Concepts, Type Packages, and Project Organization - Textnotes

Concepts, Type Packages, and Project Organization

Learn how to manage multiple TypeScript projects in a single repository using monorepos. This module explains monorepo concepts, creating shared type packages, and organizing projects for scalability and maintainability

1. Monorepo Concepts

A monorepo manages multiple related projects in a single repository. This approach promotes code sharing, consistency, and easier dependency management.

Benefits

  1. Share code across projects without publishing packages
  2. Consistent development environment
  3. Simplified versioning and CI/CD

Tools

  1. Nx: Powerful monorepo tool for TypeScript/JavaScript projects
  2. Turborepo: High-performance build system for monorepos
  3. Lerna: Package manager and orchestrator for monorepos

2. Shared Type Packages

Creating shared type packages allows multiple projects to use the same TypeScript interfaces, types, and enums.

Example Structure


monorepo/
├─ packages/
│ ├─ shared-types/
│ │ ├─ src/
│ │ │ └─ user.ts
│ │ ├─ package.json
│ │ └─ tsconfig.json
│ ├─ service-a/
│ └─ service-b/

Shared Types Example


// packages/shared-types/src/user.ts
export interface User {
id: number;
name: string;
email: string;
}

Projects can reference shared types via local dependencies or workspace configuration:


npm install ../shared-types

3. Project Organization

Organizing a monorepo with clear folder structure ensures maintainability and scalability.

Recommended Structure


monorepo/
├─ packages/
│ ├─ shared-types/ # Common interfaces and types
│ ├─ backend/ # API service
│ ├─ frontend/ # React app
│ └─ utils/ # Shared utility functions
├─ package.json # Root package.json
└─ tsconfig.base.json # Base TypeScript config

Best Practices

  1. Use tsconfig references to link projects and enable incremental builds
  2. Keep shared types in a dedicated package
  3. Avoid tight coupling between services
  4. Maintain consistent coding standards across projects

Proper organization simplifies dependency management, testing, and deployment.

Conclusion

Monorepos with shared types streamline TypeScript project management, improve code reuse, and enhance maintainability. Clear project organization and shared type packages ensure scalable and consistent development across multiple applications.