Optimizing Repository Structure for Unified Web, Mobile, and API Development: Key Considerations
When embarking on a multi-platform development project, choosing the right repository (repo) architecture is crucial for maintainability, efficiency, and scalability. This article explores best practices for organizing web, mobile, and backend API codebases, especially when aiming for shared logic and seamless integration.
Project Overview
Consider a project with the following components:
- Web Application: Built using React and TanStack Router
- Mobile Application: Developed with React Native, sharing as much code as possible with the web version
- Backend API: Powered by Fastify, serving data to both web and mobile clients
A primary goal is to maximize code reuse—particularly authentication logic (leveraging BetterAuth), shared API request functions, and possibly other business logic—across platforms.
Key Questions in Repository Architecture
- Should the web and mobile applications reside within a single monorepo, or are separate repositories preferable?
- Should the backend API be included within the same monorepo or maintained separately?
- What are the potential pitfalls or edge cases associated with sharing logic between React (web) and React Native (mobile), such as API clients or authentication modules?
Understanding Monorepos vs. Multiple Repositories
Monorepo Advantages
- Unified codebase: Easier to share code, especially for shared logic like authentication, API interfaces, and utility functions.
- Simplified dependency management: Centralized updates and version consistency.
- Streamlined development workflow: Easier coordination across web and mobile teams.
Monorepo Disadvantages
- Complexity: Larger repositories can be more challenging to manage, especially as they grow.
- Build and deployment considerations: Requires sophisticated tooling (e.g., Nx, Lerna) to optimize build processes.
- Potential for conflicts: Increased risk of merge conflicts due to multiple teams working simultaneously.
Separate Repositories
- Isolation: Clear separation of concerns, potentially simplifying individual workflows.
- Flexibility: Teams can adopt different deployment or release strategies.
- Fragmented code sharing: Additional effort needed to share logic, perhaps via npm packages or internal registries.
In general, for projects where sharing code is significant and coordination is high, a monorepo often provides tangible benefits.
Including the API Backend
Deciding whether the API backend should reside within the monorepo depends on your workflow:
- Within the monorepo: Facilitates tight
