Monorepo Madness: Should Your Startup Embrace TurboRepo in 2025?

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As startups race to ship faster, scale smarter, and keep teams aligned, one question keeps popping up: Should we use a monorepo?

In 2025, the monorepo model is no longer just for big tech. Thanks to tools like TurboRepo, small and growing teams can now reap the benefits of monorepos without the overhead and complexity they once carried.

But is TurboRepo the right choice for your startup? Let’s break down the pros, the challenges, and how to know if this tool fits your workflow.

What Is a Monorepo?

A monorepo (monolithic repository) is a single codebase that houses multiple projects—frontend apps, backend services, shared libraries, and even infrastructure code. Instead of juggling multiple repositories, teams collaborate in one centralized environment.

When executed well, monorepos offer advantages like:

  • Better code sharing and reuse
  • Easier refactoring across projects
  • Unified CI/CD pipelines
  • Improved cross-functional team collaboration

Why TurboRepo?

TurboRepo, maintained by Vercel, is a high-performance monorepo build system for JavaScript and TypeScript. It allows you to:

  • Run builds and tests in parallel
  • Cache task results locally and remotely
  • Only re-run tasks on changed files
  • Integrate easily with tools like Next.js, Vite, and Node.js

TurboRepo brings big-team tooling into the hands of startups and solo developers without sacrificing speed or simplicity.

Why More Startups Are Choosing TurboRepo in 2025

1. Faster Build and Deployment Cycles
TurboRepo’s caching and parallel task execution cut down CI times dramatically—especially important for teams deploying multiple times per day.

2. Shared Code Without the Headaches
Teams can share UI kits, API types, and utilities between apps without needing to version or publish packages to npm.

3. Strong Developer Experience
A consistent structure and tooling mean developers onboard faster and move more confidently between projects.

4. Scalable CI/CD Pipelines
TurboRepo integrates well with platforms like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Vercel, helping you scale your CI/CD pipelines with minimal configuration.

Things to Watch Out For

While TurboRepo is powerful, it’s not a silver bullet.

  • Initial Learning Curve: Understanding how caching, task pipelines, and scopes work takes time.
  • Overhead in Simple Projects: If you’re only managing one app, TurboRepo might be overkill.
  • Monorepo Discipline: Without structure, a monorepo can become messy. Set conventions early.

Start small, document your setup, and evolve gradually to avoid complexity.

Alternatives to TurboRepo

While TurboRepo shines in the JavaScript ecosystem, there are other options depending on your tech stack and team size:

  • Nx – Feature-rich, especially for Angular and full-stack apps
  • Lage – Microsoft’s task runner, fast and simple
  • Bazel – Highly scalable but complex, great for enterprises
  • Moon – New, Rust-powered runner focused on speed and DX

Each has trade-offs, but TurboRepo hits a sweet spot between power and usability for most JS-focused startups.

Should Your Startup Use a Monorepo?

Use TurboRepo if:

  • You’re working with multiple apps or packages
  • You have a shared design system or utility libraries
  • You need to improve CI speed and reduce complexity
  • Your team is growing and needs consistency

Skip it for now if:

  • You’re working on a single frontend or backend app
  • You don’t yet need shared libraries or complex builds

Final Thoughts

Monorepos used to be something only FAANG companies could manage. Today, tools like TurboRepo make them viable—and even ideal—for lean, fast-moving startups.

If your team is hitting scaling issues with multiple repos, fighting CI delays, or duplicating code across projects, TurboRepo is worth serious consideration. It could be the foundation that keeps your velocity high without burning your team out.