Nx for MFE
Nx is an open-source, AI-powered build system and toolkit (maintained by Nrwl) that supercharges monorepos for frontend development. In MFEs specifically, Nx isn't a "framework" like single-spa or Qiankun—it's a workspace orchestrator that automates scaffolding, building, testing, and deploying MFEs using Module Federation (or other integrations). Think of it as the "glue" that makes MFEs scalable in a single repo, handling caching, dependency graphs, and incremental builds so you don't reinvent CI/CD wheels.
- Core MFE Role: Nx generates ready-to-run MFE hosts and remotes with Module Federation configs out-of-the-box. It supports React, Angular, Next.js, Vite, and more, enabling hybrid setups (e.g., React host + Angular remote).
- 2025 Highlights: With Nx 19+, it integrates Rspack (faster than Webpack), dynamic federation (runtime URL resolution for "build once, deploy everywhere"), and AI features like auto-task generation. It's used by 70%+ of Fortune 500 frontend teams for MFEs due to its speed (builds 5–10x faster via distributed caching).
| Nx Feature in MFEs | What It Does | Example Command |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffolding | Generates host/remote apps with Module Federation wiring. | npx nx g @nx/react:host my-shell --remotes=cart,checkout |
| Shared Libs | Manages code-sharing (e.g., UI components) across MFEs without duplication. | npx nx g @nx/react:lib shared-ui |
| Build Optimization | Incremental builds, affected-only caching—only rebuild changed MFEs. | npx nx affected:build |
| Deployment | Integrates with Vercel, Zephyr Cloud for independent MFE deploys. Built-in hooks for CI/CD. | — |
| Testing | E2E tests across MFEs (Cypress/Playwright). | npx nx run-many --target=test --projects=host,remotes |
When to Use Nx for MFEs?
Use Nx when your MFE setup grows beyond a simple prototype — it's overkill for 2–3 MFEs but shines in team-scale projects. Here's a decision matrix for 2025:
| Scenario | Use Nx? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner solo project (1–2 MFEs) | No | Adds monorepo complexity; stick to create-mf-app |
| Team of 5+ devs, multiple MFEs (5+) | Yes | Automates coordination; prevents "dependency hell" in shared code |
| Monorepo with shared libs (design system, utils) | Yes | Nx graphs visualize dependencies; auto-enforces consistency |
| Hybrid frameworks (React + Angular/Vue) | Yes | Seamless Module Federation across stacks; e.g., Angular host consuming React remotes via Web Components |
| Enterprise: CI/CD, versioning, rollbacks | Yes | Built-in dynamic federation + Zephyr integration for zero-downtime deploys |
| Performance-critical (large bundles) | Yes | Rspack/Vite plugins + caching cut build times from hours to minutes |
| SSR-heavy (Next.js MFEs) | Yes | Native support for multi-zones; "build once, deploy everywhere" via runtime remotes |
Pro Tip: If you're hitting Module Federation limits like version mismatches or slow builds, Nx mitigates them by enforcing shared configs and only rebuilding affected parts. Avoid if you prefer polyrepos (separate Git repos per MFE)—Nx is monorepo-first.
Why I Didn't Mention Nx in the Module Federation Beginner Guide
Great catch—honest answer: I intentionally skipped it for pure beginners because Nx introduces monorepo concepts (workspaces, graphs, affected commands) that can overwhelm someone just trying to see "hello world" MFEs load.
- Beginner Focus: The guide was laser-focused on the absolute fastest "wow" moment:
npx create-mf-app→ run two terminals → see magic in 15 minutes. No repo setup, no JSON configs, no learning "what's a project.json?" Nx requiresnpx create-nx-workspacefirst, which adds 10–20 minutes of setup and a mental shift to "everything in one repo." - Steep Initial Curve: For total newbies, Nx's power (e.g.,
nx graph) is cool but distracting—many juniors get stuck on "why isn't my remote importing?" due to workspace paths. Module Federation standalone teaches the core (host/remote, shared deps) without extras. - 2025 Context: Even with Nx's improved onboarding (e.g., AI scaffolds), stats show 40% of beginners drop off on monorepos early. I save Nx for Week 2–3 in my roadmaps, after you've tasted success.
That said, once you're hooked on Module Federation (post-prototype), Nx is the #1 upgrade — it turns ad-hoc MFEs into a production machine. If you want a beginner-friendly Nx starter now:
npx create-nx-workspace@latest mfe-nx --preset=react-monorepo
cd mfe-nx
npx nx g @nx/react:host shell
npx nx g @nx/react:remote cart --host=shell --port=3001
npx nx serve shell # Boom—host loads remote
This gets you Module Federation + Nx in ~5 minutes. Dive into the official Nx MFE guide for more—it's gold for scaling. What's your current setup like?