TypeScript– Application grade JavaScript

author Robert Hogg calendar Jan 21, 2013 · 2 min read · Uncategorised  ·
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During Decembers Architect Forum I talked about TypeScript and some recent updates have prompted a post.

So what is the rational behind Yet another JavaScript language,  when there are already a few out there. Microsoft's motivation was to produce an Application grade version of JavaScript which would not impede only improve existing JavaScript development.

The design choices made in TypeScript which make it so appealing is that it is built as a set of Optional extensions to JavaScript so in effect all JavaScript code is also TypeScript code. Combined with the TypeScript implementation which compiles the Typescript down into JavaScript (EC3 or EC5) means that it will run on all platforms where JavaScript runs with out the need of any additional runtime. These give key advantages in both adoption which can be done at the start or during a project and also it does not preclude any existing user libraries which is the classic stumbling block for any new language.

Typescript guys have made a great choice to in effect implement most of the EC6 planned and features still up for discussion, bottom line this means you get classes, strong typing throughout your code to use in JavaScript now.

To get started first of look at http://www.typescriptlang.org/ is the home of typescript and of course as typescript is JavaScript, you can try it right now in your browser http://www.typescriptlang.org/Playground/

For actual production use you can down get it as either a Node.js package by using node.js package manager npm install -g typescript and then use the command line compiler tsc

or as plugin for Visual Studio 2012 Here

or just the source and do it yourself, all from here 

Chris Sells from Telerik has not only produced a great post on TypeScript but also some Windows 8 Templates so you can develop Windows 8 applications in HTML and Typescript which in my opinion will improve the quality of your applications no end.

read his article here and the instructions on how to install the Windows 8 templates are at the end

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