Why Every JavaScript Developer Should Try TypeScript

Introduction

"Why did the JavaScript developer break up with TypeScript?"
 "Because they couldn’t handle the commitment!"

As a student entrepreneur, you're constantly juggling coursework, projects, and maybe even a startup idea. You don’t have time to debug mysterious JavaScript errors at 2 AM. That's where TypeScript comes in helping you write cleaner, more reliable code so you can focus on building, not debugging.

In this post, I’ll show you why TypeScript is a must-have skill for any student developer and how it can set your projects up for success.

Overview of TypeScript

JavaScript, the world's most-used programming language, powers cross-platform applications but wasn't designed for large-scale projects. It lacks some features needed for managing extensive codebases, making it challenging for IDEs. TypeScript overcomes these limitations while preserving JavaScript’s versatility, ensuring code runs seamlessly across platforms, browsers, and hosts.

What is TypeScript?

TypeScript is an open-source, strongly typed superset of JavaScript that compiles down to regular JavaScript. Created by Microsoft, it introduces static typing, interfaces, and modern JavaScript features, making it a favorite for both small projects and enterprise applications

Why Should Student Entrepreneurs Care About TypeScript?

1. TypeScript Saves You Time: You know that feeling when your JavaScript app breaks for no reason just before a hackathon deadline? TypeScript catches errors before your code even runs, so you don’t waste hours debugging.
2. TypeScript Makes Your Code More Professional: If you're building a startup, investors and potential employers will look at your code. TypeScript makes your projects scalable, readable, and industry ready.
3. TypeScript Helps You Learn Faster: As a student, you’re still learning. Typescripts autocomplete and type hints guide you, reducing the number of Google searches you need.

   For a beginner-friendly introduction to TypeScript, check out this MS Learn module:
   🔗 Introduction to TypeScript

Setting Up TypeScript in 5 Minutes

Prerequisites 

• Knowledge of JavaScript
• NodeJS
• Code editor Visual Studio Code

Install TypeScript

TypeScript is available as a package in the npm registry as typescript. To install the latest version of TypeScript:

• In the Command Prompt window, enter npm install -g typescript.

npm install -g typescript

• Enter tsc to confirm that TypeScript is installed. If it was successfully installed, this command should show a list of compiler commands and options.

Create a new TypeScript file

•  Create a new folder in your desktop called “demo”, right-click on the folder icon and select open with vs code

• When vs code opens, click on add file icon and create new file “index.ts”

•  Let’s write a simple function to add two numbers

Compile a TypeScript file

TypeScript is a strict superset of ECMAScript 2015 (ECMAScript 6 or ES6). All JavaScript code is also TypeScript code, and a TypeScript program can seamlessly consume JavaScript. You can convert a JavaScript file to a TypeScript file just by renaming the extension from .js to .ts.

However, not all TypeScript code is JavaScript code. TypeScript adds new syntax to JavaScript, which makes the JavaScript easier to read and implements some features, such as static typing.

You transform TypeScript code into JavaScript code by using the TypeScript compiler. You run the TypeScript compiler at the command prompt by using the tsc command. When you run tsc with no parameters, it compiles all the .ts files in the current folder and generates a .js file for each one.

• To compile our code, open command prompt in vs code and type tsc index.ts

• Notice that a new JavaScript file has been added, You might need to refresh the Explorer pane to view the file

• At the Terminal command prompt, enter node index.js. This command runs the JavaScript and displays the result in the console log.

•  And that’s it! 🎉

Core TypeScript Features Every Developer Should Know

• Static Typing for Safer Code – TypeScript’s static typing prevents runtime errors by catching type mismatches at compile time, making code more reliable.This prevents unintended assignments like:
• Interfaces for Better Object Structures – Interfaces help define the structure of objects, ensuring consistency and maintainability across a codebase.

• Enums for Readable Constants – Enums define named constants, making code more readable and reducing the risk of using incorrect values.

• Generics for Reusable Code – Generics allow you to create flexible, type-safe functions and components that work with multiple data types.

• Type Assertions for Flexibility – Type assertions let you explicitly specify a value’s type when TypeScript cannot infer it correctly, enhancing type safety in dynamic scenarios.

Conclusion: TypeScript is Your Superpower🚀

TypeScript is more than just a superset of JavaScript—it's a game-changer for developers, especially those working on large-scale projects or building career-defining applications. By introducing static typing, interfaces, Enums, generics, and type assertions, TypeScript helps eliminate common JavaScript pitfalls while maintaining flexibility. These features not only enhance code quality and maintainability but also improve collaboration among teams, ensuring that projects scale smoothly. Whether you're a student entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a professional developer, adopting TypeScript early will give you a competitive edge in the industry.

Embracing TypeScript means writing safer, cleaner, and more efficient code without sacrificing JavaScript’s versatility. With its powerful developer tools and seamless integration with modern frameworks, TypeScript ensures that your code remains robust and adaptable to changing requirements. As the demand for TypeScript continues to grow, learning and using it in your projects will open new opportunities and set you apart in the ever-evolving world of web development.

Read More And do more with Typescript

• Declare variables in Typescript
• TypeScript repository on GitHub
• TypeScript tutorial in Visual Studio Code
• Build JavaScript applications using TypeScript