Firebase Vs. AWS: Exploring the Core Features, Pros and Cons

Everything You Need to Know About Firebase

What is Firebase?

Google owns Firebase, a backend as a service (BaaS). Firebase platform is a comprehensive cloud-based application development platform providing developers with a range of tools and services to facilitate the development, maintenance, and enhancement of mobile and web applications.

Firebase Features to Support Web and Mobile Applications

Firebase is a service platform aimed at helping developers build, develop, and optimize mobile and web applications. The platform does so by providing its users with a range of attractive core features.

Real-time Database

Firebase is not a regular database. It is a live database that automatically synchronizes your saved data with every connected customer. Other than data synchronization, Firebase Realtime Database SDKs offer offline support - which means your user’s device will automatically be synched once they go online. The database can also be accessed from any device - be it iOS, Android, or the web.

Remote Config

Firebase Remote Config stores key-value pairs on Firebase’s cloud. They can be used to change the functionality or design of your app. The beauty of Firebase Remote Config is that you can update these KVPs on your Firebase console whenever you want, and the changes will show up in your app almost instantly.

Cloud Storage

Developers can store their content on Firebase Cloud Storage, which is built based on Google Cloud Platform technology. This feature offers a scalable, secure, and strong storage for its developers.

Hosting

If you’re looking for a fast, safe, and dependable way to host all your static assets for your app, Firebase Hosting is the way to go. It’s got all the bells and whistles you need to make sure your users can get to your app no matter where in the world they are, and it’s designed to do it all over a global CDN (Content Delivery Network).

Other notable features of Google Firebase include the various Firebase extensions to support mobile and web development, cloud functions to run backend codes, and a variety of user authentication methods.

Pros

In addition to the numerous attractive and modern features Firebase provides, there are also a number of other advantages that come with it.

• Lower Cost: Firebase generally has lower costs compared to AWS, as it also offers different pricing models. Therefore, it is suitable for start-ups or small teams. You can start using Firebase for free.
• Strong Community Support: With its growing popularity, Firebase has created a strong developer community. Therefore, if you need help, there is a large community ready to answer your questions.
• Managed Services: Firebase is a managed service, so you wouldn’t have to worry about taking care of the infrastructure. You also won’t have to worry about scaling up or down since Firebase already has you covered.
• Smart Technology: Firebase, though a lot younger than AWS, is utilizing smarter technologies. For instance, Google Analytics is making Firebase smarter.
• Speedy Development Process: Firebase offers developers a full range of backend development services that streamline and expedite the development process. If you require Android app development services or are working with a reputable Android development company, Firebase is a great option.

Cons

If you are interested in Firebase, you also need to keep in mind its following disadvantages.

• Less iOS Support: Unlike the extensive support the platform provides to Android, there are a number of limitations when it comes to iOS. This could easily be a deal breaker for many.
• Limited Backend Services: Despite being a great platform, developers are dependent on the platform since the use of backend services is restricted.
• Limited Data Migration: Transferring data on Firebase isn’t an easy task. You don’t have many options if you want to change the backend of the application, thus coming back to the disadvantage of being dependent on the platform.
• Query Handling: Firebase is not great at handling queries. You will not be able to send more than one query for a single key.

Everything You Need to Know About AWS

What Is AWS?

Amazon Web Services, or AWS, is the world’s most comprehensive cloud platform. It’s used by many Fortune 500 companies and provides over 180 service offerings from data centers around the globe.

AWS Features to Support Mobile and Web Applications

AWS offers a massive number of services. They are offered from numerous data centers across 87 availability zones in regions all across the world. These services can be configured per users’ needs. In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the core ones.

Storage

S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a scalable object storage service offered by Amazon. S3 supports data backup, data collection, and data analytics. IT professionals store data and files in S3 buckets (up to 5GB) to store them in an organized manner.

Databases and Data Management

AWS provides an array of relational databases for AWS users. These include Oracle Database Service, MariaDB Database Service, MySQL Database Service, etc.

Developer Tools

AWS provides its users with many software development kits (SDKs) to manage applications and services. AWS SDKs are also available for different platforms like Ruby, Node.js, Python, and Android. Amazon API Gateway helps development teams create, manage, and track custom API calls that give applications access to data or features from the backend. API Gateway handles thousands of API calls at a time.

Serverless Cloud Functions

Amazon API and Gateway support people by running and bridging their code. All you have to do is upload the codes using a device. People do not manage the servers, as the entire process is managed by AWS. Developers only need to work on the operation. The maintenance is taken care of by AWS, too.

Pros

As a trusted platform, AWS brings to the table numerous benefits.

• Reliable APIs: Your infrastructure is supported by reliable AWS APIs in many different programming languages. After all, it is considered one of the most trustworthy service providers that is ready to cater to its user’s needs, be it backups or working on a new component.
• Secure: AWS is known for both its high-performance computing and its security. AWS is built to be the strongest, safest, most dependable, and most flexible cloud computing platform out there. AWS core infrastructure was built with the security requirements of the world’s most vulnerable businesses in mind
• Cost-effective: Considering that AWS is not a managed service, it is often not as expensive as Firebase.
• Scalability and Flexibility: As a self-hosting option, when compared to Firebase, AWS is much more flexible. AWS lets its users move to different services without any difficulties. It is also a highly scalable service, offering users convenient options.

Cons

Like any other computing, you need to keep in mind some of its weaknesses:

• Cloud Computing Glitches: Despite being the preferred platform of many giants in the industry, AWS still experiences unwanted glitches involving backup protection, speed, limited control, and downtime.
• Amazon’s EC2 Limitations: Your location or region determines the number of resources that are available to you. With AWS, you cannot have too many resources. The number of instances allowed to run simultaneously is limited by EC2. Each region has its own limit, which can be increased or decreased via the limits page or by contacting EC2 support. Both the overall number of instances as well as the number of different types of instances are restricted by EC2.
• Lack of AWS Experts: Although there are many resources, tutorials, and videos on learning how to use AWS, you cannot find many AWS experts in the market.