Shared Codebase
A shared codebase is a software development practice where multiple projects, applications, or teams use a single, unified repository or set of code files. It enables centralized management of common code, libraries, and configurations, promoting consistency and reducing duplication across an organization. This approach is often implemented through monorepos, shared libraries, or internal packages to streamline collaboration and maintenance.
Developers should adopt a shared codebase when working in large organizations or on interconnected projects to ensure code reuse, enforce standards, and simplify dependency management. It is particularly useful for microservices architectures, cross-platform applications, or when multiple teams need to share utilities, reducing overhead and improving development velocity. However, it requires careful governance to avoid tight coupling and manage versioning complexities.