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.
Does monorepo builds everything, regardless of which part changed?
No, that is not how a monorepo works; a monorepo is not the same as a monolith. 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.
I get it what is Monorepo but how to use it ??
Their are various tools available that allows to use Monorepo in your project such as: Nx and Turborepo combined with a package manager of your choice (pnpm is standard choice), all package managers supports workspaces so that you can add and link packages in your monorepo seamlessly. Based on your requirements, you can opt for Turborepo (popular one) or Nx (more professional one).
Here's a comparison of both Turborepo and Nx to make a informed choice:
| Feature | Turborepo | Nx |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | Minimal | Full featured |
| Ease | Easy to Use | Needs detailed setup |
| Configuration | Minimal (turbo.json) |
Moderate (nx.json, project.json) |
| Primary Goal | Fast task running & caching | Full monorepo platform & governance |
| Ecosystem Support | JS/TS-based | Native/Plugin-based (Go, Rust, etc.) |
| Code Generation | Template-based (basic) | Advanced (AST-aware, programmatic) |
| CI/CD | Efficient task caching | Advanced distribution (Nx Agents) |
If you aren't sure, start with Turborepo. It is much easier to start with and provides 80% of the value (caching and fast task execution) for most teams. If you eventually reach a point where you feel "boxed in" or need stronger architectural guardrails and advanced CI features, you can migrate to Nx.
Conclusion
Monorepos are a highly efficient architectural choice in software development, enabling teams to work faster and more effectively. Tools like Turborepo have made this approach accessible to smaller teams as well. Companies like Google and Microsoft have even developed their own custom monorepo solutions, such as Bazel 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! ❤️
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