If you don't want to use cocoapods, you don't need to use it! Just make sure you link the Firebase libraries in your project manually. For more information, check out the relevant Firebase docs at [https://firebase.google.com/docs/ios/setup#frameworks](https://firebase.google.com/docs/ios/setup#frameworks).
## cocoapods
Unfortunately, due to AppStore restrictions, we currently do _not_ package Firebase libraries in with Firebase. However, the good news is we've automated the process (with many thanks to the Auth0 team for inspiration) of setting up with cocoapods. This will happen automatically upon linking the package with `react-native-cli`.
**Remember to use the `ios/[YOUR APP NAME].xcworkspace` instead of the `ios/[YOUR APP NAME].xcproj` file from now on**.
We need to link the package with our development packaging. We have two options to handle linking:
#### Automatically with react-native-cli
React native ships with a `link` command that can be used to link the projects together, which can help automate the process of linking our package environments.
```bash
react-native link react-native-firebase
```
Update the newly installed pods once the linking is done:
```bash
cd ios && pod update --verbose
```
#### Manually
If you prefer not to use `react-native link`, we can manually link the package together with the following steps, after `npm install`:
**A.** In XCode, right click on `Libraries` and find the `Add Files to [project name]`.
**C.** Ensure that the `Build Settings` of the `RNFirebase.xcodeproj` project is ticked to _All_ and it's `Header Search Paths` include both of the following paths _and_ are set to _recursive_:
1.`$(SRCROOT)/../../react-native/React`
2.`$(SRCROOT)/../node_modules/react-native/React`
3.`${PROJECT_DIR}/../../../ios/Pods`
**D.** Setting up cocoapods
Since we're dependent upon cocoapods (or at least the Firebase libraries being available at the root project -- i.e. your application), we have to make them available for RNFirebase to find them.
Using cocoapods is the easiest way to get started with this linking. Add or update a `Podfile` at `ios/Podfile` in your app with the following:
```ruby
source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
[
'Firebase/Core',
'Firebase/Auth',
'Firebase/Storage',
'Firebase/Database',
'Firebase/RemoteConfig',
'Firebase/Messaging'
].each do |lib|
pod lib
end
```
Then you can run `(cd ios && pod install)` to get the pods opened. If you do use this route, remember to use the `.xcworkspace` file.
