The TypeScript Decision: Is It Worth It for Your Project?

The Industry Has Decided

By 2025, TypeScript is no longer a choice-it's the industry standard. In recent surveys, 78% of JavaScript developers have chosen TypeScript for production applications.

But "everyone uses it" isn't a good reason to use anything. Let's look at when TypeScript actually helps and when it might slow you down.

What TypeScript Actually Does

TypeScript adds static type checking to JavaScript. This means:

• Errors caught at compile time, not runtime
• Better autocomplete and IntelliSense
• Self-documenting code through type definitions
• Safer refactoring across large codebases

When TypeScript Shines

Team Projects

When multiple developers work on a codebase, types serve as contracts. They document what functions expect and return, reducing miscommunication and bugs.

Complex Data Structures

APIs that return nested objects, database models with relationships, state management-all become more manageable with proper types.

Long-Term Maintenance

Code you'll maintain for years benefits enormously from types. Refactoring is safer when the compiler catches breaking changes.

Growing Codebases

Small scripts stay manageable. Large applications become unwieldy. TypeScript's value increases with project size.

When TypeScript Adds Friction

Rapid Prototyping

When you're exploring ideas and everything might change tomorrow, strict typing can slow you down. Sometimes you need to move fast and clean up later.

Simple Scripts

A 50-line utility script probably doesn't need type definitions. The overhead isn't justified.

Unfamiliar Teams

If your team hasn't used TypeScript before, there's a learning curve. Factor that into your timeline.

The Modern TypeScript Experience

TypeScript in 2025 is much better than even a few years ago:

• Type inference means you write fewer explicit annotations
• Template literal types handle dynamic string patterns
• Satisfies operator validates types without changing them
• Better error messages that actually help you fix problems

Practical Setup

For new projects, I recommend:

Strict Mode

Enable strict mode from the start. It's easier than trying to add strictness to a loose codebase later.

Gradual Adoption

If converting an existing JavaScript project, use 'allowJs' to migrate file by file rather than all at once.

Use Unknown Over Any

When you don't know a type, use 'unknown' instead of 'any'. It forces you to validate before using, which catches bugs.

Framework Support

Modern frameworks have excellent TypeScript support:

• Next.js: First-class TypeScript support, no configuration needed
• React: Well-typed components and hooks
• Supabase: Auto-generated types from your database schema

The Recommendation

For most web projects in 2025, use TypeScript. The tooling is mature, the ecosystem expects it, and the benefits outweigh the initial setup time.

The exception: if you're building something truly experimental where requirements change hourly, start with JavaScript and add types when the shape of your data stabilizes.

The goal is to catch bugs before users do. TypeScript is the most practical way to do that in the JavaScript ecosystem.