Firebase Database Editor
Firebase Database Editor is a VS Code extension for opening a Firebase Realtime Database path as editable JSON. It uses Firebase service account credentials stored in VS Code secret storage, reads the selected database path, opens it in an editor, and writes the JSON back to Firebase when the editor is saved.
Features
- Add Firebase service accounts from a JSON file or JSON file path.
- Optionally store a custom Realtime Database URL per service account.
- Open a Realtime Database path as a JSON document.
- Save editor changes back to the same database path.
- List, view, rename, update, or replace stored service accounts.
- Remove stored service accounts from VS Code secret storage.
Requirements
- VS Code
^1.120.0
- A Firebase project with Realtime Database enabled.
- A Firebase service account JSON file with permission to read and write the database.
If your database uses the default URL format, the extension can infer it from project_id:
https://<project_id>-default-rtdb.firebaseio.com
For regional or non-default database instances, provide the database URL when adding or editing the service account.
Commands
Open these from the Command Palette.
Firebase Database Editor: Add Service Account
Add a service account from a selected JSON file or a typed JSON file path. You can also provide an optional Realtime Database URL.
Firebase Database Editor: Open Editor
Select a stored service account, enter a database path such as /, /users, or /settings/theme, and open that data as editable JSON. Saving the editor writes the JSON back to Firebase.
Firebase Database Editor: List/Edit Service Accounts
Select a stored service account to view its name and database URL, rename it, edit its database URL, or replace its credentials. Credentials are not displayed.
Firebase Database Editor: Remove Service Account
Select and confirm removal of a stored service account.
Usage
- Run
Firebase Database Editor: Add Service Account.
- Select your Firebase service account JSON file, or enter a path to it.
- Enter an optional Realtime Database URL if your database cannot use the inferred default.
- Run
Firebase Database Editor: Open Editor.
- Select the service account.
- Enter a database path. Use
/ for the database root.
- Edit the JSON document and save it to write changes back to Firebase.
Security Notes
Service account credentials grant privileged access to your Firebase project. Keep credential files out of source control and avoid committing local .creds folders or downloaded service account JSON files.
Stored credentials are kept in VS Code secret storage. The List/Edit command intentionally shows only the service account name and database URL, not the credential contents.
Development
Install dependencies:
npm install
Run checks:
npm run check-types
npm run lint
Build the extension:
npm run compile
While developing, press F5 in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host.
Known Limitations
- The editor works with Firebase Realtime Database, not Firestore.
- Saving replaces the selected database path with the full edited JSON value.
- Invalid JSON cannot be saved.
