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Do we really need Firebase in 2023?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxSRHthSXzc

A lot of open-source Firebase alternatives are available in the market right now, such as Appwrite, Supabase, and PocketBase. Do we really need Firebase in 2023?

submitted this linkon December 25, 2022
  1. 5

    Yes, we need Firebase for non-side-project apps. Firebase has many product offerings that support rapid app development, such as Analytics, Crashlytics, Remote Config, Firestore, and Cloud Functions, to name just a few.

    Once you get product market fit, you can explore options. Many of the products are free or have a generous free tier. With all respect to the alternatives you mentioned, there is something to be said about the stability and reach of a vendor.

    As a developer, I value accurate documentation, meaningful code samples, predictable API/SDK, and availability of support when considering technology tools or stacks. And for those reasons, I think that I, for one, still need Firebase for my projects and my client projects.

    1. 3

      Firebase provides a variety of tools for quick app development, but it's important to also consider the potential drawbacks. One such downside is the potential for vendor lock-in, as switching to another platform or stack after building an app with Firebase can be challenging. The Firebase Realtime Database may also be limited in terms of its scalability and data structure, making it less suitable for larger or more complicated projects. Additionally, Google has a history of discontinuing popular projects (https://killedbygoogle.com/), which could be a concern for those relying on Firebase.

    2. 1

      Completely agree! As someone who uses Firebase in every project, I may be a bit biased, but the reason I haven't switched is that I know I get the upkeep of Google Cloud and the documentation of, well, Google Cloud.

      Firebase is like AWS, but more user-friendly, and AWS runs 50% of the internet, so yes, we need Firebase.

  2. 1

    There is no doubt Aryan that Firebase is doing great but it still has many drawbacks due to which you should consider its alternatives in 2023. Likewise, Firebase is still closed-source in 2023 and development teams prefer using open-source computing platforms. Similarly, the data security of Firebase-based applications is questionable because Google uses these analytics for different purposes.

    On the contrary, it is hard to migrate from Firebase to other cloud platforms because of its vendor lock-in policy. Even you can't use other than Google Cloud products when you need third-party integrations and assistance. All in all, programming teams and businesses that are not happy with Firebase must consider these https://digitalcruch.com/firebase-alternatives/ alternatives. However, I don't think you mentioned the most suitable choices here.

    In my opinion, AWS Amplify, Back4App, Appwrite, Parse and Heroku are the best fit in this regard.