Firebase Remote Config - Pro Tips

Pro tips for using Firebase Remote Config as feature-flag engine in mobile apps.

Presentation given at Seven Masters by iMasters, Firebase Edition (august / 2017).

1. REMOTE CONFIG pro tips Ubiratan Soares August / 2017
8. PRO TIPS
9. Attention to tool limits and policies 1
11. Do not forget to provide the default values 2
13. // At application setup level FirebaseRemoteConfig .getInstance() .setDefaults(R.xml.remote_config_defaults); ➜ ~/path/to/app/main tree res res !"" xml !"" remote_config_defaults.xml
14. Beware of backward compatibility for configs 3
15. Assign values by build type per config 4
16. Choose the proper activate / fetch strategy for configs 5
17. Default Expires = 12h activateFetched() Async Fetching RemoteConfig SDK ACTUAL VALUES getXYZ() CACHED VALUES fetch(timeToCache)
18. Are the upated values for configs needed right now ?
19. Load values for the next time usage, at application lifecycle level. For non-critical configs
20. If you cannot wait for the next interaction with your app … Can user wait for the actual values for configs at current app section ?
21. Waiting for refresh Fetch and activate using callback and provide the proper visual feedback (usually a blocking, loading screen)
22. If actual config values are critical for feature …
23. Fetch and activate using callback before user interaction with remote- controled feature No delays accepted
24. Find a way to override config`s local caching when needed 6
25. Default Expires = 12h activateFetched() Async Fetching RemoteConfig SDK ACTUAL VALUES getXYZ() CACHED VALUES fetch(timeToCache)
26. Monitor application foreground / background dance and re-fetch with cache invalidation at transition
27. Force a fetch with cache purging + activate using a push notification
28. FINAL REMARKS • RemoteConfig is a great tool for feature-flagging • Deadly simple to integrate with provided SDKs • Beware of basics (default values, limitations, config compatibilities, etc) • Choose the proper fetch+activate strategy for each config
29. UBIRATAN SOARES Computer Scientist by ICMC/USP Software Engineer, curious guy Google Developer Expert for Android Teacher, speaker, etc, etc
30. THANK YOU @ubiratanfsoares ubiratansoares.github.io https://br.linkedin.com/in/ubiratanfsoares