What is the difference between Socket.IO and Firebase?

Question

I watched a codeschool tutorial on Node.js and they imitated a chat server using Socket.IO in their tutorial.

I am also under the impression that Firebase does the same thing.

What is the difference between the two, if there are any?

Answer 1

There actually is the difference.

Socket.io is a javascript library to manage sockets. In a web-chat example, you create sockets:

1. client(s) to server
2. Server to client(s)

That is, you control all the end-points, and use socket.io as a tool to communicate between your end-points.

In contrast, using firebase you only focus around 1 (client to server)

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Pros and Cons of using service versus own infrastructure is a different subject, and heavily opinionated.