials and security rules
- Learning curve for developers new to Firebase ecosystem
- Limited offline capabilities compared to client-side SDKs
- Potential for increased costs with heavy server-side usage
Code Examples
- Initializing the Firebase Admin SDK:
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
const serviceAccount = require('./path/to/serviceAccountKey.json');
admin.initializeApp({
credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
databaseURL: 'https://your-project-id.firebaseio.com'
});
- Authenticating a user and creating a custom token:
async function createCustomToken(uid) {
try {
const customToken = await admin.auth().createCustomToken(uid);
console.log('Custom token created:', customToken);
return customToken;
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error creating custom token:', error);
}
}
- Writing data to Firestore:
async function addUser(userId, userData) {
try {
const userRef = admin.firestore().collection('users').doc(userId);
await userRef.set(userData);
console.log('User added successfully');
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error adding user:', error);
}
}
Getting Started
-
Install the Firebase Admin SDK:
npm install firebase-admin
-
Download your Firebase project's service account key from the Firebase Console.
-
Initialize the SDK in your Node.js application:
const admin = require('firebase-admin'); const serviceAccount = require('./path/to/serviceAccountKey.json'); admin.initializeApp({ credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount), databaseURL: 'https://your-project-id.firebaseio.com' });
-
You can now use the
admin
object to interact with Firebase services in your application.
Competitor Comparisons
Google Cloud Client Library for Node.js
Pros of google-cloud-node
- Broader scope, covering the entire Google Cloud Platform
- More comprehensive documentation and examples
- Regular updates and active community support
Cons of google-cloud-node
- Steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set
- Potentially larger package size and dependencies
Code Comparison
firebase-admin-node:
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
admin.initializeApp();
const db = admin.firestore();
const docRef = db.collection('users').doc('alovelace');
await docRef.set({name: 'Ada Lovelace', age: 30});
google-cloud-node:
const {Firestore} = require('@google-cloud/firestore');
const firestore = new Firestore();
const docRef = firestore.collection('users').doc('alovelace');
await docRef.set({name: 'Ada Lovelace', age: 30});
Both repositories provide Node.js SDKs for interacting with Google services, but they serve different purposes. firebase-admin-node is specifically tailored for Firebase services, offering a more streamlined experience for Firebase-centric applications. On the other hand, google-cloud-node covers a wider range of Google Cloud Platform services, making it more versatile for complex cloud-based projects.
The code comparison shows that while the basic operations are similar, firebase-admin-node provides a slightly more concise initialization process. However, google-cloud-node offers more granular control over service initialization and configuration.
AWS SDK for JavaScript in the browser and Node.js
Pros of aws-sdk-js
- Broader range of services: Covers the entire AWS ecosystem
- More mature and established: Longer development history and larger community
- Extensive documentation and examples available
Cons of aws-sdk-js
- Steeper learning curve: More complex due to the wide range of services
- Larger package size: Can increase application bundle size
- Requires more configuration and setup compared to Firebase
Code Comparison
firebase-admin-node:
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
admin.initializeApp();
const db = admin.firestore();
const docRef = db.collection('users').doc('alovelace');
await docRef.set({name: 'Ada Lovelace', age: 30});
aws-sdk-js:
const AWS = require('aws-sdk');
AWS.config.update({region: 'us-west-2'});
const dynamodb = new AWS.DynamoDB.DocumentClient();
const params = {TableName: 'Users', Item: {userId: 'alovelace', name: 'Ada Lovelace', age: 30}};
await dynamodb.put(params).promise();
Both SDKs provide similar functionality for interacting with their respective databases, but aws-sdk-js requires more setup and configuration. firebase-admin-node offers a more straightforward API for common operations, while aws-sdk-js provides greater flexibility and control over AWS services.
Parse Server for Node.js / Express
Pros of Parse Server
- Open-source and self-hosted, offering full control over data and infrastructure
- More flexible and customizable, allowing for deeper modifications
- Free to use, with no usage limits or pricing tiers
Cons of Parse Server
- Requires more setup and maintenance compared to Firebase's managed service
- Smaller ecosystem and community support
- May have a steeper learning curve for beginners
Code Comparison
Parse Server:
const express = require('express');
const ParseServer = require('parse-server').ParseServer;
const app = express();
const api = new ParseServer({
databaseURI: 'mongodb://localhost:27017/dev',
appId: 'myAppId',
masterKey: 'myMasterKey',
serverURL: 'http://localhost:1337/parse'
});
app.use('/parse', api);
Firebase Admin Node:
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
const serviceAccount = require('./path/to/serviceAccountKey.json');
admin.initializeApp({
credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
databaseURL: 'https://your-project.firebaseio.com'
});
Both repositories provide backend services for mobile and web applications. Parse Server offers more control and customization but requires more setup, while Firebase Admin Node provides a managed service with easier integration but less flexibility. The code examples show the initial setup for each platform, highlighting the differences in configuration and initialization.
An isomorphic Javascript client for Supabase. Query your Supabase database, subscribe to realtime events, upload and download files, browse typescript examples, invoke postgres functions via rpc, invoke supabase edge functions, query pgvector.
Pros of supabase-js
- Open-source and self-hostable, offering more control and flexibility
- Built on PostgreSQL, providing powerful relational database capabilities
- Offers real-time subscriptions out of the box
Cons of supabase-js
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Firebase
- Less mature and may have fewer features in certain areas
- Limited built-in analytics and crash reporting tools
Code Comparison
supabase-js
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'
const supabase = createClient('YOUR_SUPABASE_URL', 'YOUR_SUPABASE_KEY')
const { data, error } = await supabase
.from('users')
.select('*')
.eq('id', 123)
firebase-admin-node
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
admin.initializeApp({
credential: admin.credential.applicationDefault()
});
const db = admin.firestore();
const userRef = db.collection('users').doc('123');
const doc = await userRef.get();
Both libraries provide easy-to-use APIs for interacting with their respective databases. supabase-js uses a more SQL-like syntax for querying data, while firebase-admin-node follows a document-based approach. The choice between them often depends on specific project requirements and developer preferences.
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Firebase Admin Node.js SDK
Table of Contents
Overview
Firebase provides the tools and infrastructure you need to develop your app, grow your user base, and earn money. The Firebase Admin Node.js SDK enables access to Firebase services from privileged environments (such as servers or cloud) in Node.js.
For more information, visit the Firebase Admin SDK setup guide.
Installation
The Firebase Admin Node.js SDK is available on npm as firebase-admin
:
$ npm install --save firebase-admin
To use the module in your application, require
it from any JavaScript file:
const { initializeApp } = require("firebase-admin/app");
initializeApp();
If you are using ES2015, you can import
the module instead:
import { initializeApp } from "firebase-admin/app";
initializeApp();
Contributing
Please refer to the CONTRIBUTING page for more information about how you can contribute to this project. We welcome bug reports, feature requests, code review feedback, and also pull requests.
Supported Environments
We support Node.js 14 and higher. However, Node.js 14 and 16 support is deprecated. We strongly encourage you to use Node.js 18 or higher as we will drop support for Node.js 14 and 16 in the next major version.
Please also note that the Admin SDK should only be used in server-side/back-end environments controlled by the app developer. This includes most server and serverless platforms (both on-premise and in the cloud). It is not recommended to use the Admin SDK in client-side environments.
Documentation
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the team at Casetext for transferring
ownership of the firebase-admin
npm module over to the Firebase team
and for their longtime use and support of the Firebase platform.
License
Firebase Admin Node.js SDK is licensed under the Apache License, version 2.0.
Your use of Firebase is governed by the Terms of Service for Firebase Services.
Top Related Projects
Google Cloud Client Library for Node.js
AWS SDK for JavaScript in the browser and Node.js
Parse Server for Node.js / Express
An isomorphic Javascript client for Supabase. Query your Supabase database, subscribe to realtime events, upload and download files, browse typescript examples, invoke postgres functions via rpc, invoke supabase edge functions, query pgvector.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot