I have 2 android apps and a web app catering two user groups,
android app + web app for mostly writing data to the database
another android app for retrieving these data
I need my applications connected to the same database, I want to know whether this is possible with Firebase and is considered valid.
I've seen older posts with workarounds but I need to know whether the new Firebase version supports this out of the box.
This is my first time trying to integrate Firebase into one of my projects therefore some guidance on achieving this task would be really useful.
Thanks!
As long as I can remember Firebase supported this even before the "new Firebase 2.0". Following just an excerpt taken of the Realtime Database feature list:
A cloud-hosted NoSQL database. Data is stored as JSON, synced across
connected devices in milliseconds, and available when your app goes
offline.
Accessible directly from client SDKs, or from your server with the REST API
tl;dr
That's totally possible with Firebase.
Related
So I have a project that I'm making which is An Android Application, which takes provides information taken from API Server (Laravel 5.x) and also provides live-chat feature
What I'm not sure of doing is how to handle the live-chat feature. Currently here's how the chat system works (keep in mind, there is also a Web App which provides the same feature, that I'm willing to change) :
User type chat and sends it. The client (Android app or Web App) sends it to the API Server. which then saves it to the database.
Then the API Server (which is connected to mysql database server) sends in email / notification which based on the other user's configuration.
When the other User opens the chat, it will call the API Server (which is connected to mysql database server) asking if there's an update every 3 seconds.
if there is, then (Android App or Web App) will show the new chat.
Now first of all I know that this is not efficient, bad on performance, etc.
Now I want to try and use firebase database for realtime chat.
Now, I really want to use the API Server for logging and storing Chat info inside my own database because of some legacy Android App which takes a long time to work on.
which is the better scenario :
The Android App directly sends new chat information to Firebase Database
The Android App sends new chat information to API Server. Then the API Server sends it to Firebase Database
Is there a better way to do this
so which is the better way to do this?
I would highly recommend using the firebase firestore. It sounds like it would solve the best of both worlds. Nosql json storage format is great for a chat app. Also the data is "live" so it will loosen for a change and update the user sides data. Saving you the 3 sec call resources. Last I checked it was still in beta but I used it top make an app that lets you create plus and live pools and it wad pretty smooth. It does take a bit to wrap your head around though.
Is it possible that I store my SQLite table over a dropbox account and have all my users sync their tables with the stored table? Also be able to make changes to that table?
Your approach could work in theory, but there are so many issues involved, that you're better off not doing it. If you wish to store and make data available across all devices belonging to a user, I strongly recommend looking into Datastore API by Dropbox. The API will take care of storing data locally as well as synchronize it over connected Dropbox accounts.
If you want a bit modular approach, you can use Windows Azure Mobile Services. These give you REST APIs to store your data in cloud. However, synchronization has to be handled by the developer - you. I have written a small library to do that here: http://bit.ly/ProjectMirror It's for Windows Phone, but Android version is already in a sister repo there. You could extend it. Let us know how that goes.
In addition to these services, Parse SDK is a good option. It requires you to pay after a while, though. In addition to what you want to do, it also provides other things like user management and so on. But, be aware that some of those operations may require you a live Internet connection.
So, in essence, if you want seamless data storage and sync, use Datastore. Be aware that you'll have no control over the server side. Also, your data will be restricted to the Dropbox ecosystem forever. If you plan on further expanding your app to other platforms, go with Azure and handle the sync. If you want lots of features, go with the Parse.
I would suggest looking into Google Play Game Services using the Cloud Save feature. Even if you are not building a game this feature lets you sync sqlite data in the cloud and Google will handle most of the work for you.
OR you could use a cloud based database which supports both push and pull. That means:
Scenario 1:
Your users change something on their phones. Changes are uploaded to the database. The database then pushes these changes to all other users.
Scenario 2:
Your users change something and upload this to the database. But instead of the cloud based server pushing the changes to all users, the users phones can ask the database for new data at intervals.
All this is very easy to set up. It took me about five, ten minutes. Just follow this easy tutorial:
https://parse.com/docs/android_guide
and for push:
https://parse.com/tutorials/android-push-notifications
We now use this for our company app, storing statistics for example.
Bear in mind that syncing can become complex. Try to keep it very simple, especially if you are new at programming.
I am planing to implement an app and I have come to a point where I don't know what is the best approach.
Scenario:
I have an app where I am making a todo list and I am adding 3 items. I use my phone for this.
Then I take my tablet and want to continue adding another task. Then after a while I take my wife's phone and want to add 2 new tasks.
Basically I want to have a very simple way of storing the tasks online and be able to sync it with the app.
I am seeing two possible ways:
have a web server with a database + web service calls. This has the disadvantage of having a host paid, learn some extra mysql + web service techniques.
store somehow the data on cloud and allow the app by login to access an account which stores the file. I am thinking here at something like Google Drive / Dropbox. But I don't know how I would be able to sync only the updated values, not the whole file. Because I am thinking, if I store all the tasks into one file, each time I update the file, I'll need to upload it fully, which is not the best approach.
I am open to any advices. What approach would you recommend ?
There's also Google Drive's "Application Data" folder.
https://developers.google.com/drive/android/appfolder
This has the advantage of using the user's storage space.
I would look into either Google App Engine or Amazon Web Services. They both give you free allotment of usage per month and if you go over then you start paying, chances are you wont get past the free tier for a while.
AWS is a bit more mature than GAE currently and seemed to be a bit easier to implement that GAE was when I was researching them
Take a look at the new training class for sync adapters:
http://developer.android.com/training/sync-adapters/index.html for the basics of sending data from your device to a server.
On the Android device, I suggest you store your tasks in a content provider. This helps you keep track of updates since the last time you synced. You can then query the provider during your sync, send only the data that's been updated, and store the data on the server.
You should probably store the last update time on the device, so you can tell if the server contains data that isn't yet on the device. Remember that you'll have to download tasks as well if you want all devices to be in sync.
You can try Google's Firebase. Firebase provides SDK for Android and iOS devices. And also, firebase supports offline and syncing. Firebase also provides object storage service. It easier to create firebase app than you think. Have look at this firebase's firestore service.
You can take a look at our Rethync framework (freeware with source) . Using it you can simplify the task of detecting modifications and sync only updated data. Next, Rethync provides both client- and server-side API so you can create your own service (and host it on the web side) or you can write your own transport for the cloud service of your choice (we will provide some transports in future, they are under development now).
Hi I want to sync android database with web database, my scenario is:
I want to make an android app dictionary. The dictionary words are added by web forms and the user android consume those words. In the Android application I have the historical of words that the user displayed and data of their studies, that should be synchronized online in case of change user phone or him have multiple devices.
My question is how to do that:
I need authentication or can get the User's google account to identify him?
How should I synchronize these two databases?
If I use Backup API i can get the same data in diferents devices?
I need authentication or can get the User's google account to identify him? That's your decision. You could even provide both methods. Some people don't want to share everything with Google, others don't care. If you want to create your own authenticator read the Udinic blog post about it.
How should I synchronize these two databases? You need a sync adapter in Android and a receiving service in your web application. In the Udinic blog there is also a tutorial about sync adapters. On server side you could create a REST service for example.
If I use Backup API i can get the same data in differents devices? The Backup API doesn't seem to be the right choice as it only restores data during the initial setup and I assume you want to synchronize the data all the time.
so I am writing an android app that will be used at a point of sale in some shops for survey questions. I have a java jsf web app using jpa with a mysql database that I want to sync with, preferably both ways but only a couple of tables. The android app will have only a few tables and will not replicate my server database completely. Unfortunately the android apps will in some places have only intermittent internet access that will drop in and out. I am currently looking at different options to use to store my data on android. I have looked at:
writing my own sync between the database on my server and SQLite on android but there has to be an easier option
storing my data on app engine and syncing with app engine as per the example in the android developers guide however I am not sure how my limited internet connectivity will work
using couchdb but I dont really want to go down this route as I already have the server side set up
does anyone have any ideas?
can I store data locally using android then sync with app engine when I have a connection?
Thanks