In modern software development, managing multiple projects or packages within a single repository can significantly enhance productivity and collaboration and optimize build processes significantly. This architecture is known as Monorepo. Monorepo’s allow teams to share code, streamline dependency management, and maintain consistency across projects.

Why should you care about Monorepo’s?
Picture this: You’re working on a project with shared components, utilities, and multiple applications. In a traditional multi-repo setup, you’d be jumping between repositories, managing duplicate dependencies, and probably pulling your hair out trying to keep everything in sync.

Monorepos solve this by keeping all your code in one place. Think of it as having all your tools in one well-organized toolbox instead of scattered across your garage.

Enter Turborepo: Your Build System on Steroids
Turborepo isn’t just another build tool — it’s like having a super-efficient assistant who knows exactly what needs to be done and in what order. Here’s what makes it special:

  • It remembers what it’s built before (Caching), so you’re not wasting time rebuilding unchanged code.
  • It can work on multiple tasks at once (Parallelization), like a master chef managing multiple dishes.
  • It understands how your projects depend on each other, ensuring everything builds in the right order (Dependency Graph).

Getting Started in 5 minutes
Here’s the quickest way to dive in:

in your terminal:

npx create-turbo@latest

This command sets up a starter project with everything you need. You’ll get a structure like this:

my-turborepo/
├── apps/        # Your applications live here
├── packages/    # Shared code goes here (like resuable ui components)
├── turbo.json   # Turborepo's configuration
└── package.json # Main package configuration

This might be handy!

  • Start Small: Begin your migration by moving one project at a time into the Turborepo structure. This gradual approach allows you to manage complexity and ensure each project is correctly configured before expanding.
  • Leverage Caching: Make the most of Turborepo’s caching capabilities by clearly defining task dependencies. This ensures that when tasks are executed, only the necessary ones run, significantly speeding up your CI pipelines and reducing redundant work.
  • Focus on Shared Packages: Keep your shared packages concise and well-documented. This practice not only enhances maintainability but also ensures that other projects can easily understand and utilize these shared resources without confusion.

Conclusion
Monorepos with Turborepo aren’t just about keeping code in one place — they’re about building more efficiently, collaborating more effectively, and spending less time on configuration and more time on creation.

Whether you’re a solo developer or part of a large team, the benefits of this approach are clear. The initial setup might take a bit of time, but the long-term gains in productivity and maintainability are worth it.

Ready to give it a try? Start with a small project and see the difference for yourself. Trust me, your future self will thank you.