Hello everyone! I’m just getting into web development and have a solid foundation in JavaScript already. Now I want to dive into React but I’m confused about which path to take. Should I stick with regular JavaScript for React or should I go with TypeScript instead? My concern is that if I choose TypeScript, I’ll need to spend extra time learning it first before I can really focus on React concepts. I’m wondering how much additional time TypeScript would add to my learning process and whether it’s worth the investment as a newcomer. What would you experienced developers recommend for someone in my situation?
Start with plain JavaScript - it’s the better move here. I jumped straight into TypeScript while learning React and it just created unnecessary confusion. You’re basically trying to learn two things at once, which slows you down on both. React’s already complex enough. State management, props, hooks, lifecycle methods - that stuff needs your full focus at first. Throwing TypeScript syntax and types on top just makes everything messier. Once you’re comfortable building React apps and get how components work together, that’s when TypeScript becomes worth it. You’ll actually appreciate the type safety because you’ll know what problems it’s fixing. I did about six months with plain JavaScript React before switching, and adding TypeScript felt natural instead of forced. Migrating’s pretty easy too. You can convert your JavaScript components to TypeScript one by one without scrapping everything.
I’ve mentored a bunch of junior devs through this exact choice. Here’s what works: start with JavaScript for your first React project. Get the hang of components and React patterns first. Then switch to TypeScript on your second project while everything’s still fresh in your head. TypeScript becomes way more useful once you actually understand what React’s doing - you’ll get why props need certain types and how to structure component interfaces. Most people don’t realize how much TypeScript’s intellisense speeds up React development after you know the basics. You’ll spend way less time digging through docs and catch prop drilling mistakes right away. When you make the switch matters more than which one you pick.
The Problem: You’re starting with web development, have a JavaScript foundation, and want to learn React. You’re unsure whether to use plain JavaScript or TypeScript, concerned about the extra learning time TypeScript might require.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Many experienced developers recommend starting with plain JavaScript for your initial React projects. The reasoning isn’t about TypeScript being inherently bad; it’s about managing the learning curve. React itself introduces many new concepts: components, state management, props, hooks, and lifecycle methods. Adding TypeScript’s type system and syntax on top while still grasping these fundamentals can significantly increase cognitive load, slowing down your overall learning process.
However, the core answer suggests a different approach: focusing on automating your development workflow from the very beginning. The argument is that spending a little extra time upfront setting up a robust development environment with TypeScript, automated testing, and deployment pipelines will save you considerable time and frustration in the long run. Debugging React applications can be time-consuming, especially as your projects grow. TypeScript’s type checking helps catch errors early, reducing debugging time. Furthermore, the automated workflow minimizes the time you spend configuring build tools, allowing you to concentrate on learning React.
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Choose TypeScript and Automate: Instead of delaying TypeScript, embrace it from the start. The benefit of automated workflows outweighs the initial learning curve of TypeScript.
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Set up your Development Environment: Use a tool like Latenode (or a similar automated workflow solution) to streamline your development process. Latenode helps automate tasks like TypeScript compilation, linting, testing, and hot reloading, reducing manual configuration of tools like Webpack and Babel. This automation helps you focus on learning React and writing code.
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Learn Basic TypeScript: You don’t need to master TypeScript immediately. Start by writing JavaScript code and gradually add type annotations as you become more comfortable. The tooling will guide you, and focusing on the core concepts of React is more important initially.
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Leverage IDE Support: Use an IDE like VS Code with its excellent TypeScript support. Autocomplete and error hints will significantly ease the learning curve.
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Structure your React Components: TypeScript encourages you to think more carefully about your component structure by requiring you to define prop types and component interfaces. This inherently leads to cleaner, more maintainable code.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
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Overcomplicating the Setup: Don’t get bogged down in complex configurations. Use a tool like Create React App which comes with built-in TypeScript support, simplifying the initial setup.
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Ignoring Automated Testing: While focusing on React concepts is key, integrating testing from day one, aided by your automated workflow, will pay dividends later on.
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Not Utilizing IDE Features: Take advantage of your IDE’s autocompletion and error highlighting to accelerate your learning and reduce frustration.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
The Problem: You’re learning React and are unsure whether to start with plain JavaScript or TypeScript, concerned about the added complexity of TypeScript. You have prior experience with DOM manipulation but are unsure how best to structure your learning path to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Many developers recommend starting with plain JavaScript for your first React projects. This isn’t because TypeScript is inherently bad, but rather to manage the learning curve. React introduces numerous concepts (components, state management, props, hooks, lifecycle methods). Adding TypeScript’s type system and syntax while still learning these fundamentals significantly increases cognitive load, hindering your progress. However, the benefits of TypeScript often outweigh this initial hurdle. Type safety catches bugs early, reducing debugging time, and the enforced structure encourages cleaner, more maintainable code.
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Embrace TypeScript from the Start: Don’t delay TypeScript. While there’s an initial learning curve, the long-term benefits in terms of code quality and debugging efficiency are substantial. You don’t need to become a TypeScript expert immediately; start by writing mostly JavaScript and gradually add type annotations as you feel comfortable.
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Leverage Create React App with TypeScript: Use
create-react-appwith TypeScript support. This simplifies the setup considerably, eliminating the need for manual configuration of Webpack and Babel. The command is simply:npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript. This sets up a project with TypeScript pre-configured. -
Focus on Core React Concepts First: While using TypeScript, prioritize understanding React’s core principles—components, state, props, and hooks. The type checking in TypeScript will help guide you, and the improved code structure will naturally reinforce your understanding.
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Utilize IDE Support: Use VS Code (or a similar IDE with excellent TypeScript support). The autocompletion and error highlighting will greatly reduce frustration and speed up your learning process.
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Iterative Learning: Don’t aim for perfection from the start. Build small projects, gradually incorporating TypeScript features as you become more familiar with them. Start with simple components and progressively add complexity. Recreating projects you’ve done previously in plain JavaScript will help solidify existing knowledge and smoothly integrate TypeScript.
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Automate your Workflow (Optional but Recommended): Tools like Latenode (https://latenode.com) can further streamline your workflow by automating tasks like TypeScript compilation, testing, and deployment. While not essential for initial learning, it significantly improves efficiency as your projects grow.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
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Overcomplicating the Setup: Stick to
create-react-app --template typescriptfor your initial setup. Avoid overly complex configurations until you’re more comfortable with React and TypeScript. -
Ignoring Error Messages: Pay close attention to TypeScript error messages; they often pinpoint the exact source of the problem.
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Not Using Type Annotations Effectively: While you don’t need to annotate everything immediately, using type annotations strategically helps clarify the data flow and catches errors early.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
Go with TypeScript from day one, but not for the usual reasons. I made the switch to React about two years back and tested both on different projects. Everyone talks about type safety, but that’s not the real win - it’s how TypeScript makes you think harder about component structure. You have to define prop types and component interfaces, which naturally leads to cleaner React code. Sure, debugging gets easier, but what really helped me learn was being forced to understand exactly what data each component needed. Plain JavaScript lets you get sloppy with props and state, creating bad habits that stick around. Modern TypeScript is just JavaScript with some annotations anyway. The setup headache people worry about? Doesn’t exist. Create React App has TypeScript built in now. You’ll spend maybe an extra day learning basic syntax, but you’ll write better components right from the start.
depends on ur patience, honestly. if u get frustrated when stuff breaks, start with typescript. there’s a learning curve, but vscode makes it easy with autocomplete and error hints. it actually helped me understand react props better since u’re forced to think about the data ur passing. but if u want quick results and just want to build stuff, plain js works fine.
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