What Are Metadata-Only Workspaces?
Metadata-only workspaces are a way to connect repositories to Nx Cloud that don't have Nx installed or configured. Unlike traditional Nx Cloud workspaces that require Nx to be set up in the repository, metadata-only workspaces can be connected with minimal configuration, allowing you to:
- Include any repository in the Workspace Graph
- Run Conformance rules across all repositories
- Use Custom Workflows for automated compliance checking
- Track dependencies and relationships between repositories
The key benefit is zero changes required to existing repositories - you can start using Polygraph features immediately without requiring team buy-in or significant migration effort.
When to Use Metadata-Only Workspaces
Metadata-only workspaces are ideal for:
- Legacy Repository Integration
- Gain visibility into previously "dark" areas of your codebase
- Enforce organizational standards across all repositories, not just new ones
- Mixed Technology Stacks
- Organizations using multiple frameworks and build tools
- Teams that prefer their existing tooling but want organizational oversight
- Gradual Nx Adoption Strategy
- Start with organizational visibility before full Nx migration
- Allow teams to see the benefits of Nx tooling without immediate commitment
- Large-Scale Organizations
- Companies with hundreds of repositories across different teams
- Situations where immediate value is needed without waiting for complete migration
Connecting
Reach out to your assigned developer productivity engineer, if you need any assistance in getting set up with polygraph and metadata-only workspaces.
When using the GitHub VCS Integration, you can easily bulk onboard your existing repositories into polygraph.
- Start with visiting your organization overview in Nx Cloud
- Click the Connect a repository button
- Click Connect repositories to polygraph
- Follow the prompts to onboard your repositories
- Click Connect repositories to finish