[FR] For macOS, don't unnecessarily stub out iOS+ SDK

[cpsauer]

Hey wonderful Firebase folks,

The iOS+ SDK these days has pretty broad support for macOS. But on quick inspection, it looks like a lot of that functionality, e.g., Analytics, is unnecessarily stubbed out in this C++ SDK.

Could you fix that? It seems like it wouldn't be that hard to change the build to pipe it through, same as tvOS, since the underlying pieces are there.

Thanks for your consideration!
Chris
(ex-Googler)

P.S. If it's already supported--and I've missed it, then please correct me, and my apologies in advance.
P.P.S. #234 is related in that both involve desktop analytics support, but this issue differs in that it should be quite easy to add macOS support more broadly, since it's already supported by an underlying platform SDK.

[AlmostMatt]

Hi Chris,

As you mentioned the iOS+ SDK now supports many things that are otherwise just stubs in the macOS version of the C++ SDK

I don't think I can confirm any details or timelines yet, but this is definitely something that we are considering and looking into. It will be great if we can indeed make use of the iOS SDK to improve our coverage of the C++ SDK on macOS.

[cpsauer]

Thanks for your quick reply, @AlmostMatt. Super excited for whatever might be coming. And I really appreciate your confirming that it's on your radar.
Could I ask that you keep us posted on your plans, as much as is allowed?

[Musing: I think this might be the type of product/feature where secrecy doesn't serve Google as well as transparency. It's not like phones where people will buy fewer today if they know what features are coming that they'd wait for. Instead, people are more likely to use Firebase if they know what exciting things are coming! (Nor, presumably do you need to be worried about people copying this feature.) This twitter exchange got me thinking about it originally.]

[jonsimantov]

As all of our development on the C++ SDK is done in this open-source repo now, I wouldn't say it's a matter of secrecy, more just that we can't commit to when we'd be able to start working on expanded macOS desktop support. I definitely want to see it happen, it's more a question of prioritization and resources than anything else.

Of course, being an open-source repo, we are always open to external contributions... :)

[cpsauer]

Indeed! Fair enough. Expectation management is important for sure.

May well get there--and just tossed up an unrelated mini (but useful) PR for fun--but I think I should get things set up and rolling on mobile for my team first.
(I do contribute fairly heavily to Google open source, but this one's also a commercial product, and I think more of a your-guys'-configuration kinda thing.)

[cpsauer]

Heh, and wow, you'd already merged it. That's pretty awesome. Thanks @jonsimantov!

Pretty sweet profile pic, too :)