Summary: If you are facing issues with your Flutter app and are not able to track them quickly, then the app needs to be integrated with Firebase Crashlytics. Even if you are looking for Flutter mobile app development, understanding Firebase Crashlytics and how to integrate them into the app will help you get robust applications. This article will explain Firebase best practices and how to integrate them into your application.

Are you considering building an app based on the Flutter framework? You need to understand and prepare for the post-development events. For example, when the app is developed and deployed, an unexpected event may occur with the application. For example, the app may be sluggish, crash or others. These are minor errors, but if not tracked on time, they can turn into a great loss. Firebase Crashlytics by Google helps you track and analyze errors, especially;

Most importantly,
● When your app creates so much unrest.
● Your customers uninstall your app.

These common errors never inform you of such events unless you have integrated Firebase Crashlytics into the Flutter application.

In short, you know nothing about what is happening with your app unless you do it manually.

But that was a matter of the past. Now, you have tools and technology that help you detect every issue instantly.

No matter how perfectly the app is built, none can guarantee that it is 100% bug-free or will never crash —it’s inevitable. However, manual tracking could be time-consuming, while integrating Firebase Crashlytics will help you handle the event without wasting much time and effort.

This article will help you understand Firebase Crashlytics and how to integrate them into your mobile application built using the Flutter framework. So let’s explore them one by one.

Flutter is a cross-platform mobile application development platform that enables developers to build apps faster. Basically, when you have to develop applications for iOS and Android platforms, you need two different frameworks (Swift for iOS and Android Studio for Android) to create an app for these platforms. In short, you need to build a native application separate for both platforms. Unfortunately, that means you need to spend a good amount of bucks, resources (separately for iOS and Android), and time.

With Flutter, you can build cross-platform applications to run across both platforms. As a result, you have created two applications with a single effort, time, resources, and money.

Before we understand what Firebase Crashlytics is, it’s essential to know what Firebase is. Basically, Firebase is Google’s product, just like Flutter. An app development platform usually referred to as Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) called Firebase. It offers hosted backend services like a real-time database, cloud storage, authentication, crash reporting, machine learning, remote configuration, and hosting for static files. Flutter can be run on Firebase.

Firebase Crashlytics, a lightweight, real-time crash reporter, makes it easier to identify, track, and resolve stability problems that lower the caliber of your app. In addition, by logically grouping crashes and highlighting the circumstances that precede them, Crashlytics helps reduce the amount of time you spend troubleshooting.

Integrating Firebase Crashlytics into the mobile application is a technical issue, and you need a tech partner to help you integrate.

However, you can integrate the Firebase into your Flutter application. Here are the steps.

Note: Before exploring the steps, you must know that Firebase Crashlytics is compatible with Flutter version 2.0.2 or lower as of July 21.

Step 1: Install the IDE or Editor you Like

Step 2: (For Android) Set up the device for running your app. (For iOS) set up a physical Apple, or you can use the simulator to run the app.

Step 3: Ensure the app meets the requirement based on the platform —iOS and Android.

iOS
iOS 10
macOS 10.12

Android
Targets API level 19 (KitKat) or higher
Uses Android 4.4 or higher

Step 4: Based on the Operating System, install Flutter, which should include the following;
● Flutter SDK
● Supporting libraries
● Platform-specific software and SDKs and software based on the platform

Step 5: Now you need to sign into Firebase

Step 1: Start with installing command line tools

● If you don’t, you can install the Firebase CLI;

● Now, run the command

● FlutterFire CLI needs to be installed using the following command;

Step 2: Now your apps needs to be configured so you can use Firebase

● To configure your Flutter App, you need to use the FlutterFire CLI so it can connect with Firebase.
Use the command given below to configure;

Step 3: Firebase Initiation into your app

● You need to install the core plugin using this command line:

Run the command (flutterfire configure) to keep your Flutter app’s Firebase configuration updated.

● Now, import the firebase core plugin from lib/main.dart file using the command;

● Use DefaultFirebaseOptions in your lib/main.dart file; it can intialize the Firebase. You can use the following command:

● Your Flutter app rebuilding process begins:

Step 4: Finally, integrate Firebase Plugin
You have various plugin options available to add, and each plugin is compatible with Apple, Android, and web platforms. Choose the plugin and add it using the following commands and steps;

● You need to run a command from the Flutter project library;

● You must run a command to ensure the Flutter app’s Firebase configuration is up-to-date;

This will also add required Gradle plugins to ensure Crashlytics and Performance Monitoring performs well.

● Again, rebuild your app using the command;

That’s it; you have successfully integrated Firebase Crashlytics into your app. Once you have done the integration, you will get the crash report timely. For example, you can instantly see the report in the Crashlytics console whenever your app crashes.

What do you usually look when you get your mobile app built? For commoners, they hand over the project scope and leave the rest to the mobile app development company. Then, they develop your app your start using it. But a lot is happening in between, and knowing them will help you get the best app you ever have. There are instances when you get your app built, though the app does not perform as you expect, sometimes even crashes for no reason, and cannot bear the traffic. These errors have consequences —your users might uninstall the application without letting you know. So, it’s better to use the precautions and ask your technology partner if they have integrated the Firebase Crashlytics into your Flutter application or not.