[firebase_messaging] API for Send to Topic

[awhitford]

While integrating Firebase Messaging, I was surprised to see that there isn't a send method. I can subscribe to a topic, but I can't easily send a message to that topic. The documentation for Sending Messages says to use http.post.

I would expect a send method along with related data structures for messages.

[iapicca]

Hi @awhitford
could you please describe how would you implement the send method
differently from the current http.post implementation
and what would be the advantage of doing so
thank you

[awhitford]

What current method? There is no send method in the API.

[iapicca]

I've update my question

[awhitford]

I am admittedly a Noob with respect to Firebase Messaging. However, messaging implies sending and receiving messages. The Firebase Messaging API has mechanisms to receive messages; I am surprised that there does not seem to be corresponding methods to send messages.

Relying on an HTTP POST to send a message seems odd. Why isn't there a Dart method that wraps that logic? The HTTP POST mechanism relies on managing the sensitive Server Key (from Firebase Console, project settings --> cloud messaging --> Server key); can that not be managed using the existing GoogleService-Info.plist?

I imagine a send method and corresponding data structures that would ensure valid communications. Things like:

• an enum for priority (vs strings)
• validation on title, body, etc. to enforce limits
• validation on required fields

Right now, adding Firebase Messaging as a dependency does not solve all of my core messaging needs. It sounds like I need to roll my own send wrapper that calls http post against https://fcm.googleapis.com/fcm/send with json encoded body... Why isn't this just part of the library?

Is this library truly a Messaging library, or is it a Notification library?

The lack of a send method seems to suggest that sending messages from a Flutter app is discouraged. Is that true? Should architectures instead send messages from server logic or Cloud Functions (where the Server Key can be secured)?