firebase-cli

name	firebase-cli
description	Use the Firebase CLI to manage hosting, Cloud Functions, Firestore, Authentication, and deploy Firebase projects. Use this instead of the Firebase MCP server.

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