Node.js has added an experimental way to execute TypeScript files. The option uses the experimental flag --experimental-strip-types, and means Node.js will transpile TypeScript source code into JavaScript source code.

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform asynchronous event driven JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's JavaScript engine. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O mode and executes JavaScript code outside web browsers.

Explaining the thinking behind the latest addition, TypeScript contributor Marco Ippolito said:

"I believe enabling users to execute TypeScript files is crucial to move the ecosystem forward, it has been requested on all the surveys, and it simply cannot be ignored. We must acknowledge users want to run node foo.ts without installing external dependencies or loaders."

He said he believes enabling users to execute TypeScript files is crucial to move the ecosystem forward, it has been requested on all the surveys, and it simply cannot be ignored.

There is a TC39 proposal for type annotations

Type stripping, as the name suggest, means removing all the types to transform the input in a JavaScript module. Ippolito points out that other runtimes also perform transformation of some TypeScript only features into JavaScript, for example enums, which do not exists in JavaScript.

During the transpilation process, no type checking is performed, and types are discarded.

Node.js 22 is downloadable now.

More Information

Node.js Foundation Homepage

Node.js Experimental Type Stripper On GitHub

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