Using TypeScript ​

While CAP itself is written in JavaScript, it's possible to use TypeScript within your project as outlined here.

Enable TypeScript Support ​

Follow these steps to add TypeScript support:

1. Install typescript packages globally:

   sh

   npm i -g typescript ts-node

   npm i -g typescript ts-node

2. Add a tsconfig.json file to your project.

   You need to provide a tsconfig.json file in which you configure how you want to use TypeScript. See the official TypeScript documentation for more details.

Developing with cds-ts ​

Use the cds-ts CLI command instead of cds to avoid having to precompile TypeScript files to JavaScript each time and speed up development:

cds-ts serve world.cds

cds-ts serve world.cds

cds-ts watch

cds-ts watch

When using the binary cds-ts, the ts-node engine is used to start the project instead of the default node engine.

Writing TypeScript Files ​

Once you've setup everything correctly, you can start writing TypeScript files instead of JavaScript files. This applies for service handlers, as well as a custom server.ts file or database init.ts seeding files.

Samples ​

You can also download the Hello World! TypeScript sample or try out the Full Stack TypeScript App.

Testing with ts-jest ​

Run your Jest tests with preset ts-jest without precompiling TypeScript files.

1. Install ts-jest locally:

   sh

   npm add ts-jest

   npm add ts-jest

2. Tell Jest to use the preset ts-jest, e.g. in your jest.config.js:

   js

   module.exports = {
     preset: "ts-jest",
     globalSetup: "./test/setup.ts"
   };

   module.exports = {
     preset: "ts-jest",
     globalSetup: "./test/setup.ts"
   };

3. Set CDS_TYPESCRIPT environment variable:

   This is necessary, because it isn't possible to programmatically detect that the preset ts-jest is used and we've to know whether we need to look for .ts or .js files.

   File ./test/setup.ts, content:

   js

   module.exports = async () => {
     process.env.CDS_TYPESCRIPT = "true";
   };

   module.exports = async () => {
     process.env.CDS_TYPESCRIPT = "true";
   };

4. Run your tests as usual:

   sh

   jest

   jest

TypeScript APIs in @sap/cds ​

The package @sap/cds is shipped with TypeScript declarations. These declarations are used automatically when you write TypeScript files, but also enable IntelliSense and type checking for standard JavaScript development in Visual Studio Code.

Enhanced TypeScript Support ​

CAP envisions to enhance the TypeScript support and, for example, generate TypeScript interfaces for definitions in CDS models. But it's important to know, that this isn't planned in our roadmap (yet).

There are already community contributions that fill in this gap.
See the blog post by Simon Gaudeck for more details.