Nx Workspace Patterns

When to use this skill

Use Nx Workspace Patterns when an AI agent needs a reusable SKILL.md workflow for this job: Configure and optimize Nx monorepo workspaces. Use when setting up Nx, configuring project boundaries, optimizing build caching, or implementing affected commands.

When not to use it

Skip Nx Workspace Patterns when the task is outside the coding category, or when a more specific skill in this directory already covers the same workflow with clearer triggers.

How to install

1. Personal install: create ~/.claude/skills/nx-workspace-patterns/SKILL.md (and any bundled scripts) so Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and compatible agents can load it in every project.
2. Project install: commit the same folder at .claude/skills/nx-workspace-patterns/ so teammates get the skill with the repo.
3. Restart the agent session after copying files so it re-scans the skills directory, then ask for the task in words that match the skill description.

Full install guide for Claude, Cursor, and Codex

What this skill does

# Nx Workspace Patterns

Production patterns for Nx monorepo management.

## When to Use This Skill

- Setting up new Nx workspaces - Configuring project boundaries - Optimizing CI with affected commands - Implementing remote caching - Managing dependencies between projects - Migrating to Nx

## Core Concepts

### 1. Nx Architecture

``` workspace/ ├── apps/ # Deployable applications │ ├── web/ │ └── api/ ├── libs/ # Shared libraries │ ├── shared/ │ │ ├── ui/ │ │ └── utils/ │ └── feature/ │ ├── auth/ │ └── dashboard/ ├── tools/ # Custom executors/generators ├── nx.json # Nx configuration └── workspace.json # Project configuration ```

### 2. Library Types

| Type | Purpose | Example | | --------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------- | | **feature** | Smart components, business logic | `feature-auth` | | **ui** | Presentational components | `ui-buttons` | | **data-access** | API calls, state management | `data-access-users` | | **util** | Pure functions, helpers | `util-formatting` | | **shell** | App bootstrapping | `shell-web` |

## Templates and detailed worked examples

Full template library and detailed worked examples live in `references/details.md`. Read that file when you need the concrete templates.

## Best Practices

### Do's

- **Use tags consistently** - Enforce with module boundaries - **Enable caching early** - Significant CI savings - **Keep libs focused** - Single responsibility - **Use generators** - Ensure consistency - **Document boundaries** - Help new developers

### Don'ts

- **Don't create circular deps** - Graph should be acyclic - **Don't skip affected** - Test only what changed - **Don't ignore boundaries** - Tech debt accumulates - **Don't over-granularize** - Balance lib count

Intended uses

• Setting up new Nx workspaces
• Configuring project boundaries
• Optimizing CI with affected commands
• Implementing remote caching
• Managing dependencies between projects
• Migrating to Nx