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Managing Dependencies in Large Projects

• JD
  John Doe October 26, 2023, 10:15 AM

  Hey everyone,

  I'm working on a large-scale iOS project with a rapidly growing codebase. We're using Swift Package Manager (SPM) for most of our dependencies, but managing them effectively across multiple modules and teams is becoming a challenge. We're running into issues with version conflicts, slow build times, and difficulty in understanding the dependency graph.

  What are your best practices for managing dependencies in large iOS projects? I'm interested in strategies for:

  • Organizing dependencies across different targets/modules.
  • Handling transitive dependencies and avoiding conflicts.
  • Strategies for maintaining consistent dependency versions.
  • Tips for optimizing build times related to dependency management.
  • Any tools or workflows that have proven effective.

  Looking forward to hearing your insights!

  👍 Like (15) 💬 Reply
• AS
  Alice Smith October 26, 2023, 11:02 AM

  Great question, John! This is a common pain point. For large projects, we've found a few things crucial:

  Modularization is Key

  Ensure your project is heavily modularized. Each module should ideally have a well-defined set of dependencies. This limits the scope of dependency conflicts and makes them easier to isolate.

  Strict Versioning Policies

  When using SPM, be explicit with versions. Instead of relying on ranges that might introduce unexpected updates, consider using exact versions or very tight ranges for critical dependencies. A Package.swift might look like:

  
  .package(url: "https://github.com/Alamofire/Alamofire.git", from: "5.8.0")
  

  Or even better for stability:

  
  .package(url: "https://github.com/Alamofire/Alamofire.git", .exact("5.8.0"))
  

  Dependency Graph Visualization

  Tools like Tuist can help visualize your dependency graph and manage your project structure more holistically, especially when dealing with many internal libraries.

  Regular Dependency Updates

  Schedule regular times to update dependencies. Don't let them lag too far behind, as the gap can become overwhelming to bridge later.

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• BK
  Bob King October 26, 2023, 11:35 AM

  To add to Alice's points, I've seen teams leverage Package.resolved files effectively. While SPM manages this, having it checked into your VCS (if appropriate for your workflow) can ensure everyone is using the exact same versions of all dependencies, including transitive ones. This drastically reduces the "it works on my machine" scenarios.

  Also, consider creating internal "umbrella" packages that group commonly used sets of libraries. This can simplify the Package.swift in your main app targets.

  👍 Like (5) 💬 Reply