TypeScript Tutorials


TypeScript Developer Tutorials Roadmap


Section 1: Foundations - Setting Up and Getting Started

  • Understanding the Problem TypeScript Solves:
    • Challenges of large-scale JavaScript applications.
    • The benefits of static typing.
    • What is TypeScript? (A superset of JavaScript).
    • How TypeScript relates to JavaScript (compilation).
  • Setting Up Your Development Environment:
    • Installing Node.js and npm/yarn/pnpm.
    • Installing TypeScript globally or locally (`npm install -g typescript`).
    • Choosing a code editor (VS Code is highly recommended with excellent TypeScript support).
    • Basic `tsconfig.json` setup:
      • `target`: The JavaScript version to compile to.
      • `module`: The module system to use (CommonJS, ESNext, etc.).
      • `outDir`: The output directory for compiled JavaScript files.
      • `rootDir`: The root directory of your TypeScript source files.
      • `strict`: Enabling strict type-checking options (highly recommended).
    • Compiling TypeScript: Using the `tsc` command.
    • Setting up a simple project with `tsc --init`.
  • Basic Types:
    • `boolean`: True or false.
    • `number`: Integers and floating-point numbers.
    • `string`: Textual data.
    • `array`: Arrays of a specific type (`number[]`, `string[]`, `Array`).
    • `tuple`: Arrays with a fixed number of elements of known types.
    • `enum`: Named constants.
    • `any`: Opting out of type checking (use sparingly).
    • `void`: For functions that don't return a value.
    • `null` and `undefined`: Representing absence of a value.
    • `never`: For functions that never return (e.g., throwing an error).
    • `unknown`: A safer alternative to `any` (requires type checking before use).
  • Type Annotations:
    • Explicitly specifying types for variables, function parameters, and return values.
    • Type inference: How TypeScript infers types automatically.
  • Functions:
    • Typing function parameters and return values.
    • Optional and default parameters.
    • Rest parameters.
    • Function overloads.

Section 2: Working with Complex Types and Structures

  • Interfaces:
    • Defining the shape of objects.
    • Optional and read-only properties.
    • Extending interfaces.
    • Implementing interfaces with classes.
  • Type Aliases:
    • Creating custom names for types.
    • Union types (`|`): Allowing a variable to be one of several types.
    • Intersection types (`&`): Combining multiple types into one.
    • Literal types: Specifying exact values (`'hello'`, `123`, `true`).
    • Type aliases vs. Interfaces: Understanding the differences and when to use each.
  • Classes:
    • Defining classes with properties and methods.
    • Access modifiers (`public`, `private`, `protected`).
    • Constructors.
    • Inheritance.
    • Abstract classes.
    • Implementing interfaces.
  • Generics:
    • Writing reusable code that works with multiple types.
    • Generic functions.
    • Generic interfaces.
    • Generic classes.
    • Generic constraints.
  • Type Assertions:
    • Telling the compiler about the type of a variable when it cannot infer it (`as type` or ``).
    • Understanding the risks of type assertions.
  • Type Narrowing:
    • Using control flow analysis (if/else, switch, `typeof`, `instanceof`, `in`, equality checks) to determine a more specific type within a code block.
    • Discriminant Unions.

Section 3: Modules and Advanced Concepts

  • Modules:
    • Understanding ES Modules (`import`/`export`) in TypeScript.
    • Importing and exporting types, interfaces, classes, and values.
    • Default and named exports.
    • Module resolution strategies.
  • Declaration Files (`.d.ts`):
    • Understanding the purpose of declaration files (providing type information for existing JavaScript code).
    • Writing declaration files for libraries that don't have them.
    • Using `@types` from npm.
  • Decorators (Experimental):
    • Understanding the concept of decorators (adding metadata or modifying classes/methods/properties).
    • Using decorators (requires enabling in `tsconfig.json`).
  • Utility Types:
    • Exploring built-in utility types (e.g., `Partial`, `Required`, `ReadOnly`, `Pick`, `Omit`, `Exclude`, `Extract`).
  • Conditional Types:
    • Defining types that depend on a condition (`T extends U ? X : Y`).
  • Mapped Types:
    • Creating new types by transforming properties of existing types.
  • Index Signatures:
    • Defining the type of properties when the property names are not known in advance (e.g., for objects used as dictionaries).

Section 4: Integration with Frameworks and Libraries

  • Using TypeScript with React:
    • Typing function components.
    • Typing class components.
    • Typing props and state.
    • Typing hooks.
    • Typing event handlers.
  • Using TypeScript with Vue.js:
    • Using TypeScript with the Options API (using `defineComponent`).
    • Using TypeScript with the Composition API (recommended).
    • Typing props, data, computed properties, and methods.
    • Typing Vuex store.
    • Typing Vue Router.
  • Using TypeScript with Node.js/Express:
    • Setting up a Node.js project with TypeScript.
    • Typing Express request and response objects.
    • Typing database interactions.
  • Integrating with other popular libraries:
    • Axios, Lodash, etc. (using `@types`).

Section 5: Tooling, Configuration, and Best Practices

  • Advanced `tsconfig.json` Options:
    • `noImplicitAny`, `noImplicitThis`, `strictNullChecks`, `strictFunctionTypes`, `strictPropertyInitialization`.
    • `esModuleInterop`, `allowSyntheticDefaultImports`.
    • `paths` for module aliases.
    • Excluding files and directories.
  • Linting and Formatting:
    • Using ESLint with TypeScript.
    • Using Prettier with TypeScript.
    • Integrating with VS Code extensions.
  • Testing TypeScript Code:
    • Setting up testing frameworks (Jest, Mocha, Vitest) with TypeScript.
    • Writing tests for TypeScript code.
  • Debugging TypeScript Code:
    • Setting up debugging in VS Code.
    • Using source maps.
  • Best Practices for Writing TypeScript:
    • Writing clear and maintainable types.
    • Avoiding `any` as much as possible.
    • Using strict mode.
    • Structuring your project.

Section 6: Practice and Building Projects

  • Convert a small JavaScript project to TypeScript.
  • Build a simple API with Node.js and Express using TypeScript.
  • Build a small frontend application with a framework (React or Vue) using TypeScript.
  • Implement a data structure (e.g., linked list, stack, queue) using TypeScript classes and generics.
  • Explore and contribute to open-source TypeScript projects.
  • Build a simple command-line tool using TypeScript.

Section 7: Staying Updated and Advanced Topics

  • Following the TypeScript Community:
    • Official TypeScript documentation and blog.
    • TypeScript conferences and talks.
    • TypeScript social media channels and forums.
  • Exploring New TypeScript Features:
    • Keeping up with new releases and features.
  • Deep Dive into Type System:
    • Understanding advanced type inference.
    • Exploring the nuances of the type system.