Should I combine my mobile and backend code into one repository for easier access?

Many developers, including myself, prefer the "monorepo" approach where you keep multiple components in a single git repository. This makes it easier to manage changes that affect both the server API and client side, as you can create a single pull request for both. Even if the front and backend are separate, tools exist to help manage this sort of setup. You could also run Claude from a directory that contains both repos, making it easier for it to access and understand how they interact. Additionally, a handy trick is to create temporary symlinks to reference code in different directories when needed.

The size of your codebases really matters. For larger projects, having separate repos for the frontend and backend can give Claude a better context. To make them work together, you could create a common directory, symlink both the frontend and backend folders there, and run Claude from that central location. This setup allows you to run multiple instances of Claude, streamlining how they handle different parts of your project.

Having a single repo can make things simpler, but remember that Claude can still work with multiple directories. Just specify where the files are located for it. While Claude typically can’t read or write files outside the current directory, you can grant it the necessary permissions. This way, Claude will be able to handle code more effectively when it has access to everything.