microsoft / microsoft/TypeScript

Detect Typescript in Javascript editors opened and inform developer, that he is writing different syntax and it will silently fail (probably)

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Go
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Description

It would be super helpful to have something like:

Warning: TypeScript syntax detected in .jsx file. 
Would you like to:
[ ] Rename to .tsx
[ ] Remove TypeScript syntax
[ ] Ignore warning

This kind of UX improvement could save developers (especially those transitioning between JS and TS projects) a lot of time and frustration. It seems like a relatively straightforward detection that could help a lot of people!

VSCode already does similar helpful suggestions for other cases (like offering to create files that don't exist when you import them), so this would fit right in with that philosophy.

What it would solve?

It's the classic .jsx vs .tsx gotcha! 😄

This is such a common issue that even experienced developers run into it regularly. The file extension makes all the difference because:

  • .jsx files are treated as regular JavaScript/React files
  • .tsx files are treated as TypeScript/React files

So TypeScript typing just "silently fails" to work in .jsx files without any obvious error message about why the types aren't working.

It's one of those "spend an hour debugging only to realize it's a file extension" moments that every developer has experienced!

  • .CJS -> .TS, .JS -> .TS, .JSX -> .TSX

(Similar functionality could be created for CSS -> SCSS, ... .)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. Start by locating where editor diagnostics or language-service suggestions are implemented, then determine how syntax detection and rename, removal, or ignore actions would fit; done means the proposed warning works for the listed extensions without disrupting valid JavaScript.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
javascript, typescript
Domain
developer-experience, tooling
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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