Typescript vs Nodejs

For years Javascript has been the go-to development language of choice for client-side developers by providing the power and flexibility to build web-based applications. Today, the use of Javascript is migrating towards server-side applications. As web applications became more extensive and complex, developers use Typescript to expand Javascript capabilities.

Typescript and Node.js are two tools every developer needs in their toolbox.
Typescript is a Javascript superset tool developed by Microsoft to expand the capabilities of Javascript. Typescript creates static types allowing developers to identify issues in code before being in a runtime environment. It is strictly a development language and must be transpiled into Javascript before being used in production.

Node.js is a runtime development framework used to execute Javascript on the server-side. It allows developers to use Javascript for server-side applications simplifying the development process and reducing costs.

Node.js provides a way for front-end Javascript developers to become full-stack developers without learning a different programming language or development framework.

What is Typescript?

Typescript is an open-source language introduced in 2012 by Microsoft to expand the capabilities of Javascript. In 2019, developers on StackOverflow voted Typescript as one of the most loved languages, and it is considered an excellent tool for larger, more complex coding applications. For instance, it creates a more structured code by providing optional static typing. This feature is beneficial for larger applications written by remote teams of developers since it makes it easier to spot bugs earlier in the development process. It is also popular because Javascript developers have a shorter learning curve to develop server-side applications.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is an unopinionated low-level platform and Javascript runtime environment for server-side programming applications. It uses V8 Javascript, the core of Google Chrome, outside of the browser. Because it is an open-source platform, Node.js is supported by an extensive code library that is growing daily. The developer community is very active and provides numerous query builders, object-relational models (ORMs), and database toolkits. Learn more about Node.js.

The Pros and Cons of Typescript

There is a reason Typescript is so popular among Javascript developers. First of all, it is easy to spot code errors without waiting for runtime sessions. It is also predictable that once types are defined, they do not change and can only take on specific values. Typescript is also predictable. Types perform the way they are written and there are no surprises at runtime. Adding static types and descriptions makes the code more self-descriptive, allowing other team members to understand the original developer’s intentions. Typescript is supported by several integrated development environments (IDEs), including Microsoft Visual Basic.

There are a few drawbacks to using Typescript. The most common complaint is that Typescript requires more code to be written, potentially lengthening development times, and thus costs. Additional annotations also add length to the code. Once transpiled, the extra code goes away. Transpiling is a drawback since it requires an additional step before running the Javascript code. The good news is that Typescript is continuously evolving, and incremental releases resolve many of the most popular issues.

Pros and Cons of Node.js

The primary benefit of using Node.js is the ability to use Javascript to write server-side applications. The platform is easy-to-use and straightforward and can be set-up in a manner of minutes. Node.js also allows numerous operations to run concurrently. Incoming requests are queued up while outgoing requests are processed. Another benefit is the large and active development community, which contributes thousands of toolkits, databases, ORMS, and query builders.

The biggest problem is an unstable API that changes frequently and is often not backward-compatible. These issues can create numerous problems for developers and require considerable time to debug and resolve. The active community is also a drawback of Node.js. Many libraries are not adequately tested or vetted before being released, causing problems for developers.

Do You Need to Choose Between Typescript and Node.js?

Both Typescript and Node.js are Javascript development tools for server-side application development. They improve the ability to build extensive, more complex operations involving multiple developers. Both tools allow client-side developers to become full-stack developers by using their Javascript expertise without learning a new language. The two tools work seamlessly together and can simplify the application development process. Node.js transpiles Typescript code into native Javascript code for server-side applications.

Prisma 2 is an ORM for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite combining Typescript and Node.js for building faster server-side applications with fewer errors.