Monorepo Structure

Monorepo structure organizes multiple design system packages within a single repository. Implementing effective monorepo structure enables coordinated development, shared tooling, and simplified cross-package changes while maintaining package independence for consumers.

What Is Monorepo Structure

A monorepo structure places all design system packages in a single version-controlled repository. Packages share development tooling, testing infrastructure, and release processes while remaining independently consumable. Monorepos have become popular for design systems due to coordination benefits.

Monorepos contrast with polyrepo approaches where each package has its own repository. Each approach has tradeoffs; monorepos favor coordination while polyrepos favor independence.

How Monorepo Structure Works

Directory organization arranges packages within the repository. Common patterns include packages directory containing all packages, grouping by type (components, tokens, utilities), or grouping by platform. Organization should be intuitive and scalable.

Shared configuration centralizes tooling configuration. Build tools, testing frameworks, linting rules, and formatting standards can be shared across packages. Shared configuration ensures consistency while reducing duplication.

Dependency management handles relationships between packages. Internal dependencies reference sibling packages. Tooling must understand these relationships for proper build ordering and version resolution. Monorepo tools like workspaces features help manage internal dependencies.

Build and test orchestration coordinates operations across packages. Tools determine which packages need rebuilding based on changes. Parallel execution speeds up operations. Intelligent caching reduces redundant work.

Key Considerations

• Directory organization should be intuitive and scalable
• Shared configuration reduces duplication and ensures consistency
• Dependency management requires appropriate tooling
• Build orchestration should be efficient at scale
• Documentation should explain monorepo conventions

Common Questions

What tools support design system monorepos?

Common tools include npm/yarn workspaces for dependency management, Lerna for versioning and publishing, Nx or Turborepo for build orchestration, and Changesets for changelog management. Tool selection depends on specific needs and complexity.

How do monorepos affect CI/CD?

Monorepos can strain CI/CD with large builds. Intelligent CI that builds only affected packages addresses this. Caching reduces redundant work. Some organizations use specialized CI tools designed for monorepos.

How do monorepos handle versioning?

Monorepos support both independent versioning (each package versions separately) and fixed versioning (all packages share a version). Independent versioning offers flexibility; fixed versioning simplifies compatibility. Many organizations use independent versioning with coordinated major releases.

Summary

Monorepo structure organizes multiple packages in a single repository for coordinated development. Success requires thoughtful directory organization, appropriate tooling, and efficient build orchestration. Organizations should consider monorepos when coordination benefits outweigh the added complexity.