App Modularisation at Scale
Article Summary
Grab went from one monolithic mobile app to over 1,000 modules. Here's what they learned about scaling a superapp.
The Grab engineering team documented their multi-year journey breaking down a monolithic codebase that housed ride-hailing, food delivery, payments, and financial services. This is their blueprint for modularisation at scale.
Key Takeaways
- Implemented five-phase approach: base, shared library, feature, kit, and app modules
- 95% of modules now build in under 15 seconds with parallel compilation
- Modules convert to reusable SDKs across other Grab applications
- Kit modules act as interface bridges enabling clean inter-module communication
Critical Insight
Grab transformed their superapp into 1,000+ independent modules, with the payments division alone containing 200+ modules that build in under 15 seconds.
