JavaScript is a scripting language used to create interactive web pages. It runs on a user’s web browser without using any resource forms and by following the rules of client-side programming.
The aim behind developing JavaScript is to make complementary scripting languages such as Visual Basic to C++ in Microsoft’s language families.
Moving on with TypeScript, then it is defined as a superset of JavaScript and this means it behaves very identical to JavaScript adding extra stuff to it. We can say that this language is not around us for too long but it has already become popular in this community. With this JS developers can access the powerful tools and techniques for writing modern JavaScript that is coupled with an option to output ES5 or ES6.
The time has arrived to learn TypeScript which can help to improve projects as there is a varying option available on this subject. To clarify some of the points regarding TypeScript value, Let’s dive in to understand in a better way.
What is TypeScript?
TypeScript is a programming language called a superset of JavaScript were learning a syntax will help you get started into programming quickly. You can get the JavaScript version when you compile TypeScript and it will be safe to use it across all platforms with ease.
Popularity of TypeScript
Look at the journey of TypeScript and you’ll notice a number of users are using TypeScript and have increased. One of the main reasons that developers choose TypeScript is that it comes with fewer errors.
The popularity of TypeScript is growing stronger and stronger and the below stats have confirmed the same:
| 51,460 – Stars on Github | 7086 – Forks on GitHub | 6,442,469 – Weekly Downloads |
Why JavaScript?
| Why TypeScript?
|
History of JavaScript
| History of TypeScript
|
TypeScript Vs JavaScript
Over time new version has been released and great improvement has been made in TypeScript. These improvements are seen in terms of features, functions, performance, and more. To get a fair idea about features and technologies dive in.
So let’s compare TypeScript and JavaScript
| Comparision | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Usage | It uses to develop interactive web pages. It can run smoothly on the web browser of the user. | It uses to write simple JavaScript code which can run smoothly on any browser and offer support from various versions of ECMA Script. |
| Ecosystem | Users can code without having any build step | It comes with an intuitive ecosystem where a developer can use JavaScript features. |
| Data Binding | There is no concept of describing data with interface and types. | It makes use of interface and type to describe data. |
| Learning Curve | It is effortless and easy | It comes with a stiff learning curve |
| Code Compilation | You don’t need to compile code here. | Compile code is required |
| Prototyping | It is absent in JavaScript | It comes with a feature of prototyping |
| Annotation | No annotation is needed in JavaScript. | Developers do need to annotate code consistently with the best output. |
How TypeScript makes programming better?
The most important feature added is type information, which helps developers to create more secure code. It allows adding types of variables in several languages and this control parameter and aspects of the code with ease. For example:
You need to add “:” followed by the type you need. Example
Without using the TypeScript the property will be declared the property of instance as below:
Before TypeScript
Key concepts of TypeScript
There are mainly three concepts in TypeScript, such as Types, Interface, Classes, and OOP.
Types: number, string, boolean, {}, [], and undefined were the types used by JavaScript, whereas TypeScript adds enum (Red, Blue, Green) along with ‘any’ and ‘void’ types.
Interface
TypeScript is not part of ECMAScript and is use to verify the type during development, check below
Interface define a variable with more than one type
This is how interface describe literal objects
Classes and OOP
Understand how classes work in TypeScript
As we studied in Part 5 about how to use TypeScript in regular JQuery projects, now Let’s go more in-depth and discuss some of the advantages of TypeScript.
Advantages of TypeScript
Object-Oriented Programming Features
TS comes with a great set of OOP features that are a bit complex to implement, so one needs to generate js code to see how to solve it. TS comes with a clean and organized code.
Example
Later this JavaScript code will be transpiled like:
- TS allows us to use inheritance, interface, and other generic types at a more advanced level along with using dependency injection in scripts.
- TypeScript does not need a runtime plugin
- Previously, technologies such as Flash and Silverlight died but due to modern web technologies has taken new standard forms. Using this form, one can easily translate to plain JavaScript, and your browser can happily run for you with ease.
- Backend developers feel more comfortable
- JavaScript implements the most advanced concepts, so it becomes difficult to use. Whereas TS applies OOP knowledge and writes a script, so the backend developer feels comfortable using it. In short, we can say that TypeScript can clean up all your leftover dirt created behind the scenes.
- Used in a popular framework
- TypeScript has become the most popular over a few years. It was when Angular 2 officially switched to TypeScript it turned out to be trendy and was like a win-win situation for TS.
Why is TypeScript Bad?
- Learning Curve
Although TS has become popular, not many JavaScript developers know about it. It affects the overall learning curve and makes it hard for the team to plan ahead.
- Needs Development Tooling
Users do not need any plugin to run TS, but developers will need special tooling for editing to transpile TS. Highly recommended to use Visual Studio if you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux.
- Cannot edit easily by CMS
Most of the CMS allows you to edit .css file style and .js file on the admin portal. But with TS, it isn’t easy to write it on the admin portal as some due allow to edit, and few don’t. With this, the complication increases, and the user cannot likely to work anymore with it.
- Short update cycle
If you aren’t cleared with the first update, how come the new update is knocking on your door for updation. Secondly, how one can integrate updates in your projects, should you ignore it or wait to add for in the next project. In the end, TS needs to have a planned strategy.
FAQ
1) Is TypeScript worth Learning for Web Development?
It’s time to learn TypeScript as the study shows that the superset language has skyrocketed popularity in a few years and has wholly adopted Angular JS and much another dev workflow. TypeScript is worth learning, and even if you pick 5% of the language, you’ll get to learn amazing concepts by making yourself attractive for employment.
2) What is the TypeScript role in Development?
There is a handful of the reason that shows why we might choose TypeScript. Consider the immediate benefits below:
- It comes with a Simple class-based OOP with inheritance
- Can get access to the modifier for all classes
- Incredible error detection which ties into static typing
- Several types of setting for variables, parameters, and return values
- Code hints for autocomplete and return type of a function
- ‘This’ keyword can be set to operate within the current class or method
- Defined separation comes between ‘let’ and ‘var.’
If you know JavaScript, then TS is something that operates on JavaScript, which precisely means you have already got whipped cream with extra topping on the top.
3) What is the best way to migrate from JavaScript to TypeScript?
The only way to migrate that developer has come up is by migrating the code from JavaScript to TypeScript. It means you can manage code better with reducing bugs and enabling faster deployment. There are several ways we can migrate, such as set code improvement goals, Get the whole development team on board, Migrate your Js files gradually to ts/tsx, create a temporary compiler for both js/jsx, and adding webpack configuration.
4) Tell us the minimum requirements for installing TypeScript.
There is a handful of the reason that shows why we might choose TypeScript. Consider the immediate benefits below:
- npm install -g typescript
- Follow the below steps for installing TyreScript
- Download and run .msi installer for node
- Enter the command ‘node – v’ to check the installation process
- Type command to install TypeScript: npm install -g typescript
5) How to compare multiple TypeScript files into a single file?
We use the below command to compile multiple typescripts such as tsc –outFile outputfile.ts file1.ts file2.ts file3.ts ….filen.ts
6) Explain decorator in TypeScript?
Decorators are a function that is modifying classes of its members. It allows both annotations and a meta-programming syntax for declaring class, and it’s a member.
- Enable Decorator in TypeScript using this command line
- tsc –target ES5 –experimentalDecorators
7) What is the default visibility for methods/properties in TypeScript?
The public is the default visibility to set in TypeScript
8) What are Mixins?
Mixins are another way to build up classes from reusable components and build it by combining simpler partial classes.