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by ink 1024 days ago
Do you have multiple people collaborating with you? If I’m writing code that only I need to understand then yes, typescript may be overkill (though I prefer types even then), but working on any meaningful codebase without types is… challenging. Types aren’t that hard are they?
1 comments
rglover 1024 days ago
I have, yes. From a team perspective, there's zero technical difference between TypeScript types and a combination of default args and type checker functions. The same ends are achieved, but in a far less kludgy way that's overt. In the event a type checker is missing, it can be added/documented quickly with zero time wasted on trying to answer "what's the TypeScript way to do this?"

Types aren't the difficult part, it's TypeScript that's difficult. The documentation is a nightmare and in my experience I saw "any" types being used far too often (which literally defeats the purpose of using TypeScript).

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dmux 1024 days ago
>there's zero technical difference between TypeScript types and a combination of default args and type checker functions

I may be missing something, but aren't your type checker functions called at runtime whereas Typescript would be doing static type checking at compile time?

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rglover 1024 days ago
They are, but in practice there's little difference in the ends because you're getting the same feedback (did I pass the right type, yes or no). Like calling someone on a cell phone vs. a land line.

If the type of data you're passing around is erratic beyond development (where, just like TypeScript, a function-based approach illuminates incorrect data being passed around), you're writing bad code and TypeScript is nothing more than a crutch.

I expect most hardline TypeScript people to disagree, but type errors are the least of my concerns thanks to the above approach. It's not just an opinion; it's based on experience/evidence [1].

[1] https://github.com/cheatcode/joystick

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sibeliuss 1024 days ago
Yes, you are correct. It is clear the OP doesn't understand the purpose of typescript.
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rglover 1024 days ago
I understand perfectly, but in practice I don't think the benefits outweigh the costs.
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ink 1024 days ago
Fair enough if you have another way that works!
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