I first encountered the concept of a monorepo when I was trying to deploy the backend and frontend of a project separately. The project folder had /backend and /frontend folders, and I was trying to deploy the frontend to Vercel. But when Vercel asked for the GitHub repository, it selected the entire repo, and of course, the deployment failed! That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of Monorepo while researching how to select subfolders.
In the world of software development, there are various approaches to managing projects. One of the increasingly popular ones in recent years is the “monorepo” approach.
What is a Monorepo?
A monorepo is essentially managing multiple projects in a single code repository. Instead of creating separate repositories for each project, we gather them all under one roof. It might sound complex at first, but it’s very useful, especially for large and complex projects.
Advantages of a Monorepo
- Easy Code Sharing: Sharing code is very easy in a monorepo. Common libraries and components are stored in one place. This saves us from writing the same code over and over again.
- Dependency Management: Since all projects are in the same place, we manage dependencies from a single point. This reduces dependency conflicts and version issues.
- Controlled Large Changes: Changes made in a single repository can affect multiple projects. This allows us to make large changes in a more controlled manner.
- Development Speed: Code sharing and simplified dependency management speed up development. Switching between different projects and testing changes becomes easier.
- Everything in Sight: Since all code is in one place, the overall visibility of projects increases. Collaboration between different teams also becomes easier.
Disadvantages of a Monorepo
- Repository Size: Since all projects are in one repository, the repository size can become large. This can lead to performance issues, especially in large projects.
- Complexity: Monorepos containing many projects and dependencies can have a complex structure. The learning process can be challenging, especially for beginners.
- Authorization: Authorization and access control can become more complex in a monorepo. It can sometimes be challenging to ensure that each team only has access to their own project.
- Tools and Infrastructure: Monorepos may require special tools and infrastructure. Special build and test tools may need to be used to improve performance, especially in large repositories.
Where Can We Use Monorepos?
Monorepos are ideal, especially for large and complex projects. For example:
- Large-scale web applications
- Mobile applications (both iOS and Android)
- Microservice-based applications
- Open source projects
In Conclusion…
A monorepo is a great approach when used correctly. But it may not be suitable for every project. By considering the size, complexity, and team structure of your project, you can decide whether a monorepo is right for you.
