Integrate Firebase Manually into iOS App

Let’s assume we want to build an app for iOS / macOS or tvOS. We only want to use Swift Package Manager as Package Manager and we know we have to use Firebase. Maybe you have similar reasons, you don’t want to change project structure with using Cocoapods and maybe don’t want to use Carthage etc. I encounter with this situation and solve with a little bit struggling way because even Google’s documentation is not complete in this integration ways.

First of all, I highly recommend you to read Firebase documentation about manual integration on here Firebase Integration. Let’s start making some manual integrations 🙂

As you read in documentation, you have to download Firebase SDK files from Google. It took approximately ~200MB. You have to see a directory like below;

For basic integration, I’ve used FirebaseAnalytics but you’ve to decide directorys for your requiremets. If you want to use Firestore you will integrate FirebaseFirestore directory into the project structure.

Now, for this tutorial scenario, we drag & drop FirebaseAnalytics directory into our project structure.

Now we have to add -ObjC flag into Other Linker Settings because of using Objective-C codebase in SDK.

We’ve added -ObjC flag into the project. Now we have to drag & drop Firebase.h file into the project. Then also if your project is a Swift project you have to drag & drop also .modulemap file.

After this addition, if you want to Run, the project will not run because there’s a missing point. We actually use a Bridging Header as Firebase.h but we did not apply it to the Xcode for knowing it.

In Build Settings search for Objective-C Bridging Header title, and after that add path of Bridging Header file.

If you add Firebase.h file into directly project’s directory you can add as $(SRCROOT)/Firebase.h, or if you add it in another directory, you can add as $(SRCROOT)/Directory-Name/Firebase.h

Now Xcode will connect the SDK with your project. You’ve set all of it.

In AppDelegate file, add import FirebaseCore and configure the app like below.

func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
    FirebaseApp.configure()
    return true
}

Run + look at the logs, you must be see Firebase Analytics configuration success logs. That’s all, it worked 🎉

If you looking for a reference project, here is the Project Link

You can reach out me by email, I would be happy to get a feedback.