Introduction

In this article, I am going to demonstrate how to implement Firebase Invites on Android. Firebase Invites is a solution for app referrals and sharing via email or SMS.

Firebase

Firebase is a back-end tool offered by Google for mobile and web applications. It offers Analytics, Cloud Messaging, Real-time Database, Storage, Remote Configuration, Notification, Crash Reporting, API’s, Multiple Authentication types, Hosting, Dynamic Links, and Invites. Google Firebase helps to develop the application rapidly.
Requirements
  • Android Studio.
  • Google Account.

Creating a Project

Open Android Studio and create a new project.
Login to Google Firebase and create a new project in the console.
After creating the project, select “Add Firebase to your Android app” in the Firebase Overview page.
After adding an application, give your Android application a package name, App nickname, debug signing certificate SHA-1, and hit the "REGISTER APP" button.
Now, download the Google-Services.json file and add it in the app folder of your application.

Adding Dependencies

We need to add dependencies for Google Services and Firebase Invites.
Add the dependencies plug-in to App Gradle for Google Firebase Invites.
  1. compile 'com.google.firebase:firebase-invites:10.0.1'
Add Gradle plug-in (build.gradle(app)) at the end of the code.
  1. apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'
Add classpath plug-in to the project gradle.
  1. classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:3.0.0'

Creating Layout

Now, go to the activity_main.xml and paste the below code.
  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  2. <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  3. xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
  4. android:id="@+id/activity_main"
  5. android:layout_width="match_parent"
  6. android:layout_height="match_parent"
  7. android:orientation="vertical"
  8. tools:context="io.github.saravanan_selvaraju.firebaseinvites.MainActivity">
  9. <TextView
  10. android:layout_width="match_parent"
  11. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
  12. android:gravity="center"
  13. android:text="@string/msg_txt"
  14. android:textSize="28dp"
  15. android:padding="10dp"
  16. android:layout_margin="10dp"/>
  17. <LinearLayout
  18. android:layout_width="match_parent"
  19. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
  20. android:orientation="vertical"
  21. android:layout_gravity="center"
  22. android:layout_margin="15dp"
  23. android:padding="15dp">
  24. <Button
  25. android:layout_width="match_parent"
  26. android:layout_height="wrap_content"
  27. android:id="@+id/invie_btn"
  28. android:background="@color/colorPrimary"
  29. android:text="@string/invite_txt"
  30. android:textColor="@android:color/white"
  31. android:textStyle="bold"/>
  33. </LinearLayout>
  35. </LinearLayout>

Creating Activity

Write the below code inside “button onclick listener()” method for sending invitations.
  1. private void onInviteClicked() {
  2. Intent intent = new AppInviteInvitation.IntentBuilder(getString(R.string.invitation_title))
  3. .setMessage(getString(R.string.invitation_message))
  4. .build();
  5. startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_INVITE);
  6. }
Add String Resources in string.xml file.
  1. <resources>
  2. <string name="invitation_title">Firebase Invite</string>
  3. <string name="invitation_message">Hey there, I found a app....</string>
  4. </resources>
This onActivityResult() method calls back the MainActivity after the user sends an invite.
  1. protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
  2. super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
  3. Log.d(TAG, "onActivityResult: requestCode=" + requestCode + ", resultCode=" + resultCode);
  5. if (requestCode == REQUEST_INVITE) {
  6. if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
  7. String[] ids = AppInviteInvitation.getInvitationIds(resultCode, data);
  8. for (String id : ids) {
  9. Log.d(TAG, "onActivityResult: sent invitation " + id);
  10. }
  11. } else {
  12. }
  13. }
  14. }
MainActivity.java
  1. package io.github.saravanan_selvaraju.firebaseinvites;
  2. import android.content.Intent;
  3. import android.net.Uri;
  4. import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
  5. import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
  6. import android.os.Bundle;
  7. import android.util.Log;
  8. import android.view.View;
  9. import android.widget.Button;
  10. import com.google.android.gms.appinvite.AppInvite;
  11. import com.google.android.gms.appinvite.AppInviteInvitation;
  12. import com.google.android.gms.common.ConnectionResult;
  13. import com.google.android.gms.common.api.GoogleApiClient;
  14. public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
  15. private static final int REQUEST_INVITE = 100;
  16. private static final String TAG = MainActivity.class.getSimpleName();
  17. private Button Invite_btn;
  18. @Override
  19. protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
  20. super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
  21. setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
  22. Invite_btn = (Button) findViewById(R.id.invie_btn);
  23. Invite_btn.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
  24. @Override
  25. public void onClick(View view) {
  26. onInviteClicked();
  27. }
  28. });
  29. }
  30. private void onInviteClicked() {
  31. Intent intent = new AppInviteInvitation.IntentBuilder(getString(R.string.invitation_title)).setMessage(getString(R.string.invitation_message)).build();
  32. startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_INVITE);
  33. }
  34. @Override
  35. protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
  36. super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
  37. Log.d(TAG, "onActivityResult: requestCode=" + requestCode + ", resultCode=" + resultCode);
  38. if (requestCode == REQUEST_INVITE) {
  39. if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
  40. String[] ids = AppInviteInvitation.getInvitationIds(resultCode, data);
  41. for (String id: ids) {
  42. Log.d(TAG, "onActivityResult: sent invitation " + id);
  43. }
  44. } else {}
  45. }
  46. }
  47. }

Adding Permission

Don’t forget to add internet access permissions in androidmanifest.xml.
  1. uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

Summary

In this article, we discussed what Google Firebase is, and how to use Firebase Invites in Android applications.