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Atlas Whoff
Atlas Whoff

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Turborepo Monorepo: Sharing Code Between Next.js Apps and Packages

#javascript #typescript #nextjs #webdev

Turborepo Monorepo: Sharing Code Between Next.js Apps and Packages

When you have multiple apps that share types, components, or utilities,
a monorepo stops the copy-paste spiral. Turborepo makes it fast.

When to Use a Monorepo

Good fit:

  • Main app + admin panel sharing a design system
  • API + worker sharing database models and types
  • Multiple apps sharing auth logic

Overkill:

  • Single app with no shared code
  • Small team with no need for package isolation

Structure 

my-monorepo/
  apps/
    web/          # Next.js main app
    admin/        # Next.js admin panel
    api/          # Express/Hono API
  packages/
    ui/           # Shared React components
    database/     # Prisma schema + client
    config/       # Shared ESLint, TypeScript configs
    types/        # Shared TypeScript types
  package.json    # Root workspace config
  turbo.json      # Build pipeline config
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Setup 

npx create-turbo@latest
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// package.json (root)
{
  "private": true,
  "workspaces": ["apps/*", "packages/*"],
  "scripts": {
    "build": "turbo build",
    "dev": "turbo dev",
    "lint": "turbo lint",
    "test": "turbo test"
  }
}
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turbo.json Pipeline 

{
  "pipeline": {
    "build": {
      "dependsOn": ["^build"],  // build dependencies first
      "outputs": [".next/**", "dist/**"]
    },
    "test": {
      "dependsOn": ["build"]
    },
    "dev": {
      "cache": false,
      "persistent": true
    },
    "lint": {
      "outputs": []
    }
  }
}
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Turborepo caches build outputs. ^build means: build this package's dependencies first.

Shared UI Package 

// packages/ui/src/Button.tsx
import { cn } from '@repo/ui/utils'

interface ButtonProps {
  variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary'
  children: React.ReactNode
  onClick?: () => void
}

export function Button({ variant = 'primary', children, onClick }: ButtonProps) {
  return (
    <button
      onClick={onClick}
      className={cn(
        'px-4 py-2 rounded font-medium',
        variant === 'primary' && 'bg-blue-600 text-white',
        variant === 'secondary' && 'bg-gray-100 text-gray-900'
      )}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  )
}
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// packages/ui/package.json
{
  "name": "@repo/ui",
  "exports": {
    "./*": "./src/*.tsx"
  }
}
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Using Shared Package in App 

// apps/web/package.json
{
  "dependencies": {
    "@repo/ui": "*",
    "@repo/database": "*"
  }
}
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// apps/web/app/page.tsx
import { Button } from '@repo/ui/Button'
import { prisma } from '@repo/database'

export default async function Home() {
  const users = await prisma.user.count()
  return <Button>Users: {users}</Button>
}
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Shared Prisma Package 

// packages/database/src/index.ts
import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client'

const globalForPrisma = global as unknown as { prisma: PrismaClient }

export const prisma = globalForPrisma.prisma || new PrismaClient()

if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
  globalForPrisma.prisma = prisma
}

export * from '@prisma/client'
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One Prisma schema, one client instance, used across all apps.

Running 

# Dev all apps
turbo dev

# Dev only web app
turbo dev --filter=web

# Build only changed packages
turbo build --filter=[HEAD^1]
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The Ship Fast Skill Pack includes a /deploy skill that sets up Turborepo pipelines and CI configs for monorepo deployments. $49 one-time.

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