Minimum version of Google Play Services to use FIrebase .. and other software

[Joe White]

Where can we find difinitive information on the minimum level of Google Play Services required to successfully work with Firebase.

Of particular interest, is the level of Google Play Services in various Android Studio releases. For Android Studio 2.2 preview, it appears that Google Play Services 8.0.90 is current (in the images). Usage of emulators is paramount for effective development.

Who is working with the Android Studio 2.2 preview and "N" support to ensure that these platforms successfully support Firebase 3 as we move forward?

Is there a single place where we can get the information on what minimum levels of all requires softwere are required by Firebase 3?  (Just "upgrade to latest level", while probably true, is insuficient since it does not let us know what emulator images will work.

Thanks for all your efforts.

[Ian Barber]

The new Firebase SDKs launched in Google Play services 9.0, that's the minimum version - generally a given version of the Google Play services SDK will always want that level of above of the Google Play services APK. New emulators should be available and aren't tied to Android Studio in any way - they're delivered via the Android SDK manager. 

Re Android Studio, you want 2.2. Firebase will work with older versions, but there is a conflict with instant run in 2.0 and 2.1 which means you wont get Analytics events while in development, which is annoying. We're working really closely with that team. 

[Joe White]

@ian Barber, thanks ... I keep seeing 'upgrade to latest Google Play Services" in responses to problems, and with Android Studio 2.2 Preview (and images all at v9.0.80) and suggestions to use v9.0.83 I have become confused.  Sure would be nice to be able to "update" an emulator image (at least while running) to later versions of Google Play Services