Stairway to Heaven - Scaling Frontends the Right Way

Are micro frontends the best way to scale your app? This talk explores a powerful alternative: the modular monolith.

#1about 6 minutes

Understanding the purpose and benefits of micro-frontends

Micro-frontends are a software trend that enables scaling by splitting a large application into smaller parts developed by independent, agile teams.

#2about 2 minutes

Exploring the challenges and downsides of micro-frontends

Adopting micro-frontends can lead to challenges like increased bundle sizes, browser version mismatches, and the operational overhead of managing npm packages.

#3about 4 minutes

Introducing the modular monolith as a practical alternative

The modular monolith, managed within a monorepo, offers a balanced approach by ensuring version consistency and simplifying code sharing across the application.

#4about 6 minutes

Using Nx to manage and scale a frontend monorepo

The Nx toolset helps manage monorepos by visualizing dependencies and enforcing architectural boundaries between different domains using configurable linting rules.

#5about 7 minutes

A practical demonstration of an Nx workspace

This live demo showcases key Nx features, including generating a dependency graph, defining a library's public API, and enforcing domain boundaries with linting.

#6about 4 minutes

A strategic library structure for scaling applications

Organize monorepo libraries into distinct categories like feature, UI, domain, and utility to improve clarity and enforce strict access rules between layers.

#7about 2 minutes

Combining monorepos with micro-frontends for the best results

A hybrid approach uses a monorepo to develop isolated micro-frontends, gaining benefits like shared versioning and faster builds while maintaining deployment independence.

#8about 9 minutes

Q&A on monorepo processes and common challenges

The Q&A session addresses practical concerns such as coordinating package updates, assigning ownership of shared libraries, and managing circular dependencies.

From learning to earning

Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.