Firebase CLI

Firebase CLI

Official CLI for Firebase. Manage hosting, functions, Firestore, auth, and storage.

• Official repo: https://github.com/firebase/firebase-tools
• Docs: https://firebase.google.com/docs/cli

Authentication

firebase login                            # Browser-based login
firebase login --no-localhost             # For remote/headless environments
firebase projects:list                    # List available projects
firebase use PROJECT_ID                   # Select active project

Common Commands

Project Setup

firebase init                             # Interactive project setup
firebase init hosting functions firestore # Init specific features
firebase projects:list
firebase use --add                        # Add project alias

Hosting

firebase deploy --only hosting            # Deploy hosting
firebase hosting:channel:deploy preview   # Preview channel
firebase hosting:channel:list
firebase hosting:disable                  # Take site offline

Cloud Functions

firebase deploy --only functions                    # Deploy all functions
firebase deploy --only functions:myFunction         # Deploy specific function
firebase functions:log                              # View function logs
firebase functions:shell                            # Interactive function testing
firebase emulators:start --only functions           # Local emulator

Firestore

firebase firestore:indexes                          # List indexes
firebase firestore:delete --all-collections         # Delete all data (careful!)
firebase emulators:start --only firestore           # Local emulator

Emulators

firebase emulators:start                            # Start all emulators
firebase emulators:start --only auth,firestore      # Specific emulators
firebase emulators:export ./backup                  # Export emulator data
firebase emulators:start --import=./backup          # Import on start

Extensions

firebase ext:install firebase/firestore-send-email
firebase ext:list

Agent Best Practices

• Use firebase emulators:start for local development and testing
• Deploy specific features with --only to avoid unintended changes
• Use firebase deploy --only hosting for frontend-only deploys
• Check firebase use to confirm active project before deploying
• Use preview channels for testing: firebase hosting:channel:deploy staging
• Export/import emulator data to preserve test state

Example Workflows

Deploy full project

firebase deploy

Start local dev environment

firebase emulators:start --import=./emulator-data --export-on-exit=./emulator-data