Hey there, TypeScript enthusiasts! ???? Have you ever found yourself twiddling your thumbs, waiting for your massive TypeScript project to compile? Well, get ready for some mind-blowing news that’s about to change the game!
Microsoft just dropped a bombshell announcement: they’re working on a tool that’ll make TypeScript 10 times faster by 2025.
Yes, you read that right – 10x faster! ????
The Current TypeScript Slowdown
Let’s face it, as much as we love TypeScript, it’s not exactly known for its blazing compilation speeds.
Right now, the TypeScript compiler is written in… well, TypeScript.
While that’s pretty cool from a “dogfooding” perspective, it’s not doing us any favors in the speed department.
For large projects, compilation can take forever, and it’s putting a real damper on development efficiency.
Want to do a quick error check across your entire codebase? Good luck with that – you might as well go grab a coffee (or three) while you wait.
Enter the Native TypeScript Compiler
Here’s where things get exciting.
Microsoft is cooking up a brand new native TypeScript compiler written in Go.
Why Go, you ask? Well, it turns out Go is the perfect fit for this kind of heavy lifting – it’s low-level enough to squeeze out maximum performance, but still gives developers the tools they need for things like automatic memory management and concurrency.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Alright, let’s talk cold, hard facts.
Microsoft has been putting this new compiler through its paces, and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping:
- VS Code (1.5 million lines): From 77.8s down to 7.5s
- Playwright (356,000 lines): From 11.1s down to 1.1s
- TypeORM (270,000 lines): From 17.5s down to 1.3s
We’re consistently seeing speed improvements of 10x or more across various codebases.
It’s not just a small tweak – this is a massive leap forward!
Beyond Compilation: The Ripple Effects
But wait, there’s more! ???? This speed boost isn’t just about faster compilation.
Here’s what else you can look forward to:
- Lightning-fast editor startup: Get coding 8 times faster when you open a TypeScript project.
- Memory savings: Cut your memory usage by more than half. Your computer will thank you!
- Improved development workflow: With near-instant compilation, you can catch errors and iterate much more quickly.
The Road to Warp Speed
Now, I know you’re probably itching to get your hands on this magical compiler.
Here’s the timeline Microsoft has laid out:
- Mid-2025: Preview version with command-line type checking
- End of 2025: Full compiler release as part of TypeScript 7.0
But don’t worry – the current TypeScript compiler isn’t going anywhere just yet.
TypeScript 6.0 will still use the tried-and-true TypeScript-based compiler.
Open Source and Open for Business
Here’s some more great news: this native TypeScript compiler is being developed as an open-source project.
That means you can follow along with the progress on GitHub, contribute if you’re feeling adventurous, and even check out the FAQs to satisfy your curiosity.
What This Means for TypeScript Development
Let’s take a step back and consider the bigger picture.
A 10x speed boost in TypeScript compilation is going to have some serious ripple effects:
- Larger projects become more manageable: No more dreading that full rebuild of your million-line codebase.
- Faster feedback loops: Catch errors and make changes more quickly, leading to higher-quality code.
- Improved TypeScript adoption: One of the biggest hurdles for TypeScript newbies is often the compilation overhead. This could make TypeScript much more appealing to a wider audience.
- New possibilities for tooling: With all that extra performance, we might see some innovative new developer tools and workflows emerge.
The Technical Nitty-Gritty
For those of you who love to peek under the hood, here are some technical tidbits about the new compiler:
- It’s a direct port of the existing TypeScript compiler, preserving all the current semantics and behaviors.
- The team is porting file-by-file and function-by-function to ensure consistency.
- They’re leveraging Go’s concurrency features to parallelize parts of the compilation process.
- The new compiler uses the Language Server Protocol (LSP) architecture, opening up new possibilities for integration with various editors and tools.
Wrapping Up: The Future is Fast
In conclusion, Microsoft’s announcement of a 10x faster TypeScript compiler is a game-changer for the TypeScript ecosystem.
With dramatically improved compilation speeds, reduced memory usage, and faster editor startup times, this new tool promises to supercharge TypeScript development across the board.
While we’ll have to wait until 2025 for the full release, the potential impact on productivity and developer experience is enormous.
Whether you’re a seasoned TypeScript pro or just dipping your toes in the statically-typed waters, this is definitely something to keep an eye on.
So, what do you think? Are you excited about the prospect of lightning-fast TypeScript compilation? How do you think this will change your development workflow? Let me know in the comments below!
Remember to keep an eye on the GitHub repo for updates, and get ready to turbocharge your TypeScript projects in the near future! ????????