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Technology

What is TypeScript

Supercharge your JavaScript! Explore TypeScript, a statically typed superset of JS, and how it ensures more robust, scalable, and maintainable applications.

BairesDev Editorial Team

By BairesDev Editorial Team

BairesDev is an award-winning nearshore software outsourcing company. Our 4,000+ engineers and specialists are well-versed in 100s of technologies.

9 min read

What is TypeScript

A free and open-source language, TypeScript was developed by Microsoft to build on JavaScript, specifically adding the option of static typing. As a superset of the world’s most popular programming language, TypeScript has gained an enormous following in its own right, with many businesses turning to TypeScript development services, particularly for large-scale, complex projects.

TypeScript Development Services

Our TypeScript Development Services

Enterprise TypeScript App Development

TypeScript is ideal for larger projects, where JavaScript’s capabilities are more limited. At BairesDev, we can create enterprise applications and software using TypeScript and accommodate your most complex projects.

TypeScript Web App Development

TypeScipt is ideal for building JavaScript client- and server-side web applications. Our JavaScript developers will leverage TypeScript to ensure that your applications are robust, high-performance, and user-friendly.

TypeScript Consultation

Does your project require TypeScript? We will help you determine the best types of tools and services you need to complete your project successfully and offer guidance along the way.

TypeScript Maintenance and Support

All tech projects demand upkeep and maintenance. At BairesDev, we will provide you with the support you need to keep your applications and products up to date and functioning well, with all the latest tools and technologies.

Our TypeScript Development Process

Planning and Requirements Gathering

In the early stages, before we begin development, we will gather requirements from your business to determine how we will proceed with your TypeScript project. We will also map out the additional stages to ensure we accommodate your needs.

Development

This is when we will build your TypeScript project according to your specifications and requirements, working in collaboration with you and keeping you apprised of our efforts.

Testing

All products need to be tested rigorously, not only to eliminate as many bugs as possible but also to assess qualities like functionality, performance, and usability.

Deployment

After testing, it’s time for release — your TypeScript project is ready for market.

Maintenance

After deployment, we will help you keep your product functioning and performing well through updates and maintenance.

Benefits of TypeScript for Software Development 

Conversion to JavaScript

The main reason to use TypeScript is to extend JavaScript’s capabilities. All TypeScript code converts to JavaScript and supports JavaScript tools and libraries. TypeScript can run wherever JavaScript runs, including in browsers, operating systems, and other environments.

Augmentation of JavaScript

TypeScript builds on JavaScript, chiefly adding the option of static typing, while also augmenting the older language in other respects. This is the reason why TypeScript exist — and the biggest benefit it offers.

Popularity

TypeScript is relatively young, but it has already become enormously popular, with a growing community. In fact, JavaScript itself is the most popular language in the world, and its superset is following close behind.

What is TypeScript?

JavaScript is the single most popular programming language on the planet. Why? Because every company in the world has come to realize websites are a necessity for doing business. And to draw and keep users coming back to your site, you need to make that site as interesting and interactive as possible. With JavaScript, that’s not only possible – it’s easy.

JavaScript is a text-based programming language designed for both client- and server-side that allows developers to make web pages interactive and exciting. JavaScript can be used for:

  • Client-Side Web Applications
  • Server-Side Web Applications
  • Mobile Applications
  • Desktop Applications
  • Web Games

It’s because of the use-cases listed above that JavaScript has become the hottest language on the planet. But JavaScript does have its limitations. For example, as JavaScript codebases grow, they tend to get messy and challenging to maintain, which means code isn’t always easily reusable. In today’s modern world of program development, reusable code makes for less work. And every software engineer should be thinking about working smarter, instead of harder.

TypeScript is generally thought of as JavaScript for application development at scale. It’s a strongly-typed, object-oriented, compiled superset of JavaScript. Think of TypeScript as a super-charged version of JavaScript.

Because TypeScript fully embraces object-oriented programming, strong type checking, and compile-time error checks, it makes JavaScript a much more viable language for enterprise-class businesses.

TypeScripts Origins

TypeScript was created by Microsoft and first released in October 2012. Back then, it was criticized as immature, because of a lack of IDE support (outside of Microsoft Visual Studio). It took quite some time, but eventually, TypeScript found support in other IDEs and text editors across platforms (such as Linux and macOS).

Currently, the list of IDEs that support TypeScript includes:

  • Visual Studio Code
  • alm.tools
  • JetBrains
  • Atom
  • Cloud9 IDE
  • Eclipse IDE (via a plugin)
  • Codeanywhere
  • Angular IDE
  • Tide

With the help of plugins, TypeScript can be integrated with automation tools like Grunt, Apache Maven, Gulp, and Gradle.

What is TypeScript Used For?

Originally designed to overcome JavaScript’s inability to work with large-scale application development, the original developers sought a solution that wouldn’t cause compatibility issues and standards. To help bridge TypeScript and JavaScript, the developers created a JavaScript compiler that included a set of syntactic language extensions, which can transform the TypeScript extensions into standard JavaScript.

TypeScript is comprised of the following 3 components:

  • TypeScript Language: syntax, keywords, and type annotations.
  • TypeScript Compiler: converts the instructions written in TypeScript to the JavaScript equivalent.
  • TypeScript Language Service: exposes an additional layer around the compiler pipeline to support the common set of standard editor operations (such as statement completion, signature help, formatting, and syntax highlighting).

Advantages of TypeScript

The features of TypeScript make it appealing to companies looking to implement JavaScript-like functionality but on a large scale. Those features include:

  • Supports JavaScript Libraries: TypeScript supports all of the existing JavaScript frameworks, libraries, and tools, so your developers should already have most of the skills they need to get started.
  • Portability: TypeScript is portable across all browsers, devices, and operating systems. In fact, any environment that supports JavaScript will support TypeScript.
  • Chained Operators: TypeScript allows the optional chaining operator (?.) which enables developers to read the value of a property located deep within a chain of connected objects.
  • DOM manipulations: TypeScript can be used to manipulate the DOM for the adding or removing of elements (in a similar fashion to JavaScript).

One of the ways TypeScript simplifies JavaScript is with the help of modules. TypeScript modules are designed to better organize code and are divided into 2 categories:

  1. Internal Modules: used to logically group classes, interfaces, and functions into a single unit.
  2. External Modules: specifies load dependencies between multiple external JavaScript files.

TypeScript is really just JavaScript, so all of those JavaScript developers on your payroll, shouldn’t have any problems adapting to this language.

Why Enterprise Web Development Is Moving Toward TypeScript

There are several reasons why your business should be making use of TypeScript, such as:

  • Typescript supports static typing.
  • TypeScript supports ECMAScript 2015 classes.
  • TypeScript supports generic programming.
  • TypeScript makes JavaScript code easier to read and debug.
  • TypeScript is open source, so it enjoys a large community and several open-source frameworks and libraries.
  • TypeScript enjoys all the benefits of ES6 (ECMAScript 6) and adds even more productivity features.
  • TypeScript helps developers to avoid common JavaScript bugs by checking the code as they type.
  • TypeScript includes a powerful type system (including generics).
  • TypeScript is a structural language, rather than a nominal one.
  • TypeScript code can be compiled according to ES5 and ES6 standards, so it supports all of the latest browsers.
  • TypeScript code is easier to understand than JavaScript.

In the end, one of the most important questions is, “What can you use TypeScript for?” The answer is simple: If you can build it with JavaScript, you can build it with TypeScript, only bigger, more performant, and more easily. Because of this, TypeScript is ideal for larger companies that need JavaScript functionality at scale.

With TypeScript, you can build JavaScript applications for both client and server-side execution. And because TypeScript helps developers spot bugs as they type code, it’s a much more efficient language than JavaScript.

If this sounds like the perfect language to add to your current development team, you can test it out online or via the Node package manager, npm.

Why Choose BairesDev for TypeScript Development

Flexible Models

BairesDev offers a range of outsourcing models to meet your business needs. Whether you’re looking for a TypeScript expert to join your existing team for a specific project or want our professionals to deliver end-to-end product, we can work with you to find the best solution for your business.

Transparency

We will always keep you apprised of our efforts, even if you select a dedicated team model to complete your project. You will stay informed and aware — no surprises!

High Coding Standards

Our code adheres to rigorous standards and goes through extensive, thorough testing to ensure quality results.

Qualified Talent

All of our team members represent only the top 1% of talent. You can rely on our professionals to have the highest degree of professionalism and expert skillsets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does outsourcing to a TypeScript development company work?

Outsourcing your project to a TypeScript development company essentially means that you’re offloading some or all of a project that relies on the language to an external provider who is an expert in software development. When you outsource TypeScript development, you can usually choose among different models, such as staff augmentation, where developers work side by side with your team members, or choose a dedicated team model, which means the team will complete the project in its entirety.

Can I hire TypeScript developers on a full-time basis?

TypeScript developers are JavaScript developers, so when you hire TypeScript developers, you are really hiring JavaScript developers who know TypeScript. So, the answer is yes — you can hire full-time TypeScript developers, but their work will encompass both languages.

What is the difference between JavaScript and TypeScript?

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript, so when it comes to JavaScript vs. Typescript, what’s the difference? The biggest distinction between the two is TypeScript’s addition of static typing. Additionally, TypeScript is an object-oriented programming language, while JavaScript is considered a scripting language. Additionally, TypeScript supports interfaces and modules, while JavaScript does not.

BairesDev Editorial Team

By BairesDev Editorial Team

Founded in 2009, BairesDev is the leading nearshore technology solutions company, with 4,000+ professionals in more than 50 countries, representing the top 1% of tech talent. The company's goal is to create lasting value throughout the entire digital transformation journey.

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