Firebase messaging feature for MVP
Hi guys, I have seen a few posts on how many different indie hackers use firebase to quickly make a backend for their MVP's. This would particularly help me as I don't have much back end experience. So would firebase be suitable for a real time chat app that allows users to add friends, have multiple people in group chats etc. I am also trying to think about how big that data base will become as two people alone can send thousands of messages between them. I know the firebase data base is real time which is great as one of the features I wish to have is the users to be able to display their online or offline presence. What do you guys think?
Thank You in advance.
If you mainly look for a chat tools you can also check out for example those chat SDKs:
https://www.twilio.com/docs/chat
https://getstream.io/chat/
I haven't used them myself, but looks interesting imo.
Firebase real time db, or firestore, are definitely a good implementation option for making a messaging app as in it will have all the bells and whistles you need to get it done.
But you've already hit the nail on the head, it's too expensive to hold that much data from a chat app. I'd use their Blaze plan pricing calculator since it's really simple, but in general if you're expecting real high volume it's unrealistic for an indie hacker imo.
I also use firebase RTDB for an alumni database, but it's not a ton of data since it's just for profiles. And there profile data doesn't grow fast.
My experience of Firebase using is a bit different, but I suppose it's a right choice for you.