React native monorepo with PNPM

Managing React Native Monorepo projects with PNPM offers significant advantages, primarily due to its efficient dependency management and disk space optimization. Below are the steps and best practices for using PNPM to manage React Native Monorepo projects:

Step 1: Create the Monorepo Structure

1. Initialize the Monorepo - First, establish a repository to host all projects. Initialize your repository using pnpm:

   bash
   mkdir my-monorepo
   cd my-monorepo
   pnpm init -y

2. Configure PNPM Workspaces - Update the package.json file to define workspaces:

   json
   {
     "name": "my-monorepo",
     "private": true,
     "workspaces": [
       "packages/*"
     ]
   }

   This configuration instructs PNPM that every folder within the packages directory is a distinct package.

Step 2: Set Up React Native Projects

1. Create a React Native Project - Generate a new React Native project under the packages directory:

   bash
   npx react-native init MyApp --template react-native-template-typescript
   mv MyApp packages/

2. Configure Workspace Integration - Adjust React Native settings as needed, such as configuring the Metro bundler to resolve modules across the monorepo structure.

Step 3: Add Shared Libraries or Components

1. Create Shared Components - Develop additional packages in packages, for example, a shared UI library:

   bash
   cd packages
   mkdir ui-components
   cd ui-components
   pnpm init -y

2. Install Dependencies - Add required dependencies:

   bash
   pnpm add react react-native

3. Reference Shared Components - Import these shared components into your React Native application.

Step 4: Dependency Management

1. Install Dependencies - Execute:

   bash
   pnpm install

   This command installs all necessary dependencies based on each package's package.json.

2. Handle Cross-Package Dependencies - When a package depends on modules from another package, ensure dependencies are correctly declared in package.json and use pnpm link to reference local packages.

Step 5: Maintenance and Optimization

1. Optimize Storage - PNPM minimizes redundant dependencies through hard links and symbolic links, reducing disk usage in monorepo structures.
2. Improve Performance - Properly configure Metro bundler and Babel to avoid build and runtime bottlenecks.
3. Implement CI/CD - Integrate continuous integration and deployment pipelines to automate testing, building, and deployment processes.

Real-World Example

In a previous project, we used PNPM to manage three React Native applications and two shared libraries within a monorepo. By configuring metro.config.js and babel.config.js for Metro bundler, we ensured correct resolution of monorepo dependencies. This approach streamlined our development workflow, enhanced code reusability, and improved maintainability. Ultimately, PNPM enabled efficient dependency management, faster build times, and a clearer, more modular project structure.