Microsoft explains how to download and install the new "10 times faster" TypeScript

The new version of TypeScript is now available for downloading. It is based on Go and is said to be up to "10 times faster".

TypeScript logo

Microsoft has released the beta version of TypeScript 7.0, introducing a set of changes aimed at massively improving its performance, stability, and compatibility.

The main highlight of this release is a new compiler and language service implementation written in the Go programming language. This marks a major shift from earlier versions and is designed to better utilize modern hardware capabilities such as parallel processing. The company says this new approach can speed up tasks like compiling and type-checking by magnitudes of 10 times or even higher, particularly in larger codebases.

Despite the change in underlying technology, Microsoft has stated that the overall behavior of TypeScript remains consistent with previous versions. For example, the type-checking system is intended to work the same way as in TypeScript 6.0, which should help developers transition without needing to make major adjustments to their existing projects.

To try out TypeScript 7.0 beta, developers can install a preview package through npm and run the new tsgo executable that replaces the tsc compiler. Microsoft explains:

"To get TypeScript 7.0 Beta, you can install it via npm:

npm install -D @typescript/native-preview@beta

From there, you can run tsgo in place of the tsc executable.

> npx tsgo --version
Version 7.0.0-beta

Microsoft has also provided ways to test the updated language service within development environments. For example, a preview extension is available for Visual Studio Code, allowing developers to experience the performance improvements directly while writing and editing code.

While the beta is considered stable enough for experimentation and even some everyday use, Microsoft notes that it is still a work in progress. Hence, the company has encouraged developers and users alike to try it out and share feedback. So a specific release date for the final version has not yet been announced as Microsoft plans to continue improving it before making TypeScript 7.0 generally available.