Install the TypeScript Compiler and Run the Code

In this short tutorial, we will see how to install the TypeScript compiler and execute the TypeScript source code.

This post will cover the below steps.

1. Install Node.js
2. Install the TypeScript Compiler
3. Install TypeScript Compiler in Your Machine
4. Install TypeScript Compiler in Visual Studio Code
5. Execute or Run TypeScript Code using Node

Learn TypeScript at TypeScript Tutorial with Examples.

1. Install Node.js

To get started with TypeScript installation, you need to first install Node.jsNode.js in your system.

To begin with Node.js installation, head over to https://nodejs.org/en/ in your browser window, where you will see a download page. The installer under the LTS tab is recommended for most of the users, whereas the installer under the Current tab is the latest version of Node. Let's download the latest version, which is 10.16.3 in our case.

Once downloaded, double-click on the installer file and follow the step-by-step process to install the Node.js in your computer.

3. Install TypeScript Compiler in Your Machine

As you have already installed Node, it's time to install the TypeScript Package using the Node Package Manager (NPM). To begin with the installation, open any Console Window ( cmd.exe) and enter the following command in the prompt:

npm install -g typescript

4. Install TypeScript Compiler in Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code includes TypeScript language support but does not include the TypeScript compiler, tsc.

Open the terminal in Visual Studio Code IDE and run following command will install typescript compiler:

npm install -g typescript

You can test your install by checking the version or help.

tsc --version
tsc --help

5. Execute or Run TypeScript Code using Node

Let's create a HelloWorld.ts file and add the following TypeScript source code to it.

let message : string = "Hello World!"
console.log(message);

Let's run above typescript file using the following command:

c:\user\typescript-tutorial> tsc .\HelloWorld.ts

On compiling, it will generate the following JavaScript code.

var message = "Hello World!";
console.log(message);

The above file created as HelloWorld.js file. Now we don't need a browser, we can use node.js to run this javascript file. Let's run this HelloWorld.js file using the following command:

c:\user\typescript-tutorial> node .\HelloWorld.js
Hello World!

Learn more about TypeScript at TypeScript Tutorial with Examples.