TypeScript: An Investment Worth Making

Two years ago, we made the decision to use TypeScript for all new projects and gradually migrate existing ones. It wasn't a trendy choice—it was a practical one. Here's our honest assessment of the investment.

The Initial Cost

Let's be real: TypeScript has a learning curve. For developers coming from JavaScript, there's friction:

Type annotations feel verbose at first
Generic types can be confusing
Configuration (tsconfig.json) has many options
Some npm packages have poor or missing type definitions

Our initial productivity dropped by about 20% as the team adapted. This is real cost that shouldn't be ignored.

When the Investment Pays Off

After the initial adjustment (roughly 2-3 months for most developers), things changed dramatically.

1. Bugs Caught at Compile Time

The most obvious benefit. Entire categories of bugs simply can't happen:

// This won't compile
function processUser(user: User) {
  console.log(user.nmae); // Typo caught immediately
}

We estimate TypeScript catches 15-20% of bugs before they reach testing. That's significant.

2. Refactoring Confidence

This is where TypeScript really shines. When you rename a property or change a function signature, the compiler tells you every place that needs updating.

Before TypeScript, refactoring was scary. Now it's routine. We refactor more often, which keeps codebases healthier.

3. Self-Documenting Code

Types serve as documentation that can't get out of sync:

interface CreateProjectInput {
  name: string;
  description?: string;
  deadline: Date;
  budget: number;
}

New team members understand the codebase faster. We spend less time writing and maintaining documentation.

4. Better IDE Support

TypeScript enables autocomplete, inline documentation, and intelligent navigation that make development faster and more pleasant.

When TypeScript Might Be Overkill

We don't use TypeScript for everything:

Quick prototypes where we're exploring ideas
Simple scripts that won't be maintained long-term
Projects with very tight deadlines and no long-term maintenance plan

For these cases, the upfront cost isn't justified by the benefits.

Our TypeScript Setup

After much experimentation, here's our standard configuration:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "strict": true,
    "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true,
    "noImplicitReturns": true,
    "esModuleInterop": true
  }
}

Strict mode is non-negotiable. The whole point is catching errors—lenient settings defeat the purpose.

The Bottom Line

For any project that will be maintained for more than a few months or worked on by multiple developers, TypeScript is worth the investment. The upfront cost is real but temporary. The long-term benefits compound over time.

If you're on the fence, try it on one project. Give yourself three months to adjust. We're confident you'll reach the same conclusion we did.