turborepo-monorepo

---
name: turborepo-monorepo
description: Provides comprehensive Turborepo monorepo management guidance for TypeScript/JavaScript projects. Use when creating Turborepo workspaces, configuring turbo.json tasks, setting up Next.js/NestJS apps, managing test pipelines (Vitest/Jest), configuring CI/CD, implementing remote caching, or optimizing build performance in monorepos
license: MIT
---

# Turborepo Monorepo

## Overview

Provides guidance for Turborepo monorepo management: workspace creation, `turbo.json` task configuration, Next.js/NestJS integration, testing pipelines (Vitest/Jest), CI/CD setup, and build performance optimization.

## When to Use

- Create or initialize Turborepo workspaces
- Configure `turbo.json` tasks with dependencies and outputs
- Set up Next.js/NestJS apps in monorepo structure
- Configure Vitest/Jest test pipelines
- Build CI/CD workflows (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)
- Implement remote caching with Vercel Remote Cache
- Optimize build times and cache hit ratios
- Debug task dependency or cache issues
- Migrate from other monorepo tools to Turborepo

## Instructions

### Workspace Creation

1. **Create a new workspace:**
   ```bash
   pnpm create turbo@latest my-workspace
   cd my-workspace
   ```

2. **Initialize in existing project:**
   ```bash
   pnpm add -D -w turbo
   ```

3. **Create turbo.json in root** (minimal config):
   ```json
   {
     "$schema": "https://turborepo.dev/schema.json",
     "pipeline": {
       "build": { "dependsOn": ["^build"], "outputs": ["dist/**", ".next/**"] },
       "lint": { "outputs": [] },
       "test": { "dependsOn": ["build"], "outputs": ["coverage/**"] }
     }
   }
   ```

4. **Add scripts to root package.json:**
   ```json
   { "scripts": { "build": "turbo run build", "dev": "turbo run dev", "lint": "turbo run lint", "test": "turbo run test", "clean": "turbo run clean" } }
   ```

5. **Validate task graph before CI:**
   ```bash
   turbo run build --dry-run --filter=...  # Verify task execution order
   ```

### Task Configuration

1. **Configure tasks** in `turbo.json`:
   ```json
   { "pipeline": { "build": { "dependsOn": ["^build"], "outputs": ["dist/**"] }, "test": { "dependsOn": ["build"], "outputs": ["coverage/**"] }, "lint": { "outputs": [] } } }
   ```

2. **Run tasks:**
   ```bash
   turbo run build                      # All packages
   turbo run lint test build           # Multiple tasks
   turbo run build --filter=web       # Specific package
   ```

3. **Parallel type checking** (use transit nodes to avoid cache issues):
   ```json
   { "pipeline": { "transit": { "dependsOn": ["^transit"] }, "typecheck": { "dependsOn": ["transit"] } } }
   ```

4. **Validate before committing:**
   ```bash
   turbo run build --dry-run  # Check task order and affected packages
   ```

### Framework Integration

**Next.js:** outputs `".next/**"` and env `["NEXT_PUBLIC_*"]` - See [references/nextjs-config.md](references/nextjs-config.md)

**NestJS:** outputs `"dist/**"`, dev tasks with `cache: false, persistent: true` - See [references/nestjs-config.md](references/nestjs-config.md)

### Testing Setup

1. **Vitest configuration:**
   ```json
   {
     "pipeline": {
       "test": {
         "outputs": [],
         "inputs": ["$TURBO_DEFAULT$", "vitest.config.ts"]
       },
       "test:watch": {
         "cache": false,
         "persistent": true
       }
     }
   }
   ```

2. **Run affected tests:**
   ```bash
   turbo run test --filter=[HEAD^]
   ```
   See [references/testing-config.md](references/testing-config.md) for complete testing setup.

### Package Configurations

1. **Create package-specific turbo.json:**
   ```json
   {
     "extends": ["//"],
     "tasks": {
       "build": {
         "outputs": ["$TURBO_EXTENDS$", ".next/**"]
       }
     }
   }
   ```
   See [references/package-configs.md](references/package-configs.md) for detailed package configuration patterns.

### CI/CD Setup

1. **GitHub Actions with validation checkpoints:**
   ```yaml
   - name: Install dependencies
     run: pnpm install

   - name: Validate affected packages (dry-run)
     run: pnpm turbo run build --filter=[HEAD^] --dry-run
     # VALIDATE: Review output to confirm only expected packages will build

   - name: Run tests
     run: pnpm run test --filter=[HEAD^]

   - name: Build affected packages
     run: pnpm run build --filter=[HEAD^]

   - name: Verify cache hits
     run: pnpm turbo run build --filter=[HEAD^] --dry-run | grep "Cache"
     # VALIDATE: Confirm cache hits for unchanged packages
   ```

2. **Remote cache setup:**
   ```bash
   # Login to Vercel
   npx turbo login

   # Link repository
   npx turbo link
   ```
   See [references/ci-cd.md](references/ci-cd.md) for complete CI/CD setup examples.

## Task Properties Reference

| Property | Description | Example |
|----------|-------------|---------|
| `dependsOn` | Tasks that must complete first | `["^build"]` - dependencies first |
| `outputs` | Files/folders to cache | `["dist/**"]` |
| `inputs` | Files for cache hash | `["src/**/*.ts"]` |
| `env` | Environment variables affecting hash | `["DATABASE_URL"]` |
| `cache` | Enable/disable caching | `true` or `false` |
| `persistent` | Long-running task | `true` for dev servers |
| `outputLogs` | Log verbosity | `"full"`, `"new-only"`, `"errors-only"` |

### Dependency Patterns

- `^task` - Run task in dependencies first (topological order)
- `task` - Run task in same package first
- `package#task` - Run specific package's task

### Filter Syntax

| Filter | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `web` | Only web package |
| `web...` | web + all dependencies |
| `...web` | web + all dependents |
| `...web...` | web + deps + dependents |
| `[HEAD^]` | Packages changed since last commit |
| `./apps/*` | All packages in apps/ |

## Best Practices

### Performance Optimization

1. **Use specific outputs** - Only cache what's needed
2. **Fine-tune inputs** - Exclude files that don't affect output
3. **Transit nodes** - Enable parallel type checking
4. **Remote cache** - Share cache across team/CI
5. **Package configurations** - Customize per-package behavior

### Caching Strategy

```json
{
  "pipeline": {
    "build": {
      "outputs": ["dist/**"],
      "inputs": ["$TURBO_DEFAULT$", "!README.md", "!**/*.md"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Task Organization

- **Independent tasks** - No `dependsOn`: lint, format, spellcheck
- **Build tasks** - `dependsOn: ["^build"]`: build, compile
- **Test tasks** - `dependsOn: ["build"]`: test, e2e
- **Dev tasks** - `cache: false, persistent: true`: dev, watch

## Common Issues

### Tasks not running in order

**Problem:** Tasks execute in wrong order

**Solution:** Check `dependsOn` configuration

```json
{
  "build": {
    "dependsOn": ["^build"]
  }
}
```

### Cache misses on unchanged files

**Problem:** Cache invalidating unexpectedly

**Solution:** Review `globalDependencies` and `inputs`

```json
{
  "globalDependencies": ["tsconfig.json"],
  "pipeline": {
    "build": {
      "inputs": ["$TURBO_DEFAULT$", "!*.md"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Type errors after cache hit

**Problem:** TypeScript errors not caught due to cache

**Solution:** Use transit nodes for type checking

```json
{
  "transit": { "dependsOn": ["^transit"] },
  "typecheck": { "dependsOn": ["transit"] }
}
```

## Examples

### Example 1: Create New Workspace

**Input:** "Create a Turborepo with Next.js and NestJS"

```bash
pnpm create turbo@latest my-workspace
cd my-workspace

# Add Next.js app
pnpm add next react react-dom -F apps/web

# Add NestJS API
pnpm add @nestjs/core @nestjs/common -F apps/api
```

### Example 2: Configure Testing Pipeline

**Input:** "Set up Vitest for all packages"

```json
{
  "pipeline": {
    "test": {
      "dependsOn": ["build"],
      "outputs": ["coverage/**"],
      "inputs": ["$TURBO_DEFAULT$", "vitest.config.ts"]
    },
    "test:watch": {
      "cache": false,
      "persistent": true
    }
  }
}
```

### Example 3: Run Affected Tests in CI

**Input:** "Only test changed packages in CI"

```bash
pnpm run test --filter=[HEAD^]
```

### Example 4: Debug Cache Issues

**Input:** "Why is my cache missing?"

```bash
# Dry run to see what would be executed
turbo run build --dry-run --filter=web

# Show hash inputs
turbo run build --force --filter=web
```

## Constraints and Warnings

- **Node.js 18+** is required for Turborepo
- **Package manager field** required in root `package.json`
- **Outputs must be specified** for caching to work
- **Persistent tasks** cannot have dependents
- **Windows**: WSL or Git Bash recommended
- **Remote cache** requires Vercel account or self-hosted solution
- **Large monorepos** may need increased `concurrency` settings

## Reference Files

For detailed guidance on specific topics, consult:

| Topic | Reference File |
|-------|----------------|
| turbo.json template | [references/turbo.json](references/turbo.json) |
| Next.js integration | [references/nextjs-config.md](references/nextjs-config.md) |
| NestJS integration | [references/nestjs-config.md](references/nestjs-config.md) |
| Vitest/Jest/Playwright | [references/testing-config.md](references/testing-config.md) |
| GitHub/CircleCI/GitLab CI | [references/ci-cd.md](references/ci-cd.md) |
| Package configurations | [references/package-configs.md](references/package-configs.md) |