Origin of TS

In 2012, when JavaScript dominated web development, Microsoft released their new programming language, TypeScript. It was crafted to address the challenges of large, complex systems where its more flexible counterpart might frustrate developers.

The survey also indicates a notable interest among JavaScript developers in working with, or even transitioning to TypeScript. Current data reveals that TypeScript holds the position of the third most beloved programming language, with 75% of its developers expressing a desire to continue using it in 2022.

Why TypeScript?

People claim that JavaScript runs the web. However, the 2021 Stack Overflow survey reveals that 39% of JavaScript developers express a dislike for it, while only 61% genuinely desire to work with this programming language.

The dislikes are mainly attributed to:

• Dynamic Typing

• Callback Hell

• Security Concerns

These points reflect common criticisms, but it's important to note that JavaScript has its strengths and is widely used in web development. Preferences can vary among developers based on their experiences and use cases.

What is TypeScript?

TypeScript, an open-source typed superset of JavaScript, empowers developers with features like static typing, interfaces, and classes for enhanced error-checking and code completion. With a layer of type annotation, it introduces variable and parameter types, along with high-level features absent in JavaScript. TypeScript streamlines error identification and correction.

Why Migrate to TypeScript?

Migrating to TypeScript offers numerous benefits:

• Static Typing: Catches errors early, improving code robustness.

• Improved Code Quality: Enhances readability and maintainability with clear type annotations.

• Tooling Support: Excellent IDE integration for auto-completion and code navigation.

• Code Scalability: Especially advantageous for large and complex codebases.

• Modern Language Features: Supports the latest ECMAScript features.

• Enhanced Developer Experience: Rich code intelligence for a better overall experience.

• Gradual Adoption: Allows incremental migration into existing JavaScript projects.

• Robust Ecosystem: Vast collection of declaration files for seamless integration.

• Community and Industry Adoption: Widely embraced in the web development community, supported by major frameworks like Angular and React

In conclusion, while migrating your codebase to TypeScript may initially seem intimidating, the long-term benefits, include early error detection, enhanced code quality, and gradual adoption flexibility.

Strategies for Seamless Migration from JavaScript to TypeScript

When it comes to migrating from JavaScript to TypeScript, you have two primary strategies at your disposal: manual conversion and automated tools. Let's take a closer look at each approach.

1. Manual Conversion:

For those who appreciate a hands-on approach, manually converting your codebase is a viable option. This method involves going through each file and meticulously transforming the relevant sections. While it undoubtedly demands time and effort, the silver lining lies in the opportunity it presents for refactoring and cleaning up your codebase. This meticulous process can lead to a more optimized and maintainable code structure.

2. Automated Conversion with Tools:

If you're looking for a quicker and less intensive solution, consider leveraging JavaScript to TypeScript converters like TypeScriptify, Babel, and TypeScript Compiler. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

• TypeScriptify is a popular choice as it’s fast, reliable, and easy to use. It supports multiple programming languages and is compatible with most IDEs.

• Babel is also fast, reliable, and supports multiple programming languages. It has built-in support for refactoring, which can help to reduce the amount of time spent debugging and troubleshooting.

• TypeScript Compiler is a powerful converter. It is also fast, reliable, and provides support for refactoring. It also supports typesafe refactoring.

In summary, choosing between manual conversion and automated tools for your JavaScript to TypeScript migration hinges on your project's needs and workflow preferences. Automated tools minimize manual effort but may require post-conversion tweaks, while manual conversion offers a thorough codebase review. Consider project size, complexity, and control preferences to find the strategy that aligns best with your development goals.

Configure your IDE

Assuming you already have your package.json set up. If not :

npm init -y

This will be good enough. Then start with :

npm install typescript -g
npm install typescript --save-dev

Essentially, we globally ( -g ) Add the TypeScript compiler and include it as a development dependency. Since the final output is standard JavaScript, there's no need for it as a runtime dependency—keeping things simple and efficient.

Next, generate a tsconfig.json file to kickstart the process.

npx tsc --init

Opening the tsconfig.json reveals a set of codes, stripped of comments for clarity.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "es2016",
    "module": "commonjs", 
    "esModuleInterop": true,
    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
    "strict": true,
    "skipLibCheck": true
  }
}

1. "target": "es2016" Specifies the ECMAScript version to transpile the TypeScript code to (in this case, ES2016).

2. "module": "commonjs" Defines the module system for the generated JavaScript (CommonJS is a widely used module system).

3. "esModuleInterop": true Enables interoperability between CommonJS and ES modules.

4. "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true Ensures consistent casing in file names, preventing potential issues in case-sensitive environments.

5. "strict": true Activates strict mode, enforcing stronger typing rules and additional checks for safer code.

6. "skipLibCheck": true skip type checking of declaration files, potentially improving compilation speed.
   Click Me to learn more about tsconfig.json

Conclusion

In this detailed guide, we've covered the journey of TypeScript since its launch in 2012 to becoming the third-favourite language among developers. We explored the reasons to switch to TypeScript, highlighting its features like static typing and improved code quality. The blog discussed two main methods for moving from JavaScript to TypeScript: manual conversion and using automated tools. We also walked through practical steps for setting up your IDE and creating a tsconfig.json file. While the process may seem a bit challenging, the long-term benefits, like finding errors early and making your code better, make it worth trying. Whether you prefer doing it manually or using tools, the choice depends on your project and how you like to work. With TypeScript becoming widely accepted and working well with major frameworks, this guide is here to help all developers, whether you're just starting or have been coding for a while.

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