Using Firebase Admin SDK, Unable to Deploy Firebase Cloud Functions Split Across Multiple Files: "The default Firebase app already exists"

Question

When I try to use initializeApp() in a new Firebase cloud function (organized in a separate file, exported via index.ts), I get the error: " The default Firebase app already exists "

I have three files, index.ts, http.ts, and pubsub.ts.

index.ts:

export { function1 } from './http'

export { function2 } from './pubsub'

http.ts (already using initializeApp and has been working great):

import * as functions from 'firebase-functions'
import fetch from 'node-fetch'
import { initializeApp } from 'firebase-admin/app'
import { getFirestore } from 'firebase-admin/firestore'

const app = initializeApp()
const db = getFirestore(app)
const config = functions.config()

export const function1 = functions...

I need to use app in another file, pubsub.ts:

import * as functions from 'firebase-functions'
import { initializeApp } from 'firebase-admin/app'
import { getAuth } from 'firebase-admin/auth'
import { getFirestore } from 'firebase-admin/firestore'

const app = initializeApp()
const auth = getAuth(app)
const db = getFirestore(app)

export const function2 = functions...

I've seen suggestions such as .admin.apps?length. admin:initializeApp(). admin;app(); .admin.apps?length. admin:initializeApp(). admin;app(); but I'm using the latest version of Firebase Admin SDK and it's not imported the same way.

Additionally, I imagine once I manage to resolve the issue of initializeApp, the same will occur with db -- as it is used in both as well.

I checked the Firebase docs and I don't see mention of using the Firebase Admin SDK when cloud functions are organized into separate files (it does discuss organizing functions like this, however).

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

the getApp() and getApps() methods look like solid candidates to check whether your app is already initialised: https://firebase.google.com/docs/reference/js/app.md#getapp and perform conditional initialisation based on this.