Simplify Your Development: Set Up VSCode to Transpile TypeScript and Debug Node.js with One F5 Press

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The Problem: Complicated Debugging in VSCode

Common Issues Encountered:

Code Compiling Doesn't Start: Pressing F5 does not compile TypeScript or start the debugging process as expected.

Missing Output Files: You may notice the JavaScript output is not generated, leading to confusion on how to execute your code effectively.

This results in a time-consuming setup process that halts productivity. Thankfully, an effective solution exists.

The Solution: Using npm Scripts

Steps to Configure npm Scripts for VSCode

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Understanding the Script:

The tsc command transpiles TypeScript code to JavaScript.

Running the Script: Instead of manually compiling and running your application, you can simply open the terminal in VSCode and run:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Debugging with F5: When you try to start a debugging session in VSCode (by pressing F5), it will now prompt you to select your newly defined start script.

This makes your development cycle much more efficient, as you can set breakpoints and inspect variables just like you would in a more traditional C# environment.

Additional Tips

Conclusion

Are you excited to enhance your coding experience? Try these steps today and see how much smoother your development process can be!