TypeScript: How does it add value to your business or product?

TypeScript is a programming language developed by Microsoft, a statically typed superset of JavaScript. This means that TypeScript is an added layer on top of JavaScript.

After discussing the technical aspects of adding types to your codebase, I thought it would be beneficial to discuss how  Microsoft’s TypeScript can add value to your JavaScript application, product or service.

When implementing a new layer of technology, into an existing codebase, there are always concerns whether the new technology is a necessary implementation.

From a business perspective for something like TypeScript, the advantages are not immediately clear.

In fact, a lot of the value of a TypeScript implementation will come further down the line of a project. For a software product or business owner, it’s difficult to gauge exactly how much is worth to a projects overall lifespan.

However, I thought I’d break down the benefits from a non technical perspective.

Readability, is perhaps the most simple benefit, having a TypeScript implementation increases the readability of your project for other developers.

This can be a huge determining factor to implement TypeScript when it comes to projects that outsource their work on a regular basis.

When a new developer comes into a workplace, he/she can instantly diagnose the data flow of the project through already declared Types.

These TypeScript Types add an element of explanation to variables that are descriptive to a new developer working on it.

This reduces resources allocated to getting new developers up to scratch with a projects history.

In situations where backend developers need to look into frontend code, TypeScript can provide a nice middle ground to understand the process on frontend.

TypeScript holds a lot of similarities to Object Oriented languages such as C# and Java. Therefore it can be easier for a backend team to determine what is happening on the frontend leading to a healthier crossover between these two disciplines.

A more ubiquitous software team like this can remove previous barriers between developers.

This can lead to increased productivity in a development team and a better understanding of a project as a whole.

As an existing project expands, new requirements demand brand new features. During this process previous functionality must be ensured to still work correctly.

This is a huge concern for any large application that encompasses many different features.

Using a robust testing language and suite ensures a lot of coverage for functionality changing. And although a lot of this safety can be guaranteed by running a wide range of custom tests, TypeScript will also throw errors for data in the code that is outside the original scope.

This will save you from breaking features of your project or application that were already working.

Much in the same way that testing provides a safety net for your current project’s functionality, TypeScript adds yet another layer of protection for your application as it grows.

Maintaining previous scope while adding new features is paramount to running a successful software product through its iterative production processes.

TypeScript gives a project another element of security in this way.

We don’t have to look far to see recognizable companies leading the way using TypeScript for their own applications.

Google themselves fully implemented their programming language Angular with Typescript by default.

But many others have adapted this layer of technology in their scaled applications including:

• Asana
• Accenture
• Microsoft

We can also see the support of TypeScript growing in a recent Stack Overflow Survey.

It sits at an impressive 9.5%. This is a reassuring stat as TypeScript is essentially something that is added on top of JavaScript. So to have such a significant rating in technology popularity adds to its already impressive list of benefits.

Its steady growth and userbase is also reassuring for any software product that wants to integrate it in an existing JavaScript application.

To summarise, TypeScript makes it easier to create large JavaScript applications. It can increase the quality and reliability of your JavaScript product or service.

An although its benefits are well highlighted, its value is not inherently recognised amongst business owners with large scale projects or applications that are constantly expanding.

However, having a codebase that is more reliable and has data that is more predictable will ultimately cut down accumulated technical debt.

It provides a much smoother experience when expanding a project and adding funcionality.

Which leads to revenue saved from technical problems that are found sooner rather than later.

Bear in mind TypeScript itself isn’t going to increase the quality of your JavaScript project. But it will provide a blanket of security amongst other benefits to an already existing JavaScript application.

If implemented from the start of a project it will omit all kinds of potential errors which will be noticed much earlier in the building process of a software business or service.

We here at JSdiaries can ensure that your future web application or project will have the safety net that TypeScript can provide for you.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.