Monorepo vs. Multi Repo: Which One is Right for you?

As software development teams grow in size and complexity, the decision of whether to use a monorepo or a multi repo architecture becomes increasingly important. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and choosing the wrong one can lead to significant challenges down the road.

We'll explore the differences between monorepo and multi repo architectures, and help you determine which one is right for your development team.

Monorepo vs. Multi Repo: A Brief Overview

Before we dive into the pros and cons of each approach, let's take a quick look at what monorepo and multi repo architectures are.

A monorepo is a single repository that contains all of the code for a given project or set of related projects. This means that all code for all services, libraries, and applications is stored in one central location.

In contrast, a multi repo architecture consists of multiple repositories, each containing the code for a separate service, library, or application.

Monorepo vs. Multi Repo: Pros and Cons

Monorepo and multi repo architectures each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the key factors to consider when choosing between the two:

Code Reusability: Monorepos make it easy to share code across different services and applications, since all code is stored in one central location. Multi repos, on the other hand, require developers to copy code from one repository to another, which can lead to duplication and inconsistencies.

Build and Deployment Speed: Monorepos can have longer build times and deployment times, since changes to any part of the codebase require rebuilding and redeploying the entire system. Multi repos, on the other hand, can be faster to build and deploy, since changes to one service or application do not affect the others.

Collaboration: Monorepos make it easier for developers to collaborate and share knowledge, since all code is stored in one central location. Multi repos, on the other hand, can make it harder for developers to see what other teams are working on, since each team has its own separate repository.

Version Control: Monorepos provide a single version history for all code, which can make it easier to track changes and roll back to previous versions. Multi repos, on the other hand, can make it harder to manage version control, since each repository has its own separate history.

Complexity: Monorepos can become more complex and difficult to manage as the codebase grows in size and complexity. Multi repos, on the other hand, can make it easier to manage code for separate services and applications, but can become more difficult to manage as the number of repositories grows.

Conclusion

Choosing between a monorepo and a multi repo architecture is an important decision that can have significant impacts on your development team's productivity, collaboration, and code quality. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and the right choice depends on the specific needs and goals of your team.

If your team values code reusability and collaboration, and is willing to accept longer build and deployment times, a monorepo may be the right choice. On the other hand, if your team values faster build and deployment times and simpler version control, and is willing to accept some duplication and inconsistency, a multi repo may be the better choice. Ultimately, the choice between monorepo and multi repo should be based on a careful evaluation of your specific needs.