Polyrepo Approach

The polyrepo approach maintains separate repositories for each design system package. Understanding the polyrepo approach helps organizations evaluate whether repository-per-package structures suit their needs better than monorepo alternatives.

What Is the Polyrepo Approach

The polyrepo approach places each design system package in its own repository. Each repository has independent version control, CI/CD pipelines, and release processes. Packages connect through dependency declarations rather than shared repository structure.

Polyrepo contrasts with monorepo approaches where all packages share a single repository. Each approach has tradeoffs; polyrepos favor independence while monorepos favor coordination.

How the Polyrepo Approach Works

Repository isolation gives each package independent version control. Teams can work on packages without affecting others. Access control can restrict who can modify each package. History remains focused on specific packages.

Independent CI/CD configures pipelines per repository. Each package can have CI/CD optimized for its needs. Failures in one package do not block others. However, cross-package testing requires additional coordination.

Dependency management connects packages through explicit dependencies. Packages declare dependencies on specific versions of other packages. Updates require explicit version changes. Dependency management tooling helps coordinate versions.

Coordination mechanisms address cross-package concerns. When changes span packages, coordination requires explicit effort. Meta-repositories, automation, or manual processes can facilitate coordination.

Key Considerations

• Repository isolation provides independence but complicates coordination
• Independent CI/CD enables optimization but requires more setup
• Dependency management requires explicit attention
• Cross-package changes need coordination mechanisms
• Governance should address repository-spanning concerns

Common Questions

When is polyrepo preferable to monorepo?

Polyrepo suits organizations with truly independent packages, different teams owning different packages, or strong preferences for repository isolation. If packages rarely change together and teams work independently, polyrepo overhead may be justified by isolation benefits.

How do polyrepos handle cross-package changes?

Cross-package changes require coordinated releases across repositories. Common approaches include automation that propagates changes, tooling that coordinates releases, or manual processes with documented procedures. Coordination overhead is a significant polyrepo tradeoff.

How do polyrepos affect developer experience?

Developers working across packages must clone multiple repositories, understand multiple CI/CD configurations, and coordinate changes across repositories. Some developers find focused repositories clearer. Others find the fragmentation inconvenient.

Summary

The polyrepo approach maintains separate repositories for design system packages. Success requires accepting coordination overhead in exchange for isolation benefits. Organizations should choose polyrepo when independence matters more than coordination convenience.