Migrating from Realtime Database to Firestore in Firebase - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Migrating from Realtime Database to Firestore

Start: Existing Realtime Database

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Export Data from Realtime Database

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Transform Data Format

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Import Data into Firestore

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Update App Code to Use Firestore SDK

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Test and Verify Data Integrity

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Switch App to Firestore Fully

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End

This flow shows the main steps to move data and app logic from Realtime Database to Firestore.

Execution Sample

Firebase

1. Export data from Realtime Database
2. Convert JSON structure to Firestore format
3. Import data into Firestore
4. Update app code to Firestore SDK
5. Test app with Firestore

Step-by-step process to migrate data and update app code from Realtime Database to Firestore.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/State	Output/State Change
1	Export data	Realtime Database with nested JSON	JSON file with exported data
2	Transform data	Exported JSON	Data formatted for Firestore collections and documents
3	Import data	Formatted data	Data loaded into Firestore with collections and documents
4	Update app code	App using Realtime Database SDK	App uses Firestore SDK calls
5	Test app	App connected to Firestore	Verified data integrity and app functionality
6	Switch app fully	App ready with Firestore	App runs fully on Firestore, Realtime Database deprecated

💡 Migration complete when app fully uses Firestore and data is verified.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	Final
Data Format	Realtime DB JSON	Exported JSON file	Firestore JSON format	Firestore collections/documents	App code with Firestore SDK	App running on Firestore

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to transform the data format after exporting from Realtime Database?

Because Realtime Database uses a nested JSON tree, but Firestore uses collections and documents, so the data structure must be changed to fit Firestore's model (see execution_table step 2).

What happens if the app code is not updated to use Firestore SDK after importing data?

The app will still try to access Realtime Database and fail to read the new Firestore data, causing errors (see execution_table step 4).

How do we know the migration is successful?

When the app runs fully on Firestore, data is correct, and no errors occur during testing (see execution_table step 5 and 6).

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the output after Step 3?

A App code updated to Firestore SDK

B Exported JSON file

C Data loaded into Firestore with collections and documents

D Verified data integrity

💡 Hint

Check the 'Output/State Change' column for Step 3 in execution_table

At which step does the app code switch to using Firestore SDK?

A Step 2

B Step 4

C Step 5

D Step 6

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' column in execution_table for when app code is updated

If the data is not transformed properly, what will likely happen?

A Data import into Firestore will fail or be incorrect

B Realtime Database will auto-convert data

C App will run faster

D No effect on migration

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about data format transformation and execution_table step 2

Concept Snapshot

Migrating from Realtime Database to Firestore:
1. Export data from Realtime Database as JSON.
2. Transform data to Firestore's collections/documents format.
3. Import transformed data into Firestore.
4. Update app code to use Firestore SDK.
5. Test app and switch fully to Firestore.

Full Transcript

To migrate from Realtime Database to Firestore, first export your data as JSON. Then, transform this data to fit Firestore's collections and documents structure. Next, import the transformed data into Firestore. Update your app code to use Firestore SDK instead of Realtime Database SDK. Finally, test your app to ensure data integrity and switch fully to Firestore once verified.