Support TypeScript executable without extension when flag is set
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- Dominant language
- JavaScript
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Description
What is the problem this feature will solve?
When I write an executable utility like build-game, I have to expose the implementation detail of the language it's written in, like build-game.ts.
#!/usr/bin/env node
// This file is named `build-game` not `build-game.ts`. Only plain JavaScript is allowed.
const foo: number = 1 // Error: TypeScript encountered.
console.log(foo)
/home/user/bin/build-game:3
const foo: number = 1
^^^
SyntaxError: Missing initializer in const declaration
at wrapSafe (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1624:18)
at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1666:20)
at Object..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1824:10)
at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1427:32)
at Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1250:12)
at TracingChannel.traceSync (node:diagnostics_channel:322:14)
at wrapModuleLoad (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:235:24)
at Module.executeUserEntryPoint [as runMain] (node:internal/modules/run_main:152:5)
at node:internal/main/run_main_module:33:47
Node.js v24.4.1
What is the feature you are proposing to solve the problem?
When --experimental-strip-types is set (or add a new flag), force TypeScript evaluation. This will allow a script to encapsulate all interpreter detail.
#!/usr/bin/env -S node --experimental-strip-types
// This file is named `build-game` not `build-game.ts`. TypeScript is allowed
// because the `--experimental-strip-types` flag was passed.
const foo: number = 1
console.log(foo)
What alternatives have you considered?
If the executable is in an NPM package, I can just alias it in the package.json. If the executable is in my ~/bin, I can just shell alias it. However, these are both limited and really prevent me from sharing scripts with nice names that work everywhere.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
The issue names no implementation files, entry points, or tests, so begin by locating Node's command-line flag handling and TypeScript execution behavior. Verify the desired behavior for an extensionless executable with --experimental-strip-types, including that existing extension-based behavior remains unchanged.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- nodejs, typescript
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100