CodeToLive

TypeScript Configuration

TypeScript projects are configured using a tsconfig.json file. This file specifies the root files and the compiler options required to compile the project.

Setting Up `tsconfig.json`

You can generate a tsconfig.json file using the tsc --init command. This creates a default configuration file with common options.

tsc --init
      

Common Compiler Options

The compilerOptions field in tsconfig.json allows you to configure how TypeScript compiles your code. Here are some commonly used options:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "es6",          // Specify ECMAScript target version
    "module": "commonjs",     // Specify module code generation
    "strict": true,           // Enable all strict type-checking options
    "outDir": "dist",         // Redirect output structure to the directory
    "rootDir": "src",         // Specify the root directory of input files
    "esModuleInterop": true,  // Enable compatibility with ES modules
    "skipLibCheck": true      // Skip type checking of declaration files
  }
}
      

Using `include` and `exclude`

The include and exclude fields allow you to specify which files should be included or excluded from compilation.

{
  "include": ["src/**/*"],  // Include all files in the src directory
  "exclude": ["node_modules", "tests"]  // Exclude node_modules and tests
}
      

Project References

TypeScript supports project references, which allow you to split your codebase into smaller projects. This is useful for large codebases.

{
  "references": [
    { "path": "../core" },  // Reference another project
    { "path": "../utils" }
  ]
}
      

Watch Mode

TypeScript can watch files and recompile them automatically when changes are detected. Use the --watch flag to enable watch mode.

tsc --watch
      

Custom Paths with `baseUrl` and `paths`

You can configure custom module resolution paths using baseUrl and paths in tsconfig.json.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": "./src",  // Base directory for module resolution
    "paths": {
      "@utils/*": ["utils/*"]  // Map custom paths
    }
  }
}
      

Best Practices

• Use Strict Mode: Enable strict to enforce type safety and catch errors early.
• Organize Your Code: Use include and exclude to organize your project files.
• Leverage Project References: Use project references for large codebases to improve build times and maintainability.
• Enable Watch Mode: Use --watch during development to automatically recompile your code.
• Use Custom Paths: Configure baseUrl and paths to simplify module imports.