How to use TypeScript for a custom Node.js server.

[riobits]

As we can see in this template, we're using JavaScript for the server.js code. It makes it hard for me to code because I want to implement Socket.IO, and I need TypeScript because it will make my job much easier. Are there any ways to achieve this?

[gustavopch]

1. You can use something like ts-node, tsx, etc.
2. You can use Node.js v22.6.0 which has support for TypeScript (or Deno, or Bun).
3. You can move most server code to entry.server.tsx and import from server.js as I suggest here.
4. You can simply compile your server.ts file with tsc before running.

I suggest a mix of 1 and 3 or 2 and 3. The third one will avoid a problem that may bite you later. It's described in the linked discussion.

[GabenGar]

In the template the actual file which gets fed into bundle pipeline is /server/app.ts. This is where you should write you server-specific application logic (I think).
Although that bundled part gets reloaded in its entirety upon any change in development, so most likely will require dirty hacks with storing connection references in global scope to be usable. Which is not a good way to nudge writing server code towards IMO.