Medusa Project Structure
The open-source alternative to Shopify. Medusa is a modular, high-performance headless commerce engine built with Node.js, featuring a clean monorepo structure that separates the core engine, admin dashboard, and its extensive module ecosystem.
Updated 2025-12-30
Project Directory
Repository Info
- Repository-medusajs/medusa
- Stars-24k+
- License-MIT
- Last Analyzed-December 2025
Tech Stack
- Engine-Node.js (Express)
- Language-TypeScript
- Database-PostgreSQL with MikroORM/Drizzle
- Admin-React
- Workflow-Medusa Workflows (Durable)
Architecture Notes
Medusa v2 has introduced a major shift towards a fully modular architecture. Instead of a monolithic core, commerce functionality is now split into independent 'Modules' (like Product, Cart, Order) that communicate via a central service bus. This allows developers to swap out core components or scale them independently. They also use 'Workflows' to manage complex, multi-step asynchronous business logic with built-in state management and retries.
Key Directories
- packages/medusa/-The orchestration layer that ties all modules and plugins together
- packages/modules/-The new home for decoupled business logic in the v2 architecture
- packages/admin/-A highly extensible React-based dashboard for managing commerce data
- packages/cli/-Essential tools for scaffolding and managing Medusa projects
Why This Structure?
Medusa is a prime example of modern, scalable Node.js architecture. Its transition to a modular system and its use of durable workflows make it an essential case study for building complex, mission-critical backend systems. It perfectly balances flexibility for developers with a robust core for commerce.