Debugging TypeScript in Visual Studio: A Pillar Article

As a TypeScript developer, it’s crucial to have the skill of debugging TypeScript in Visual Studio. In this article, we will guide you through the necessary steps to effectively debug TypeScript code within Visual Studio.

Step 1: Install TypeScript for Visual Studio

The first step to debugging TypeScript in Visual Studio is to ensure that you have the required environment installed. Visual Studio supports TypeScript out-of-the-box. You can install TypeScript for Visual Studio by going to the Visual Studio Marketplace and downloading the extension. Alternatively, you can simply install Visual Studio with the “Web Development” workload.

Step 2: Create or Open a TypeScript Project in Visual Studio

Once you have TypeScript installed, you can create a new TypeScript project or open an existing project in Visual Studio. If you’re creating a new project, you can choose the “TypeScript Web Application” template, which will create a new project with a basic structure to get you started.

If you’re opening an existing project, ensure that you have the correct version of TypeScript installed, which can be checked in the project’s package.json file.

Step 3: Set Up Debugging

Before we can begin debugging TypeScript in Visual Studio, we need to set up the project’s debugging configuration. Within Visual Studio, click on the “Debug” menu on the toolbar and select “Properties.” This will bring up the project’s debug configuration settings.

In the configuration settings, ensure that the “Launch browser” option is set to your preferred browser. You can also specify the port number to use for the debugging session.

Step 4: Set Breakpoints

Once you have the project configured for debugging, you can set breakpoints within the TypeScript code. Breakpoints are used to pause the debugging session at a specific point in code to allow you to inspect the state of the application and step through the code to find errors.

To set a breakpoint in Visual Studio, simply click on the line of code where you want the breakpoint to occur. A red dot will appear next to the line of code to indicate that a breakpoint has been set.

Step 5: Start Debugging

With breakpoints set within the TypeScript code, we can now start the debugging session. Within Visual Studio, click on the “Debug” menu on the toolbar and select “Start Debugging” or simply press “F5.”

This will compile the TypeScript code and launch the application in the browser with the debugging session attached. The application will pause at the first breakpoint, allowing you to step through the code and inspect the application state.

Step 6: Debugging in the Debugging Console

In addition to setting breakpoints and stepping through the code, we can also use the debugging console within Visual Studio to inspect variables and objects as the application runs.

To use the debugging console, simply navigate to the “Output” window within Visual Studio and select “Debug” from the dropdown menu. This will allow you to view the output of the debugging console and interact with the application as it runs.

Conclusion

Debugging TypeScript within Visual Studio is an important skill for any TypeScript developer to have. By following the steps outlined in this pillar article, you should now have a basic understanding of how to effectively debug TypeScript code in Visual Studio. With practice and experience, you’ll be able to better troubleshoot and fix any issues that arise in your TypeScript code, making you a better and more efficient developer.