A heroic new proposal for JavaScript // The Code Report

TL;DR

Typescript could soon work in browsers without transpiling, with a new TC39 proposal underway.

Transcript

it is march 10 2022 and you're watching the code report typescript will turn 10 years old in october of this year in the early days it was only used by squares working at big mega corporations today even that dude at the coffee shop with a man bun drinking a soy latte coding on his m1 macbook as loving typescript on the state of javascript survey t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪡 Typescript might become browser-native, eliminating the need for transpiling processes.
• 🅰️ The TC39 proposal for native types in ECMAScript is in its early stage and success is uncertain.
• 🅰️ The proposed syntax for type annotations in JavaScript could enhance developer experiences without disrupting the existing ecosystem.
• 🎨 React 18's release candidate introduces concurrent rendering for improved UI design patterns.
• ❤️‍🩹 Apple's Mac Studio with an M1 Ultra chip is released, targeted at high-end users.
• ☠️ Inflation reaches a 40-year high, prompting the Federal Reserve's quarter percentage rate hike.
• 🧑‍💻 The tech landscape is constantly evolving, with advancements and challenges shaping the future of development.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the current state of Typescript's evolution?

Typescript, close to a decade old, could potentially work in browsers without transpiling, thanks to a new TC39 proposal for native types in ECMAScript, although it is at an early stage zero.

Q: Why is the build step/transpiling process often disliked in Typescript development?

The build step in Typescript, necessary for transpiling code into plain JavaScript, is disliked due to the time it takes and the involved configuration details.

Q: How could native types in ECMAScript benefit developers?

If successful, the proposal for native types in ECMAScript would allow developers to add type annotations to code without a need for a build step, while still enjoying TypeScript-like features.

Q: How does the proposed syntax for type annotations in JavaScript aim to improve development?

The proposed syntax for type annotations in JavaScript is designed to be non-invasive, treating types as comments that are ignored by the browser but leveraged by tools like TypeScript, Flow, and IDEs for better developer experiences.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• TypeScript, nearing its 10th anniversary, might become browser-native without transpiling.

• TC39 proposal for native types in ECMAScript raises hopes but is still at stage zero.

• Proposed syntax for type annotations in JavaScript aims to provide TypeScript benefits without a build step.