Supercharge Productivity: Mastering TypeScript Project References

Unlock the Power of TypeScript Project References

Are you tired of building and maintaining multiple packages in your monorepo individually? Do you wish there was a way to streamline your development process and boost your productivity? Look no further! TypeScript project references are here to revolutionize the way you work with your codebase.

What are Project References?

Introduced in TypeScript 3.0, project references allow you to specify dependent packages in your tsconfig.json file. This means that when you build a package, its dependencies are built first, ensuring a seamless and efficient development experience.

Configuring Project References

To get started, you’ll need to add a references array to your tsconfig.json file. This array contains objects with a path property, which points to a relative location containing another tsconfig.json file. For example:

json
{
"references": [
{
"path": "../common/tsconfig.json"
}
]
}


Building Incrementally

When building a package with project references, you can use the -b or --build switch with the tsc compiler. This generates a tsconfig.tsbuildinfo file, which contains the signatures and timestamps of all files required to build the entire project. On subsequent builds, TypeScript uses this information to detect the least costly way to type-check and emit changes to your project.

Watching for Changes

One of the most significant benefits of project references is the ability to watch for changes across your entire monorepo. By running a script with the tsc compiler and the -w switch, you can monitor all packages for changes and rebuild them efficiently.

Monorepo Project Structure

A typical monorepo project structure consists of individual package nodes in a folder named packages. At the root folder, you’ll find a tsconfig.base.json file that is extended by all packages in the monorepo. This file contains essential settings, such as:

• "composite": true, which instructs tsc to build project references
• "declarationMap": true, which adds source maps for .d.ts declaration files
• The paths field, which contains an object with each key pointing to a package’s location

Watching and Building All Packages

With your project structure in place, you can now build all packages in one step using the tsconfig.packages.json file at the root of your project. Alternatively, you can watch all packages for changes using the -w switch.

Handy Switches and Configurations

When working with project references, it’s essential to know about some useful switches and configurations:

• -b or --build: Builds a package with project references
• -w: Watches for changes across the entire monorepo
• projectReferences option in ts-loader configuration: Enables project references for Webpack bundlers

Embracing the Power of Project References

As a developer, I can attest to the significant productivity boost that project references provide. By streamlining your development process and reducing build times, you can focus on what matters most – writing high-quality code. So why not give project references a try today and unlock the full potential of your TypeScript monorepo?