By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
On top of the growing collection of "must-know" tools in a web developer's arsenal is the famous (or maybe infamous?) TypeScript - a high-level programming language that adds static typing with optional type annotations to JavaScript. Developed by Microsoft, TypeScript can improve the developer experience by allowing the data that is passed around the code to be typed to something specific (ie Boolean), with TypeScript ready to throw an error if the types don't match appropriately through the program. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss TypeScript at length discussing whether you need to learn TypeScript and how to learn it whether you're a beginner, or veteran coder.
Offers a way to add static types, classes, and interfaces to JavaScript
Catches code errors at compile time
Upgrades your tooling to allow for auto-complete and easy refactorability
TypeScript Basics
Static Typing - JavaScript uses dynamic typing where a variable can be set to any type. A string, number boolean, function, etc. - TypeScript adds the ability to set what variable should be set to (ie Boolean) - Can also have variables of multiple types using an intersection (ie String | undefined) - Any is used when you don’t know what the type will be (ideally don't use these ever)
Interfaces and Classes - Both are object-oriented principles - Interfaces are good for creating shapes for your objects that can be merged/extended - Classes can also be used in a similar way to interfaces but with the added functionality of creating constructors and methods
Generics - Reusable components that can work over a variety of types while maintaining type safety - These types/functions can be used in a variety of ways where defining static types doesn’t make sense
Type Inference - Since TypeScript is not understood by the browser we need to use the tsc, Typescript Compiler - It will continually run while you’re developing to check for code/type errors - The compiler can be configured with a tsconfig.json file
Do you need to learn TypeScript?
TypeScript has started to become a standard in the web development space
With that most job postings I’ve recently checked in my area have listed it as part of the required or recommended skills
If you’re looking for a job it might be a good idea to dive into TypeScript, maybe take a short course from Matt Pocock and try to convert one of your existing JavaScript projects to TypeScript - You SHOULD NOT try to learn all of the ins and outs of TypeScript before applying for a job
Do you need TypeScript for your side projects? - It depends on what your goals are, if you’re the only one working on it and it is just a way for you to create your side hustle, you probably don't need TypeScript - If your goal is to use the project as a portfolio piece and to get a job, then TypeScript is probably a good idea, regardless of the size of the project
