Choosing Between Monorepos and Polyrepos: Best Practices for Agency Codebases

In the fast-paced world of digital agencies, the structure of your codebase can significantly impact productivity, collaboration, and scalability. As agencies juggle multiple client projects, choosing between a monolithic repository (monorepo) and multiple repositories (polyrepo) becomes a crucial decision. This post delves into the pros and cons of each approach to help you determine the best fit for your agency's needs.

Understanding Monorepos: A Unified Approach

A monorepo is a development strategy where code for many projects is stored in a single repository. This approach is favored by some of the biggest tech companies like Google and Facebook due to its numerous advantages:

Streamlined Collaboration

With a monorepo, all projects share the same version control system. This makes it easier for teams to collaborate, as changes to shared dependencies are instantly visible to everyone.

Simplified Dependency Management

Managing dependencies in a monorepo is straightforward because you only have one set of libraries for all your projects. This reduces the complexities associated with version mismatches and dependency conflicts.

Consistent Tooling and Scripts

Developers can use the same build tools, testing frameworks, and scripts across all projects, ensuring consistency and saving time that would otherwise be spent configuring these tools for different repositories.

However, monorepos also come with challenges. They require robust tooling to manage builds and testing efficiently, especially as the repository grows. Additionally, scaling a monorepo can demand significant server resources.

Exploring Polyrepos: Flexibility for Specific Needs

In contrast, a polyrepo approach involves maintaining separate repositories for each project. This method is typically preferred by agencies that need high levels of project isolation and flexibility.

Enhanced Security and Isolation

Each project in a polyrepo can be configured with its own permissions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data. This isolation extends to dependencies, reducing the ripple effect of changes.

Scalability and Autonomy

Teams can work independently on projects, which is particularly beneficial for agencies with multiple small teams focusing on different clients. Polyrepos allow for customized workflows and tooling suited to the specific needs of each project.

Easier Codebase Maintenance

Smaller, more focused repositories are generally easier to manage and navigate than a sprawling monorepo. This can lead to quicker onboarding for new developers and faster setup times for new projects.

Despite these benefits, polyrepos may lead to duplicated efforts in managing dependencies and tooling across projects. Communication between teams can also be hindered, as changes in one project might not be immediately known to another team working on a related project.

Choosing the Right Model for Your Agency

The decision between monorepos and polyrepos often comes down to the size of your team, the nature of your projects, and your specific operational needs:

• Consider a monorepo if: Your agency works on several interconnected projects with frequent cross-collaborations. The overhead of managing a large codebase is justified by the benefits of unified tooling and streamlined processes.
• Opt for polyrepos if: Your projects are diverse with different technology stacks, and autonomous teams work better in your operational structure. This will provide the flexibility needed without over-complicating project management.

Conclusion

Both monorepos and polyrepos have distinct advantages and challenges. By assessing your agency’s project management needs, team size, and workflow preferences, you can choose a codebase structure that not only enhances productivity but also aligns with your strategic goals. Remember, the right choice varies from one agency to another; what works for a multinational might not suit a boutique agency.