TypeScript Setup🌱 Beginner

Setting up TypeScript involves installing the compiler and creating a tsconfig.json file, which acts as the master control board for how strict you want the compiler to be.

What is the TypeScript Compiler?

The compiler (tsc) is the engine that reads your .ts files, checks them for errors, and outputs raw JavaScript. You install it globally or locally via NPM.

Why is tsconfig.json Critical?

TypeScript is highly customizable. Do you want it to complain if a variable might be null? Do you want to compile down to ultra-modern ES2022 or legacy ES5 for older browsers? The tsconfig.json file holds all of these rules.

How to Install and Configure

Run these commands in a new project folder:

# 1. Initialize a package.json
npm init -y

# 2. Install TypeScript locally as a dev dependency
npm install typescript --save-dev

# 3. Generate the tsconfig.json file
npx tsc --init

You can then compile a file manually:

# Compiles index.ts into index.js
npx tsc index.ts