TypeScript is an open-source language which builds on JavaScript by adding static type definitions. This past summer, we began considering adopting TypeScript into our React applications. However, many of our engineers were unfamiliar with TypeScript and weren’t sure how it worked, let alone the benefits that it offered.
As a result, I held an internal Introduction to TypeScript with React workshop, similar to the TypeScript for React Developers Minishop I periodically host externally. Instead of simply covering types and syntax, the workshop focused on how using TypeScript can prevent common bugs that infect our React applications. We learned how to use TypeScript with React props, hooks, events and APIs/utilities.
Based on my experience teaching TypeScript with React internally, I developed an extended talk called TypeScript + React = ❤️. I recently gave it as a part of TSConf 2020 back in July. Here is a video of the talk:
Talk Abstract:
TypeScript is a JavaScript superset that compiles down to vanilla JavaScript and has become increasingly popular. TypeScript proponents proclaim that it eliminates entire classes of bugs that affect our applications. But what exactly are those bugs? Which ones are particular to building React components and applications? Is TypeScript worth the learning curve?
In this session geared towards devs with prior experience building React applications, let’s answer those questions. We’ll walk through the common bugs that infect our apps and learn how the use of strong types with TypeScript can help prevent them. After the session, you’ll be itching to try it out in your next project!
