Turborepo + Hono

Turborepo + Hono is a Vercel framework boilerplate that pairs a Hono API backend with a Next.js frontend inside a Turborepo monorepo, ready for one-click deploy to Vercel. It is an official example from Vercel's curated examples collection, which has 5,146 stars on GitHub.

What is Turborepo + Hono?

This boilerplate is a starter template from Vercel's official examples repository that combines Hono, a small web framework for building APIs on edge runtimes, with Next.js for the frontend, all managed as a Turborepo monorepo. It takes a fresh repository structure as input and produces a deployable full-stack application on Vercel. It is maintained by Vercel as part of their examples collection, with a live instance available at https://hono.vercel.dev/.

Key Features

• One-click deployment — Deploy directly to Vercel using the provided "Deploy with Vercel" button, which clones the repository and sets up the project without manual configuration.
• Turborepo monorepo — A single repository structure that organizes the Hono backend and Next.js frontend as separate packages, enabling shared tooling and scripts.
• Hono backend — A lightweight API layer designed for edge runtimes like Vercel's serverless functions, allowing fast request handling.
• Next.js frontend — A React-based frontend framework that renders the user interface and can be deployed alongside the API.
• Local development workflow — Use npm install followed by vc dev to start a local dev server at http://localhost:3000, mirroring Vercel's environment.
• Production build — Run vc build to create a production build locally, then vc deploy to publish the application.
• Live example — A running instance is hosted at https://hono.vercel.dev/ for immediate inspection and as a reference implementation.

Who is it for?

• Full-stack developers who want a minimal starting point for a project that separates an API from a frontend without managing two separate repositories.
• Vercel users who want to deploy a Hono-based API and a Next.js app together using their existing Vercel CLI workflow.
• Developers exploring Turborepo who need a small, official example of a monorepo with two distinct applications sharing a workspace.

What can you do with it?

• API-first projects: Build a Hono API that handles requests, then consume it from the Next.js frontend in the same monorepo, keeping the entire stack in one codebase.
• Rapid prototyping: Spin up a full-stack app with one click and a live URL, then iterate locally with vc dev for instant feedback.
• Learning monorepos: Study how Vercel structures a Turborepo workspace with a backend package and a frontend package, including how scripts and dependencies are coordinated.

How does it work?

To use the template, click the Deploy with Vercel button to create a new project from the repository, or clone it locally. Install dependencies with npm install, then run vc dev for local development, vc build for a production build, and vc deploy to publish to Vercel. The Vercel CLI must be installed globally as a prerequisite.

FAQ

Does Turborepo + Hono require the Vercel CLI?

Yes, the local workflow uses the Vercel CLI (vc). You must install it globally before running vc dev, vc build, or vc deploy. However, you can skip the CLI entirely by using the one-click Deploy with Vercel button.

Is there a live demo of this template?

Yes, a live example is hosted at https://hono.vercel.dev/. You can visit it to see the default application running on Vercel before you deploy your own instance.

What frameworks does this template use?

The template uses Hono for the backend API, Next.js for the frontend, and Turborepo for monorepo management. It is designed to run on Vercel's edge runtime and serverless functions.

Can I use this for a production application?

Yes, the template is a minimal starter. You can run vc build to create a production build and vc deploy to publish it. It's meant as a foundation, so you would add your own routing, business logic, and styling as needed.