Turborepo vs Nx: Which Monorepo Tool is Right for You?

As modern development grows in complexity, monorepos have become increasingly popular. They allow multiple projects or packages to be stored in a single repository, simplifying dependency management and fostering better collaboration. Two of the top tools for managing monorepos are Turborepo and Nx.

Both tools are designed to improve efficiency and scalability in handling monorepos, but they have distinct strengths. In this article, we’ll compare Turborepo and Nx, and walk through a simple example to help you see how they work.

What is a Monorepo?

A monorepo is a repository that stores the code for multiple projects in one place, as opposed to a multi-repo setup where each project has its own repository. Monorepos bring several benefits:

• Code sharing: It’s easier to manage shared code and dependencies across projects.
• Better team collaboration: Everything is in one place, making code reviews, dependency tracking, and CI/CD pipelines easier to manage.

However, monorepos can grow very large and require specialized tools to manage builds, tests, and deployments efficiently. Enter Turborepo and Nx.

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What is Turborepo?

Turborepo is a high-performance build system designed for JavaScript/TypeScript monorepos. It emphasizes speed, using advanced caching mechanisms and parallel execution to handle large projects efficiently.

Key Features of Turborepo:

1. Distributed Caching: Turborepo caches build results and shares them across environments, reducing redundant builds.
2. Parallel Execution: It runs tasks like builds or tests in parallel, improving speed across the board.
3. Minimal Configuration: Getting started with Turborepo is straightforward, with minimal setup required.
4. JavaScript/TypeScript Focus: Turborepo is optimized specifically for JavaScript and TypeScript projects.

What is Nx?

Nx is a powerful build system originally created by Nrwl for managing large-scale monorepos. Although it started as an Angular-specific tool, it now supports many frameworks and languages, including React, Node.js, and even non-JS tools like Go.

Key Features of Nx:

1. Plugin Ecosystem: Nx provides built-in support for many frameworks like React, Angular, and NestJS through plugins.
2. Smart Build System: It uses advanced dependency graphs and caching to build only what is necessary.
3. Structured Workspaces: Nx is designed for large-scale monorepos, offering structure and tooling for multiple teams.
4. Code Generation: Nx comes with CLI tools for generating new apps, libraries, or components.
5. Rich CLI: Nx has commands to visualize dependency graphs, check affected projects, and more.

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Comparing Turborepo and Nx

1. Ease of Setup

• Turborepo: Quick to set up with minimal configuration, ideal for those who want to get started fast with JavaScript/TypeScript monorepos.
• Nx: Offers a more extensive setup with lots of tooling and structure, suitable for larger teams or those using multiple frameworks.

2. Framework Support

• Turborepo: Focuses on JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks like React, Next.js, and Node.js.
• Nx: Supports a wider range of frameworks through plugins, including Angular, React, and even non-JS languages like Go.

3. Build Performance and Caching

• Turborepo: Known for distributed caching and pipeline parallelism, making it extremely fast for large-scale JS/TS builds.
• Nx: Also offers intelligent build caching and task optimization, using a dependency graph to determine the minimum required builds.

4. Tooling and Ecosystem

• Turborepo: A more focused tool for build and task management in JS/TS monorepos, with a simple configuration.
• Nx: A richer ecosystem with features like code scaffolding, visual dependency graphs, and advanced workspace management, making it great for polyglot teams.

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Example: Setting Up a Simple Monorepo

Here’s a basic example of how to set up a monorepo using Turborepo and Nx.

Example with Turborepo

1. Initialize the Monorepo:

   npx create-turbo@latest

1. Run Commands: To build, lint, or test across the entire workspace:

   turbo run build

1. Configure turbo.json for parallel builds:

   {
     "pipeline": {
       "build": {
         "dependsOn": ["^build"],
         "outputs": ["dist/**"]
       }
     }
   }

Example with Nx

1. Initialize the Workspace:

   npx create-nx-workspace@latest

1. Add a New Project: Generate a React application within the workspace:

   nx generate @nrwl/react:application my-app

1. Run the Build: Build the application using Nx:

   nx build my-app

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Conclusion

Both Turborepo and Nx are powerful tools for managing monorepos, but they cater to different needs:

• Turborepo is ideal for JavaScript/TypeScript projects with a focus on performance and simplicity. It’s fast to set up and excels at caching and parallelism.
• Nx is more suited for large, multi-framework teams who need advanced features like workspace management, code generation, and support for various languages and frameworks.

Choose Turborepo if you want a fast, focused solution for JS/TS monorepos. Opt for Nx if you need a more structured toolset with plugin support for a broader range of technologies.

Try them out and see which one works best for your team!