What is Monorepo ?

Have you ever built a full-stack application (without fullstack framework like NextJS), if yes so you might definitely know that you need to build two projects (frontend and backend) and need to write and build everything separately for both of them. But a monorepo allows to handle that development process more efficiently so that we do not need to build same utility everything, handle both project together not separately.

A monorepo is a single repository containing multiple distinct projects, with well-defined relationships. It is a standard method of using multiple projects in one repository or folder.

Companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Uber uses monorepos to streamline software development across their diverse product suites. Modern companies often require a complex ecosystem of software, including web applications, APIs, Android and iOS apps, and testing suites. Managing these projects in isolation frequently leads to inefficiencies; teams often operate in isolation, unaware of redundant efforts pilling up or shared utility requirements. Furthermore, since frontend applications and APIs are inherently interdependent, a monorepo approach facilitates better integration, fosters code reuse, and significantly accelerates both development cycles and CI/CD pipelines.

Isn't it clutter everything if used in same place?

That's where tools like pnpm/npm/yarn/bun workspaces with Nx or Turborepo helps. These tools allows to structure monorepo, define relations, define ownership, configure CI/CD pipelines with workspace. Whereas you can use both of them separately as well, package managers for package management and tools for task management. But together they provide packages and task management that helps in overall development of project.

what is workspace ?

It generally means that you have a Container that contains everything which your company needs in a monorepo form/structure. These workspaces are highly effective in establishing relations, allowing centralized or individual access of projects.

. Monorepos actually provide excellent isolation and efficiency. For example, if Team A is working on Project A, and it has no dependencies or shared state, it remains completely independent. If Team B makes changes to Project B, the monorepo will only rebuild Project B, leaving Project A untouched. Furthermore, if Project C depends on Project B, the system will only update Projects B and C to reflect those changes.

(popular one) or and Rush., respectively to handle their codebase scale. This highlights the proven effectiveness and scalability of the monorepos.

Have you ever used a monorepo? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

Thanks for reading! ❤️

Abhinav.