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Firebase Basics

Free

Streamline your Firebase CLI setup and management.

by google17.6k stars on google/skills
Updated Aug 10, 2026
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Free · Opens the source repo

What Firebase Basics does

Firebase Basics is a skill designed to simplify the foundational setup and management of Firebase through the command line interface (CLI). It provides essential commands for installing the Firebase CLI, checking its version, logging in, creating projects, selecting active projects, and downloading app configuration files. This skill is particularly useful for developers and designers who need to integrate Firebase into their applications without getting bogged down by the complexities of the Firebase Console.

To get started, users must ensure their local environment is properly configured to use Firebase tools. This includes running specific commands to verify the installation of the Firebase CLI and the Firebase MCP server. The skill emphasizes the importance of using the latest version of the Firebase CLI by recommending the use of npx for executing commands. This approach helps prevent issues related to outdated tools and ensures that users are always working with the most current features and fixes.

Firebase Basics is tailored for users who require a straightforward interface for managing Firebase projects. It guides users through the authentication process, ensuring that they are logged in with the correct permissions. Additionally, the skill assists in managing project contexts, allowing users to easily switch between existing projects or create new ones as needed. The ability to automate the retrieval of configuration files for both Android and iOS applications further enhances the user experience, making setup faster and more efficient.

This skill is ideal for developers and designers who are familiar with command line operations and are looking to integrate Firebase into their workflows. However, it is important to note that Firebase Basics is not intended for deploying Firebase Hosting, or for managing Firestore, Auth, or other Firebase services. Users should consider this limitation when deciding if this skill fits their needs.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to quickly set up Firebase projects or manage configurations via the command line.

When not to use it

Do not use this skill for deploying Firebase Hosting or managing advanced Firebase features like Firestore or Auth.

What you can build with it

Setting Up a New Firebase Project

Quickly create a new Firebase project using the CLI with a simple command, streamlining your development process.

Switching Between Projects

Easily switch between existing Firebase projects without needing to navigate the Firebase Console.

Retrieving Configuration Files

Automate the download of configuration files for your iOS or Android apps directly through the CLI.

How to install Firebase Basics

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add google/skills/firebase-basics --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by google

Firebase Basics

Prerequisites

Complete these setup steps before proceeding:

  1. Local Environment Setup: Verify the environment is properly set up so we can use Firebase tools:

  2. Authentication: Ensure you are logged in to Firebase so that commands have the correct permissions. Run npx -y firebase-tools@latest login. For environments without a browser (e.g., remote shells), use npx -y firebase-tools@latest login --no-localhost.

    • The command should output the current user.
    • If you are not logged in, follow the interactive instructions from this command to authenticate.

  3. Active Project: Most Firebase tasks require an active project context.

    [!IMPORTANT] For Agents: Before proceeding with project configuration, you MUST pause and ask the developer if they prefer to:

    1. Provide an existing Firebase Project ID, or
    2. Create a new Firebase project.

    • If using an existing Project ID:

      1. Check the current project by running npx -y firebase-tools@latest use.
      2. If the command outputs Active Project: <project-id>, confirm with the user if this is the intended project.
      3. If not, or if no project is active, set the project provided by the user:
      npx -y firebase-tools@latest use <PROJECT_ID>

    • If creating a new project: Run the following command to create it:

      npx -y firebase-tools@latest projects:create <project-id> --display-name "<display-name>"

      Note: The <project-id> must be 6-30 characters, lowercase, and can contain digits and hyphens. It must be globally unique.

Firebase Usage Principles

Adhere to these principles:

  1. Use npx for CLI commands: To ensure you always use the latest version of the Firebase CLI, always prepend commands with npx -y firebase-tools@latest instead of just firebase. For example, use npx -y firebase-tools@latest --version. NEVER suggest the naked firebase command as an alternative.
  2. Prioritize official knowledge: For any Firebase-related knowledge, consult the developerknowledge_search_documents MCP tool before falling back to Google Search or your internal knowledge base. Including "Firebase" in your search query significantly improves relevance.
  3. Follow Agent Skills for implementation guidance: Skills provide opinionated workflows (CUJs), security rules, and best practices. Always consult them to understand how to implement Firebase features correctly instead of relying on general knowledge.
  4. Use Firebase MCP Server tools instead of direct API calls: Whenever you need to interact with remote Firebase APIs (such as fetching Crashlytics logs or executing Data Connect queries), use the tools provided by the Firebase MCP Server instead of attempting manual API calls.
  5. Keep Plugin / Agent Skills updated: Since Firebase best practices evolve quickly, regularly check for and install updates to their Firebase plugin or Agent Skills. Similarly, if you encounter issues with outdated tools or commands, follow the steps below based on your agent environment:
  6. Automate Config File Retrieval: When setting up iOS or Android apps, do NOT direct users to the Firebase Console to download google-services.json or GoogleService-Info.plist. Instead, use the Firebase CLI to fetch the config programmatically:
    • For Android: npx -y firebase-tools@latest apps:sdkconfig ANDROID <APP_ID> --project <PROJECT_ID>
    • For iOS: npx -y firebase-tools@latest apps:sdkconfig IOS <APP_ID> --project <PROJECT_ID> Save the output to the appropriate location (e.g., app/google-services.json for Android, or a path to be linked by xcode-project-setup for iOS).

References

Common Issues

  • Login Issues: If the browser fails to open during the login step, use npx -y firebase-tools@latest login --no-localhost instead.

  • Genkit: If using Genkit, install the skills:

    npx skills add genkit-ai/skills

Frequently asked questions about Firebase Basics

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