TypeScriptAs a superset of JavaScript, TypeScript is a new method of programming JavaScript without some of the issues of JavaScript. JavaScript is a useful and portable language, but it’s also fluid without a lot of strict controls. It can be difficult to develop large platforms with JavaScript for this reason. TypeScript introduces static typing as well as object-oriented features to make the process of programming in TypeScript cleaner, more predictable, more efficient, and more reliable.

What is Typescript?

Developed by Microsoft in 2012, TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that was specifically designed for larger JavaScript applications. With similarities to Node.js or Deno, TypeScript compiles directly to JavaScript and JavaScript code can be used freely with TypeScript. TypeScript does not have a lot of changes to its code in terms of changes from JavaScript, with the major change being its ability to provide static typing. TypeScript is supported in numerous IDEs and is used for both client-side and server-side functionality.

TypeScript has been modified many times to introduce valuable features such as the ability to restrict null values. Now on iteration TypeScript 3.0, released in 2018, it has become an industry standard for JavaScript programming to scale. Because of TypeScript’s ability to cross-compile to JavaScript, many JavaScript libraries can be used with TypeScript, and database access for TypeScript and other advanced features are well-supported.

Typescript vs. Javascript

TypeScript and JavaScript are the same language and JavaScript programmers are going to find it very easy to get into TypeScript. TypeScript simply adds packages onto JavaScript, including optional typing and support for object-oriented programming. Consequently, JavaScript programmers are not going to need a lot of training to take advantage of the features that TypeScript affords. Rather, for the most part, TypeScript will present a new way of programming in JavaScript.

TypeScript has some major advantages. First, it’s a compiled language. JavaScript is often compiled on-the-fly through web browsers and other platforms, making it difficult for developers to troubleshoot. TypeScript will compile into JavaScript and will tell developers if they have made any errors in their code; this ensures that the TypeScript code is cleaner. TypeScript is specifically designed to support larger projects and this also makes it more viable for large platforms. JavaScript is one of the best known languages in the world so anything that increases its utility is to the general benefit of the programming community.

But TypeScript isn’t always the answer. It is heavier than JavaScript and there’s no point to using TypeScript for smaller projects. One of the advantages of JavaScript is that it can be used quickly, on-the-fly, and off-the-cuff. So if developers are batting out a quick project, they may not be inclined to use it.

How to get started

JavaScript, of course, isn’t installed. But developers interested in TypeScript will need to know how to install TypeScript. The easiest way is through Visual Studio. Through Visual Studio and NuGet, TypeScript can be installed as a module or an add-on. Because TypeScript is a language add-on (new syntactic highlighting) as well as a compiler, it should be supported by the IDE that the programmer is using.

TypeScript can be installed locally or it can be used in a browser if someone wants to just try it out. If TypeScript is going to be used as a server-side compiled language, it will need to be installed on the server itself, as well. But getting started with TypeScript will begin by learning JavaScript for those who aren’t proficient in JavaScript. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of installing the system and looking through the documentation.

Typescript best practices

When it comes to Typescript vs. JavaScript, there really aren’t that many differences. Because of this, most of the best practices in JavaScript (such as consistent naming practices) still apply to TypeScript. There are some TypeScript specific best practices, however:

  • Take advantage of typing. Strict typing is really one of the major reasons to use TypeScript, so if you aren’t going to use it, you probably don’t need to be using TypeScript. Assess whether TypeScript is necessary for a project before starting it.
  • Defer to the script itself. If possible, let the script determine the type for any object. The script is going to be able to analyze which typing is best within the code, which also takes cognitive load off the programmer.
  • Don’t use parameter properties in class constructors. Parameter properties can become confusing especially for those who are using TypeScript for the first time; it’s best to avoid this entirely.
  • Don’t use require to import modules. Require is no longer necessary for importing modules; instead, importing can be done directly.