TypeScript is an exciting language. I learnt a bit earlier this year, but still have a lot left. On every great React.js open-source project I find on GitHub, it's React.ts (bad joke, sorry :). It's booming among frontend and backend developers these days, and learning it can be a great benefit for you both from a development standpoint and from an upskilling standpoint.
Benefits of TypeScript in Development
Scalability
As more and more applications have started using JavaScript over the last decade, the need for type safety, safe refactoring and error checking has been recognized. Developers who used strong-typed languages like C# and Java earlier are now turning to the JS ecosystem due to the introduction of TypeScript.
Static typing
As I've also stated previously, static typing is a big reason for TypeScript's growth. Static typing allows type accuracy to be checked at build time. This helps us in identifying bugs before even running the application!
Predictable code
JavaScript is often too flexible, and can often become messy and cause bugs. TypeScript keeps our code much more organized and easy to read.
Advantages of learning TypeScript
JavaScript-friendly
If you aren't great at JavaScript, go and master it first. You need a rock-solid JavaScript foundation to get started with TypeScript. And TypeScript is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. It builds on top of JavaScript. Many frontend frameworks like React, Angular and Vue are getting oriented more towards TS these days. It's inevitable that in the future all medium and large-scale web apps will be built using TypeScript.
Job opportunities
Most organizations tend to use TypeScript for their web applications and servers. Developers also find it easier to contribute to codebases with TypeScript.
Learning opportunity
As a developer, it's your topmost priority to keep up with the industries' developments and continue to learn new languages, frameworks and concepts. Self-improvement is key. Learning TypeScript can provide a great opportunity for you to learn something new and upskill yourself.
Online resources to learn TypeScript
There are a million videos on YouTube, a billion paid courses and about a trillion blog posts for you to learn from. You can either refer to their official website (their online handbook is great!) or this awesome repository on GitHub is a great place to start learning TypeScript as well. I'd highly recommend the official handbook and then continue to figure out new bits and pieces of TypeScript yourself!
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