# Node-red is somehow mutating normal Object so I can't pass it into Firestore setDoc() function

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [17 November 2021 15:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893 "2021-11-17T15:24:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [17 November 2021 15:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/1 "2021-11-17T15:24:18Z")

</div>

I am using `Firebase SDK's` within Node-red (as specified in NPM docs they can be used for IoT devices with NODE.js).

- I can use all of the CRUD methods with `Firebase RealtimeDatabase`.
- With `Firebase Firestore` I can only use `READ` and `DELETE` functionality.
- `SET` and `UPDATE` results in weird errors that I couldn't find answers  
anywhere on the internet.

I am importing `Firebase SDK's` through `require()` inside `settiings.js` and `functionGlobalContext` so I can access them in Node-red functions:

```auto
    functionGlobalContext: {
        firebase: require('firebase/app'),
        firebaseDatabase: require('firebase/database'),
        firebaseFirestore: require('firebase/firestore'),
        // os:require('os'),
        // jfive:require("johnny-five"),
        // j5board:require("johnny-five").Board({repl:false})
    },

```

First I initialize my whole Firebase project with this code (and everything initializes fine without errors):

```auto
    //Load data from Global contexta
    const firebase = global.get('firebase');
    const firebaseDatabase = global.get('firebaseDatabase');
    const firebaseFirestore = global.get('firebaseFirestore');
    
    const firebaseConfig = {
         //my Firebase credentials
    };
    
    //Set up Firebase
    const app = firebase.initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
    const database = firebaseDatabase.getDatabase();
    const firestore = firebaseFirestore.getFirestore();
    
    //Save the database reference to Global context
    global.set('app', app);
    global.set('database', database);
    global.set('firestore', firestore);

```

And here I am trying basic `SET` operation with Firestore:

```auto
    const ft = global.get('firebaseFirestore');
    const firestore = global.get('firestore');
    
    const frankDocRef = ft.doc(firestore, "users", "frank");
    await ft.setDoc(frankDocRef, {
        name: "Frank",
        age: 12
    });

```

Unfortunately even though this code is `ctrl+c` `ctrl+v` from Firestore docs I get this error:

```
"FirebaseError: [code=invalid-argument]: Function setDoc() called with invalid data. Data must be an object, but it was: a custom Object object (found in document users/frank)"

```

- When I use the same code inside a web app everything works fine.
- There has to be something going on under the hood with Node-red
- I tried creating the object using various methods and all of them resulted in the same error.

**Does anybody have any idea what could be going wrong here?**

It seems that Node-red is somehow passing to the setDoc function `mutated` object. Or does anybody know how to create `object` and not `Object object`? I always though that those two things are the same.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UnborN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4491bb/32.png) [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)\
**Post date:** [17 November 2021 17:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/2 "2021-11-17T17:05:22Z")

</div>

Have you tried using **[node-red-contrib-firebase-data](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-firebase-data)**.  
( It was last updated about a year ago )

> [@Sulomus](#):
>
> And here I am trying basic `SET` operation with Firestore:

When you try the SET code, is this in a seperate Function node ?  
(screenshot to better understand the flow)

avoid setting to global Context for now and try to get a simply read / write going

Setup `functionExternalModules` in your settings file (read how to do that [here](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/writing-functions#using-the-functionexternalmodules-option))  
and try this example

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/3/a3dc2bbeeb67e2894e72d3a22cf58806131c9aec.png)

```auto
const { getFirestore, collection, getDocs, addDoc } = firestore

//change to your config
const firebaseConfig = {
  apiKey: "AIzaSyDmXgb_58lO7aK_ujN37pGlNxzWGEU0YpI",
  authDomain: "fb9-sandbox.firebaseapp.com",
  projectId: "fb9-sandbox",
  storageBucket: "fb9-sandbox.appspot.com",
  messagingSenderId: "867529587246",
  appId: "1:867529587246:web:dc754ab7840c737f47bdbf"
}

// init firebase
firebaseApp.initializeApp(firebaseConfig)

// init services
const db = getFirestore()

// collection ref
const colRef = collection(db, 'users') // change to your collection

// get collection data
getDocs(colRef)
  .then(snapshot => {
    // console.log(snapshot.docs)
    let data = []
    snapshot.docs.forEach(doc => {
      data.push({ ...doc.data(), id: doc.id })
    })
    node.warn({ data })
  })
  .catch(err => {
    node.warn({ err: err.message })
  })

// adding docs
addDoc(colRef, {
  name: "Frank",
  age: 12
})
  .then(() => {
    node.warn("User added")
  })

```

* * *

( example based on theNetNinja [tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yNyiW_41H8) )

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UnborN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4491bb/32.png) [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 00:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/3 "2021-11-18T00:26:31Z")

</div>

I found some time and tested it also and i was getting the same error with you when trying to write to firestore.

i read a bunch of articles but couldnt find a solution

i tried the `@google-cloud/firestore` library though and that seems to work

Documentation of how to set that up [here](https://cloud.google.com/firestore/docs/quickstart-servers#before_you_begin)  
Dont ask how i set it up because honestly i dont remember 😉  
(that google Cloud console dashboard is a labyrinth)

**Test code:**

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/5/05f5b6e9e3fc6b54a5f370f9ae7fb020f118699d.png)

```auto
const { Firestore } = googleCloudFirestore

// Initialize Firebase
const db = new Firestore({
  projectId: 'nodered-firestore',
  keyFilename: 'firebaseKey.json',
});

// Delete document
// const res = await db.collection('users').doc('aVikxnsoV8RD9S6jMhNs').delete();
// node.warn({ res })

// delete all docs
// db.collection('users').get().then(querySnapshot => {
// querySnapshot.docs.forEach(snapshot => {
// snapshot.ref.delete();
// })
// })

// add a doc
const docRef = db.collection('users').doc();
await docRef.set({
  name: 'John',
  age: 12
});

// read all docs
const snapshot = await db.collection('users').get();
let data = []
snapshot.forEach((doc) => {
  data.push({ id: doc.id, ...doc.data() })
});

node.warn(data);

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 08:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/4 "2021-11-18T08:59:21Z")

</div>

Wow! Thank you for your time invested in this.

- I had no idea there is a way to communicate to Firestore with any other libraries then the native JS SDK's.

- I will definitely take a look at `@google-cloud/firestore`!

- But yes - as you said the configuration of Google Cloud can be somehow messy. That's why I was looking for solution in Firebase (it is really easy to setup and work with it).

If I won't find a solution on how to use the native SDK's I'll have to use the `@google-cloud/firestore`. But I will keep looking on how to make the native SDK's working.

By any chance you didn't come up with a working example?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 09:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/5 "2021-11-18T09:50:23Z")

</div>

> [@UnborN](#):
>
> Have you tried using **[node-red-contrib-firebase-data](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-firebase-data)**.  
> ( It was last updated about a year ago )

The suggested library is for Firebase Realtime database not for Firestore 😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UnborN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4491bb/32.png) [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/6 "2021-11-18T11:16:33Z")

</div>

> [@Sulomus](#):
>
> The suggested library is for Firebase Realtime database not for Firestore

hmm possibly .. sorry i didnt install it.

I did install this node and it works!

> **[node-red-contrib-cloud-firestore](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-cloud-firestore)**
>
> Node-RED nodes to handle google cloud firestore read and write operations.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 11:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/7 "2021-11-18T11:50:20Z")

</div>

> [@UnborN](#):
>
> I did install this node and it works!
> 
> [node-red-contrib-cloud-firestore (node) - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-cloud-firestore)

This library uses under the hood `Admin SDK's`. Which works fine (as you said).

But if my IoT device is compromised my whole Firebase is in danger and can be manipulated or deleted as the attacker pleases 😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UnborN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4491bb/32.png) [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 12:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/8 "2021-11-18T12:13:46Z")

</div>

> [@Sulomus](#):
>
> But if my IoT device is compromised my whole Firebase is in danger

Thats a totally different topic which i dont know much about but ..  
why would it compromised ? .. will you have Node-red open and accessible from the internet ?

1. Read this article on securing Node-red [here](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/runtime/securing-node-red)
2. Use a strong password
3. Firewall all unnecessary connections and ports

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 12:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/9 "2021-11-18T12:20:33Z")

</div>

> [@UnborN](#):
>
> will you have Node-red open and accessible from the internet ?

Well I won't. But I am sure there is always a way inside some system's. The Node-red will run on Raspberry PI. And I think with some time and brute force the attacker could get inside.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 14:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/10 "2021-11-18T14:11:06Z")

</div>

So what exactly is the question you are asking?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sulomus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sulomus/32/49578_2.png) [@Sulomus](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sulomus)\
**Post date:** [18 November 2021 14:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/11 "2021-11-18T14:27:30Z")

</div>

How to use the `native Firestore JavaScript SDK's` inside Node-red (not `Admin SDK's` or `@google-cloud/firestore` library).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2022 14:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-is-somehow-mutating-normal-object-so-i-cant-pass-it-into-firestore-setdoc-function/53893/12 "2022-01-17T14:27:52Z")

</div>

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