TypeScript in Monorepo

Greg Foster
Greg Foster
Graphite software engineer


Note

This guide explains this concept in vanilla Git. For Graphite documentation, see our CLI docs.


Using TypeScript in a monorepo setup can streamline the development process by ensuring type safety and facilitating code sharing across multiple projects. Here's how to effectively manage TypeScript in a monorepo environment.

Advantages of TypeScript in a Monorepo

  • Type Safety Across Projects: TypeScript's static typing provides a layer of reliability when sharing code between projects in a monorepo.

  • Easier Refactoring: With TypeScript, refactoring shared code is less error-prone due to its compile-time checking.

  • Improved Developer Experience: TypeScript enhances autocompletion, navigation, and understanding of the codebase.

Strategies for Managing TypeScript Typings

  • Centralized @types: Store TypeScript type definitions in a centralized location within the monorepo to ensure consistency.

  • Use of Project References: Utilize TypeScript's project references feature to manage build ordering and dependencies between projects.

  • Path Aliases: Configure path aliases in tsconfig.json to simplify imports and maintain a clean code structure.

Cross-Project References in a Monorepo

  • Consistent Versioning: Ensure all projects within the monorepo are using the same TypeScript version to avoid discrepancies in type checking.

  • Shared tsconfig Settings: Use a base tsconfig.json to share common compiler options across projects, while allowing individual customization.

Best Practices for Configuration

  • Modular tsconfig Files: Break down the tsconfig.json into smaller, extendable files to manage different aspects like compilation options and path mappings.

  • Incremental Builds: Leverage TypeScript's incremental build feature to speed up the compilation process by only rebuilding projects that have changed.

Dealing with Scalability

  • Code Splitting: Organize code into smaller, more manageable chunks to prevent bloating of any single project within the monorepo.

  • Efficient Build Tools: Use tools like Turbo or Nx that are optimized for monorepo setups to handle TypeScript builds efficiently.

On this page
Git inspired
Graphite's CLI and VS Code extension make working with Git effortless.
Learn more

Graphite
Git stacked on GitHub

Stacked pull requests are easier to read, easier to write, and easier to manage.
Teams that stack ship better software, faster.

Or install our CLI.
Product Screenshot 1
Product Screenshot 2