Comment by Kleo Petrov on "Is it OK to learn TypeScript before JavaScript?"

CommentIs it OK to learn TypeScript before JavaScript?

Kleo Petrov

Professional human being for 29 years

Jul 27, 2017

Leave TypeScript for now. Learn JavaScript and the DOM API first. TypeScript is just a tool, which extends the functionality of the JavaScript language (it's also know as superset). Mixing them together will introduce unnecessary complexity to your learning. So, start simple. Only when you have a deep understanding of the fundamentals of JavaScript and have built or worked on several medium to big projects, you can start exploring TypeScript and the surrounding ecosystem.

When you are ready, you may ask? If you can answer these questions:

What problems does TypeScript solve?
When using TypeScript would be an overkill?
Why JavaScript needs tools like TypeScript and Flow in the first place?
How can a small/medium/enterprise project benefit from using TypeScript.

Only then you are probably ready to start learning it.

Morten Mertner

Aug 1, 2017

I'd have to completely disagree with this advice.

When you are learning a new language, you need guidance. TypeScript provides this through modern language constructs, while still allowing you to target older platforms. It also enables code editors to provide auto-completion and parameter help through type validation, and none of these benefits have any runtime performance impact. It's the language equivalent of a babel fish.

Additionally, you can study the compiler output and learn what the equivalent JavaScript looks like. TypeScript is a simply a godsend and anyone telling people otherwise has completely blocked out how easy it is to write horrible JavaScript code.

Thanks for this. I know really basic JS and I hate JS. So I am diving into TS now. This just put some air under my wings.

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