stackstash

JavaScript vs TypeScript

JavaScript and TypeScript are free.

JavaScript logo: The language browsers run, and the language Node uses on the server.
JavaScript logo: The language browsers run, and the language Node uses on the server.

JavaScript

Free

The language browsers run, and the language Node uses on the server.

Try it

Pros of JavaScript

  • One language for the UI and the API

  • The libraries in this catalog mostly assume it

  • You can ship without a compile step

Cons of JavaScript

  • Loose types let mistakes wait until runtime

  • Older patterns and modern ones show up in the same codebase

TypeScript logo: JavaScript with types. It compiles to plain JavaScript.
TypeScript logo: JavaScript with types. It compiles to plain JavaScript.

TypeScript

Free

JavaScript with types. It compiles to plain JavaScript.

Try it

Pros of TypeScript

  • Renames and bad arguments show up in the editor

  • You can adopt it file by file in a JavaScript project

  • The types document the shape of data

Cons of TypeScript

  • Build and config are extra moving parts

  • Third-party types are sometimes wrong or missing