[Question] GetAnalyticsInstanceId() stubbed out on Desktop platforms

[MAG-Will]

[REQUIRED] Please fill in the following fields:

• Pre-built SDK from the website or open-source from this repo: open-source
• Firebase C++ SDK version: 10.5.0
• Main Firebase Components in concern: Analytics
• Other Firebase Components in use: Auth
• Platform you are using the C++ SDK on: Mac, Windows
• Platform you are targeting: iOS, Android, and Desktop (Windows and Mac)

[REQUIRED] Please describe the question here:

I'm looking into implementing GA4 Analytics in a cross platform C++ application that runs on Mobile, Web and Desktop (Windows and Mac).

Everything's fine on Mobile and Web, but on Desktop there doesn't appear to be any way of using GA4 from a C++ application as far as I can tell.

Without Desktop support for Analytics directly in the this library (I note FR #234), it seems as though the GA4 Measurement Protocol REST API could be used instead. But message posts to this API require an application_instance_id, and from the docs...

https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/protocol/ga4/reference?client_type=firebase#payload_post_body

"app_instance_id string
Required. Uniquely identifies a specific installation of a Firebase app. This value needs to be retrieved through the Firebase SDK."

...but the suggested C++ call to GetAnalyticsInstanceId() only has valid implementations on Mobile and is stubbed out on Desktop platforms, so how can REST API calls be issued without this being available?

Is there another way for GA4 be used from a C++ desktop application without this support in the Firebase C++ SDK?

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[DellaBitta]

Hi @Will-Cowling-Magnopus,

Yes, unfortunately you've discovered the hard way Firebase C++ SDK does not support Google Analytics on Desktop platforms. The list of supported platforms per product can be found on our Firebase C++ SDK Learn More page.

Google Analytics itself isn't supported on desktop platforms via any SDK, I believe. Sorry!

[DellaBitta]

Also, I recommend upvoting the linked ticket to get more votes for it to be put on a roadmap. Thanks!