Monorepo:
- In a monorepo approach, all the code is stored in a single repository.
- The monorepo approach can help teams to share code and avoid duplicating code across multiple projects.
- It can also help to maintain a consistent versioning across the codebase.
- An example of a project that uses a monorepo approach is Google’s Chromium browser.
Multiple repos:
- In a multiple repo approach, each project or module is stored in its own repository.
- The multiple repo approach can help teams to manage code more easily, especially for larger codebases.
- It can also provide more granular control over each project or module.
- An example of a project that uses a multiple repo approach is React, where the core library and different plugins are maintained in separate repositories.
Here are some examples of how a monorepo and multiple repos compare:
- Code Sharing: With a monorepo, code sharing is much easier since all the code is in one place. In a multiple repo setup, sharing code requires setting up and maintaining multiple repositories, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.
- Consistency: In a monorepo, it’s easier to enforce consistency across projects since everything is in one place. With multiple repositories, it can be challenging to ensure that all the projects are using the same versions of libraries, tools, and configurations.
- Build & Test: A monorepo can have a single build and test process for all projects, which is simpler and more efficient than building and testing each project separately in a multiple repo setup.
- Deployment: In a monorepo, deploying multiple projects is more manageable since all the projects are in one place. With multiple repos, deployment can be a complex process, requiring coordination between multiple repositories.
- Collaboration: In a monorepo, it’s easier for developers to collaborate since they have access to all the code in one place. With multiple repos, collaboration requires setting up and maintaining multiple repositories, which can be a barrier to collaboration.
For example, consider a company that has several web applications, each with its own repository. In a multiple repo setup, if two applications need to share code, they must set up a process to share the code, maintain the code in both repositories, and keep it up-to-date. In a monorepo setup, the shared code can be in one place and shared easily across all applications, reducing the overhead and ensuring consistency.
Ultimately, the choice between a monorepo and multiple repo approach depends on the specific needs and goals of the development team.
