[cloud_firestore] Convert Timestamp to DateTime

[Levi-Lesches]

Is there a really good reason why this library doesn't use DateTime? Is there a significant difference between the two?

[jgithaiga]

You can call toDate() on a Cloud Firestore Timestamp to convert it to DateTime.

DocumentSnapshot snapshot = ....
DateTime dateCreated = snapshot.data["dateCreated"]?.toDate();

[Levi-Lesches]

Well, I need to serialize it into JSON first, so neither Timestamp not DateTime really work for me. What I ended up doing was essentially what Timestamp.toDate does -- convert to microseconds and then deserialize that back into a DateTime after reading back the JSON.

But I'm just curious as to why Timestamp is even used in the first place. Since it so conveniently converts to DateTime anyway, is there a reason why it's even used?

[collinjackson]

Well, I need to serialize it into JSON first, so neither Timestamp not DateTime really work for me. What I ended up doing was essentially what Timestamp.toDate does -- convert to microseconds and then deserialize that back into a DateTime after reading back the JSON.

But I'm just curious as to why Timestamp is even used in the first place. Since it so conveniently converts to DateTime anyway, is there a reason why it's even used?

I think the main reason is that we're trying to match the other Firebase client SDKs as much as possible.

I don't think there's anything actionable here so I'm closing it, but please let me know if you feel I'm mistaken.

[Levi-Lesches]

If there is literally not one difference between Timestamp and DateTime, then we can majorly simplify the API by getting rid of Timestamps. It would help the average Flutter user and simplify a lot of everyone's code + logic.