Before you begin integrating Firebase or running the app, ensure your development environment and target devices meet the following requirements to guarantee a smooth setup and operation.

1. Development Environment

Android

Operating System: Windows 10 or higher, macOS 10.14 or higher, or LinuxIDE: Android Studio (version 4.2 or higher recommended)Java Development Kit (JDK): JDK 11 or higherAndroid SDK: Minimum API Level 21 (Android 5.0 Lollipop) or higherGradle: Version 7.0 or higher (usually bundled with Android Studio)Internet Connection: Required for downloading Firebase SDKs and Gradle dependencies

iOS

Operating System: macOS 10.15 Catalina or higherIDE: Xcode 12 or higherSwift Version: 5.0 or higher (if using Swift)CocoaPods: Version 1.10.0 or higheriOS Deployment Target: iOS 11.0 or higherInternet Connection: Required for downloading Firebase SDKs and CocoaPods dependencies

2. Firebase Account and Project

A Google account is required to access the Firebase Console.Create a Firebase project that matches your app’s package name (Android) or bundle identifier (iOS).The Firebase project must be set up before downloading configuration files.

3. App Identifiers

Android: The App ID (package name) must be unique and consistent across your app, Firebase Console, and all configuration files.iOS: The bundle identifier must exactly match the one registered in Firebase Console and your Xcode project.

4. Configuration Files

Android: The google-services.json file must be downloaded from Firebase Console and placed in the app/ directory of your Android project.iOS: The GoogleService-Info.plist file must be added to your Xcode project and included in your app target.

5. Network and Permissions
Ensure your device or emulator has internet access for Firebase SDK to communicate with Firebase services.Android permissions: Your app must request necessary permissions, such as internet access (<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>) in AndroidManifest.xml.iOS permissions: Depending on Firebase services used (e.g., Push Notifications), configure entitlements and request user permissions accordingly.

6. Supported Firebase SDKs

The project is compatible with the following Firebase SDK versions:

Firebase BOM: 32.1.0 (Android)Firebase CocoaPods: Latest stable versions as per Podfile

7. Device Compatibility

Android devices: Running Android 5.0 (API 21) or above.iOS devices: Running iOS 11.0 or above.

8. Additional Tools (Optional but Recommended)

Git: For version control.Postman or Firebase Console tools: For testing Firebase APIs and services.Android Emulator / iOS Simulator: For testing app behavior on virtual devices.Physical devices: Recommended for full testing, especially for features like push notifications and real-time database syncing.

9. Build Tools and Plugins

Android: Google Services Gradle plugin (com.google.gms:google-services:4.3.15) must be added in the build files to enable Firebase integration.iOS: CocoaPods must be installed and configured properly to install Firebase pods.

10. Security & Privacy Compliance

Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) regarding user data when using Firebase Analytics or Authentication.Avoid exposing Firebase API keys or config files in public repositories.