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What is Archibald?

Archibald is a high-performance, isomorphic TypeScript framework designed for building scalable Web (SSR/CSR) and Mobile (React Native/Expo) applications from a single monorepo.

Developed by NETCONOMY, it provides an opinionated but flexible architecture that bridges the gap between complex enterprise requirements and modern developer experience.

Core Philosophy​

Archibald is built on three main pillars:

1. True Isomorphic Development​

Archibald allows you to share logic, types, and components seamlessly between the Server (Node.js), the Browser, and Native Mobile platforms. It abstracts away the platform-specific complexities, allowing developers to focus on business logic.

2. File Shadowing & Theming​

Designed for multi-tenant and multi-platform environments, Archibald features a powerful File Shadowing mechanism. This allows you to define a "Base" implementation and "Shadow" it for specific tenants or platforms without duplicating code.

  • Example: You can have a Button.tsx in the base shop, but provide a specific Button.tsx for a "Mobile" platform or a "Premium" tenant that the build system will automatically pick up.

3. Performance First​

By leveraging Rspack (a Rust-based bundler) and SWC, Archibald delivers incredibly fast build times and a highly optimized production bundle. It includes built-in support for:

  • Efficient Code Splitting (Islands architecture).
  • Critical CSS deduplication.
  • Advanced caching strategies.

Key Features​

  • High Performance: Powered by Rspack and SWC for sub-second HMR and fast production builds.
  • Native Ready: First-class support for Expo and React Native, sharing the same core logic as your web application.
  • Enterprise Grade: Built-in support for Multi-tenancy, Internationalization (i18n), and SAP Commerce Cloud (Hybris) integration.
  • Modular Architecture: A clean separation between core framework logic, integrations (CMS, Search, Auth), and your application code.
  • Modern Styling: Built-in support for SCSS Modules with type safety.

Curious how all of this works under the hood? The Architecture section walks through the CLI, the Rspack build system, the SSR server, and hydration in depth.

When to use Archibald?​

Archibald is ideal for:

  • E-commerce Projects: Especially those integrating with SAP Commerce Cloud or complex CMS systems.
  • Multi-brand Applications: Where you need to maintain multiple "tenants" with shared logic but different look-and-feel.
  • Omnichannel Strategies: When you want to deliver a consistent experience across Web and Mobile with maximum code reuse.