TypeScript Tutorials
TypeScript Developer Tutorials Roadmap
Section 1: Foundations - Setting Up and Getting Started
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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).
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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).
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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`.
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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).
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Type Annotations:
- Explicitly specifying types for variables, function parameters, and return values.
- Type inference: How TypeScript infers types automatically.
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Functions:
- Typing function parameters and return values.
- Optional and default parameters.
- Rest parameters.
- Function overloads.
Section 2: Working with Complex Types and Structures
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Interfaces:
- Defining the shape of objects.
- Optional and read-only properties.
- Extending interfaces.
- Implementing interfaces with classes.
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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.
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Classes:
- Defining classes with properties and methods.
- Access modifiers (`public`, `private`, `protected`).
- Constructors.
- Inheritance.
- Abstract classes.
- Implementing interfaces.
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Generics:
- Writing reusable code that works with multiple types.
- Generic functions.
- Generic interfaces.
- Generic classes.
- Generic constraints.
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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.
- Telling the compiler about the type of a variable when it cannot infer it (`as type` or `
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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
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Modules:
- Understanding ES Modules (`import`/`export`) in TypeScript.
- Importing and exporting types, interfaces, classes, and values.
- Default and named exports.
- Module resolution strategies.
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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.
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Decorators (Experimental):
- Understanding the concept of decorators (adding metadata or modifying classes/methods/properties).
- Using decorators (requires enabling in `tsconfig.json`).
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Utility Types:
- Exploring built-in utility types (e.g., `Partial`, `Required`, `ReadOnly`, `Pick`, `Omit`, `Exclude`, `Extract`).
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Conditional Types:
- Defining types that depend on a condition (`T extends U ? X : Y`).
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Mapped Types:
- Creating new types by transforming properties of existing types.
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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
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Using TypeScript with React:
- Typing function components.
- Typing class components.
- Typing props and state.
- Typing hooks.
- Typing event handlers.
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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.
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Using TypeScript with Node.js/Express:
- Setting up a Node.js project with TypeScript.
- Typing Express request and response objects.
- Typing database interactions.
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Integrating with other popular libraries:
- Axios, Lodash, etc. (using `@types`).
Section 5: Tooling, Configuration, and Best Practices
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Advanced `tsconfig.json` Options:
- `noImplicitAny`, `noImplicitThis`, `strictNullChecks`, `strictFunctionTypes`, `strictPropertyInitialization`.
- `esModuleInterop`, `allowSyntheticDefaultImports`.
- `paths` for module aliases.
- Excluding files and directories.
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Linting and Formatting:
- Using ESLint with TypeScript.
- Using Prettier with TypeScript.
- Integrating with VS Code extensions.
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Testing TypeScript Code:
- Setting up testing frameworks (Jest, Mocha, Vitest) with TypeScript.
- Writing tests for TypeScript code.
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Debugging TypeScript Code:
- Setting up debugging in VS Code.
- Using source maps.
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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
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Following the TypeScript Community:
- Official TypeScript documentation and blog.
- TypeScript conferences and talks.
- TypeScript social media channels and forums.
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Exploring New TypeScript Features:
- Keeping up with new releases and features.
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Deep Dive into Type System:
- Understanding advanced type inference.
- Exploring the nuances of the type system.