Tech Blog / Monorepo Architecture: See If You Really Need It

Monorepo Architecture: See If You Really Need It

January 20, 2024

3 min read

Monorepo Architecture: See If You Really Need It

React and TypeScript make a powerful combination for building robust web applications. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to leverage both technologies to create scalable, maintainable, and type-safe applications.

Why React + TypeScript?

The combination of React and TypeScript offers several advantages:

Type Safety: Catch errors at compile time rather than runtime
Better Developer Experience: Enhanced IntelliSense and autocompletion
Refactoring Confidence: Safe code refactoring with IDE support
Self-Documenting Code: Types serve as inline documentation

Setting Up Your Development Environment

First, let's create a new React project with TypeScript:

npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript
cd my-app
npm start

Essential TypeScript Patterns for React

Component Props with Interfaces

interface ButtonProps {
  children: React.ReactNode;
  onClick: () => void;
  variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary';
  disabled?: boolean;
}
 
const Button: React.FC<ButtonProps> = ({ 
  children, 
  onClick, 
  variant = 'primary',
  disabled = false 
}) => {
  return (
    <button 
      className={`btn btn-${variant}`}
      onClick={onClick}
      disabled={disabled}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  );
};

State Management with TypeScript

interface User {
  id: number;
  name: string;
  email: string;
}
 
const UserProfile: React.FC = () => {
  const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState<boolean>(true);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetchUser().then(setUser).finally(() => setLoading(false));
  }, []);
  
  if (loading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  if (!user) return <div>User not found</div>;
  
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{user.name}</h1>
      <p>{user.email}</p>
    </div>
  );
};

Advanced Patterns

Generic Components

interface ListProps<T> {
  items: T[];
  renderItem: (item: T) => React.ReactNode;
}
 
function List<T>({ items, renderItem }: ListProps<T>) {
  return (
    <ul>
      {items.map((item, index) => (
        <li key={index}>{renderItem(item)}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

Custom Hooks with TypeScript

interface UseApiResult<T> {
  data: T | null;
  loading: boolean;
  error: string | null;
}
 
function useApi<T>(url: string): UseApiResult<T> {
  const [data, setData] = useState<T | null>(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(url)
      .then(res => res.json())
      .then(setData)
      .catch(err => setError(err.message))
      .finally(() => setLoading(false));
  }, [url]);
  
  return { data, loading, error };
}

Best Practices

Use Strict Mode: Enable strict TypeScript settings
Prefer Interfaces: Use interfaces for object shapes
Avoid any: Use specific types or unknown instead
Leverage Union Types: For props with limited options
Use Utility Types: Partial, Pick, Omit for type transformations

Conclusion

React and TypeScript together provide a robust foundation for modern web development. The type safety and developer experience improvements make the initial learning curve worthwhile for long-term project success.

Start small, gradually adopt TypeScript patterns, and enjoy building more reliable React applications!

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