The Firebase SDK for Apple platforms provides developers with a comprehensive suite of tools to build, grow, and monetize applications on iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, Catalyst, and visionOS. It offers seamless integration with the Firebase backend services, enabling features like authentication, real-time databases, cloud storage, analytics, and more, directly within Apple applications.

How It Works

This repository houses the source code for various Firebase services tailored for Apple platforms, excluding Firebase Analytics. It is designed as a modular SDK, allowing developers to integrate only the necessary components. The SDKs are distributed via standard Apple development package managers, facilitating straightforward inclusion into Xcode projects and supporting diverse development workflows.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Primary methods include CocoaPods (recommended, see https://firebase.google.com/docs/ios/setup), Swift Package Manager (see SwiftPackageManager.md), GitHub repository (for specific branches/commits), and Carthage (experimental, see Carthage.md).
• Development Prerequisites: Xcode 16.2 or later, CocoaPods 1.12.0 or later.
• Links: Official setup guide: https://firebase.google.com/docs/ios/setup.

Highlighted Details

• Multi-Platform Support: Offers official beta support for macOS, Catalyst, and tvOS, with community support for visionOS and watchOS.
• Firebase Dynamic Links: This service is deprecated and will shut down on August 25, 2025.
• Firebase AI Logic: Includes specific instructions for building and testing the AI Logic SDK.
• FirebaseCombineSwift: Provides experimental support for Apple's Combine framework, currently not recommended for production use.

Maintenance & Community

• Roadmap: Public plans and directions are available via the Roadmap link.
• Contributing: Guidelines for contributing to the project are detailed in the Contributing document.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: Apache License, version 2.0.
• Terms: Usage is governed by the Firebase Services Terms of Service. Compatibility for commercial use is generally permissive under the Apache 2.0 license, but users should review the full terms.

Limitations & Caveats

• Firebase Dynamic Links is deprecated.
• watchOS has limited support for Crashlytics (no mach exceptions/signal crashes) and push notifications (requires physical devices; simulators do not support remote notifications).
• visionOS requires using the source distribution for Firestore when installed via Swift Package Manager.
• FirebaseCombineSwift is experimental and not production-ready.
• iOS Simulators cannot register for remote notifications.