10 Reasons Why You Should Use TypeScript
TypeScript is an open-source programming language developed by Microsoft in 2012. Specifically designed for building large-scale applications, let’s discuss the reasons why you should use TypeScript.
This open-source language allows developers to add additional features on top of JavaScript. Essentially, TypeScript is a “superset” of JavaScript that compiles into standard JavaScript.
In other words, TypeScript adds extra syntax capabilities, especially for stricter data type management, such as type annotations, interfaces, and generics, which help ensure code consistency.
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10 Reasons Why You Should Use TypeScript
1. Better Developer Experience
First of all, TypeScript helps developers avoid confusion when understanding code. When using JavaScript, we often wonder about the type or value of certain data, requiring us to trace where the value comes from.
With TypeScript, this issue can be avoided as it helps us identify variable names and data types. This allows us to focus on the application logic without dealing with unnecessary details.
Additionally, TypeScript provides a very useful auto-suggestion feature. While typing, TypeScript suggests available properties or functions, such as when using components.
2. Enhances Programming Knowledge
By learning TypeScript, you will also understand various new concepts such as data types, generics, interfaces, enums, and namespaces.
These concepts are similar to those found in statically typed languages like C#, Java, or C++. This knowledge can be beneficial if you ever want to explore other programming languages in the future.
3. Easy to Start and Adopt
If you want to transition from JavaScript to TypeScript, the process is quite easy. Even if you already have a project written in JavaScript, you can gradually add TypeScript without rewriting the entire code.
This is possible because TypeScript can still compile files with the `.js` extension, making it highly convenient for developers.
4. Active Community Support
Currently, TypeScript is used by many leading tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Airbnb, and others. This shows that TypeScript is capable of handling large-scale needs.
Additionally, there is an active open-source contributor community developing TypeScript, such as DefinitelyTyped and TypeStrong.
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5. Can Be Used Anywhere
Since TypeScript compiles into pure JavaScript, the code you write can run anywhere, both on the front-end and back-end using Node.js. Another advantage is that TypeScript can be compiled into different JavaScript versions, such as ES6, ES5, and even ES3.
6. Prevents Bugs
Although it cannot entirely eliminate bugs, TypeScript can prevent many errors related to data types. For example, if you enable the `strictNullChecks` option, TypeScript ensures that a variable is not null before attempting to access its properties.
7. Better Documentation and Communication
TypeScript also acts as an additional documentation layer, which is very helpful for other developers who may read or use your code in the future.
With clear data types, you can communicate the intent of your code to your colleagues without requiring additional documentation.
8. Improved Code Quality
With TypeScript, you are forced to consider data structures from the beginning of development. This helps you make better design decisions and maintain code quality.
9. Easier Refactoring
When you want to rename variables or perform other refactoring tasks, TypeScript ensures that the changes are accurately applied throughout the code. With plain JavaScript, renaming variables can be risky and often requires lengthy regression testing.
10. AOT Compilation
TypeScript performs all checks during compilation, so there is no negative impact on application performance at runtime.
Conclusion
The main reasons to use TypeScript include:
- A better developer experience, as it reduces confusion and speeds up code writing.
- Expanding programming knowledge by introducing new concepts from statically typed languages.
- Ease of adoption, as TypeScript can be gradually implemented in existing JavaScript projects.
- Strong community support, as it is used by many large companies, proving its reliability for large-scale applications.
- High flexibility, as it can be used for both front-end and back-end development, making it a popular choice for various applications.
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