Howto Replace Barrel Files with Better Import Strategies

Barrel files (index.ts/js files that re-export modules) may seem convenient for cleaner imports, but they create significant problems in large codebases. They obscure dependency graphs, break tree-shaking, hurt bundler performance, compromise TypeScript type safety, and make refactoring risky. Better alternatives include explicit imports, TypeScript path aliases, separating types from components, and using code generators. Barrel files should only be considered for types-only exports, library public APIs, or intentional design system boundaries.