What is Monorepo?
A single version control repository that contains multiple distinct projects, packages, or services. All code lives in one repository but is organized into separate packages.
In plain English
A monorepo is like a shared office building where different departments each have their own floor, but share the building's infrastructure — lobby, elevators, utilities. They're independent teams with their own space, but coordination and resource sharing is much easier than if they were in separate buildings.
How it works
A monorepo contains multiple packages or projects in a structured directory layout. Tools like Turborepo, Nx, or pnpm workspaces manage dependencies between packages, run builds in the correct order, and cache results. For example, your Next.js frontend, shared component library, and API server could all live in one repository with shared TypeScript configs and utility packages.
Why it matters for AI-built apps
As AI-built projects grow, code often gets duplicated across frontend and backend, shared types fall out of sync, and deployment becomes fragmented. A monorepo lets you share code, types, and configs between packages while keeping them logically separated. AI coding tools work well within monorepos since they can see all related code in context.
Common issues
Slow CI/CD builds without proper caching, complex dependency management, large git clones, unclear package boundaries, oversharing between packages (defeating the purpose), and difficulty setting up the initial monorepo tooling.
Best practices
Use a monorepo tool (Turborepo is the simplest for Next.js projects). Define clear package boundaries — each package should have a single responsibility. Share types and utilities as internal packages. Configure incremental builds and caching. Use consistent linting and TypeScript configs across packages. Keep packages loosely coupled — they should communicate through well-defined interfaces.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a monorepo for my project?
If you have multiple related packages (frontend, backend, shared libraries) that share code or types, a monorepo simplifies coordination. For a single Next.js app with no shared packages, it's unnecessary complexity. A good middle ground: start with a simple project, and restructure into a monorepo when you add a second significant package (mobile app, separate backend, shared library).
Which monorepo tool should I use?
For Next.js projects, Turborepo is the most straightforward choice — it's built by Vercel and integrates seamlessly. Nx is more feature-rich but more complex. pnpm workspaces provide basic monorepo support without additional tooling. Start with Turborepo unless you have specific needs that require Nx's advanced features.
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