Rajesh Natarajan

Posted on Jan 17

How to Build a Monorepo with Next.js

How to Build a Monorepo with Next.js

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world of web development, managing multiple projects or applications can quickly become a headache. Enter monorepos—a single repository that houses multiple projects, enabling seamless code sharing, streamlined dependency management, and improved collaboration. In this blog, we’ll dive into how to build a monorepo using Next.js, one of the most popular React frameworks for building server-rendered applications.

Whether you’re working on a large-scale project or just want to keep your codebase organized, a monorepo can be a game-changer. Let’s get started!

What is a Monorepo?

A monorepo is a single version-controlled repository that contains multiple projects or packages. Instead of managing separate repositories for each project, everything lives under one roof. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have been using monorepos for years to manage their massive codebases.

Key Benefits of a Monorepo

Code Reusability: Share components, utilities, and configurations across multiple projects.
Simplified Dependency Management: Manage all dependencies in one place, reducing version conflicts.
Streamlined Collaboration: Teams can work on multiple projects simultaneously without juggling multiple repositories.
Consistent Tooling: Use the same linting, testing, and build tools across all projects.

Why Use Next.js in a Monorepo?

Next.js is a powerful framework for building React applications with features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes. When combined with a monorepo, Next.js becomes even more powerful. Here’s why:

Shared Components: Reuse UI components, hooks, and utilities across multiple Next.js apps.
Centralized Configuration: Manage configurations like ESLint, Prettier, and TypeScript in one place.
Improved Developer Experience: Speed up development by avoiding redundant code and configurations.

Setting Up a Monorepo with Next.js

Step 1: Install Required Tools

Before we start, make sure you have the following installed:

Node.js (v16 or higher)
npm or Yarn (we’ll use npm in this tutorial)
A monorepo management tool like Turborepo, Nx, or Lerna

For this guide, we’ll use Turborepo, a high-performance build system designed specifically for JavaScript and TypeScript monorepos.

npm install -g turbo

Step 2: Create the Monorepo Structure

Initialize a new monorepo:

   mkdir nextjs-monorepo
   cd nextjs-monorepo
   npm init -y

Install Turborepo as a dev dependency:

   npm install turbo --save-dev

Create a turbo.json file to define the build pipeline:

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

Step 3: Add Next.js Applications

Create two Next.js apps inside the monorepo:

   npx create-next-app@latest app1
   npx create-next-app@latest app2

Organize the apps into a packages folder:

   nextjs-monorepo/
   ├── packages/
   │   ├── app1/
   │   └── app2/
   ├── turbo.json
   └── package.json

Step 4: Share Code Between Apps

One of the biggest advantages of a monorepo is the ability to share code between projects. Let’s create a shared package for reusable components.

Create a shared package:

   mkdir packages/shared
   cd packages/shared
   npm init -y

Add a simple React component (e.g., Button.js):

   export default function Button({ children }) {
     return <button>{children}</button>;
   }

Link the shared package to your Next.js apps:
- In app1/package.json and app2/package.json, add:
```
 "dependencies": {
   "shared": "*"
 }
```

Run npm install in each app to link the shared package.

Step 5: Run and Build the Monorepo

Start the development server for all apps:

   turbo run dev

Build all apps:

   turbo run build

Why Turborepo is a Game-Changer

Turborepo is designed to make monorepos faster and more efficient. Here’s why it stands out:

Caching: Turborepo caches build outputs, so you don’t have to rebuild unchanged code.
Parallel Execution: Tasks are run in parallel, significantly reducing build times.
Scalability: It’s built to handle large monorepos with ease, making it ideal for growing projects.

Conclusion

Building a monorepo with Next.js can transform your development workflow by enabling code reuse, simplifying dependency management, and fostering collaboration. By leveraging tools like Turborepo, you can create a scalable and efficient monorepo structure for your Next.js applications.

Ready to give it a try?

Study Materials

1. Monorepo Concepts

What is a Monorepo?: Monorepo Explained by Microsoft
Monorepo Tools: Turborepo, Nx, Lerna

2. Next.js Documentation

3. Tutorials and Guides

4. Advanced Topics

Microfrontends with Monorepos: Microfrontends Guide
CI/CD for Monorepos: CircleCI Monorepo Tutorial

Example Repository

Here’s the structure of the example repository:

nextjs-monorepo/
├── packages/
│   ├── app1/
│   ├── app2/
│   └── shared/
├── turbo.json
└── package.json

Let me know if you’d like further refinements or additional sections! This version is designed to be engaging, informative, and easy to follow for developers of all levels.

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