Why can't we use the CLI as a module in Cloud Functions?

[ollietreend]

The project README states:

The Firebase CLI can also be used programmatically as a standard Node module. This can only be done on your machine, and cannot be done within Cloud Functions.

My question is – why can't it be used as a standard Node module from within a Cloud Function?

An example where this would be useful:

To be able to execute the auth:export command from within a scheduled Cloud Function to take a regular backup of the user authentication database.

[samtstern]

@ollietreend you definitely can use the CLI as a module inside a Cloud Function, that warning is a little harsh. The reason for that warning is that sometimes the CLI requires access to a file system and that will not work reliably on a Cloud Function.

Here's a guide about deleting data from Firestore where we use the CLI as a module in a Cloud Function:
https://firebase.google.com/docs/firestore/solutions/delete-collections

[ollietreend]

Got it. Thanks for clarifying, @samtstern! 🙂