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TypeScript Academy · Lesson

First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)

Write a simple TS program, compile with tsc, and run with node or tsx.

First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx) is a free TypeScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the TypeScript Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Intro

Goal: Write a small program, compile with tsc, and run the result with node or tsx.

Hello World

A minimal program: define a typed function and log a message.

// hello.ts
function hello(name: string): string {
  return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}

console.log(hello("TypeScript"));

Compile with tsc

tsc compiles hello.ts into hello.js. You can then run the output JS with Node.

// Run in terminal
npx tsc hello.ts

// Produces hello.js

Run with Node

Node executes the compiled JavaScript file. TypeScript itself never runs; it always compiles to JS first.

// Run output JS
node hello.js

Run with tsx

tsx (or ts-node) runs TypeScript directly, skipping manual compilation. Handy for quick experiments.

// Alternative: run TS directly
npx tsx hello.ts

Workflow tips

Workflow tip: For small scripts use tsx; for projects prefer tsc to emit .js into a dist folder. Always commit only source TS files.

Compile check

Quick check: What does tsc do by default when run on a .ts file?

Recap & next

Recap: You wrote a program, compiled with tsc, and ran it with node or tsx. Next: Types & Variables Essentials.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)” is free to read here on the web, and the TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the TypeScript Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)”?

Write a simple TS program, compile with tsc, and run with node or tsx. You practise TypeScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start TypeScript Academy?

No prior experience is required. TypeScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this TypeScript Academy lesson?

Yes. Every TypeScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. What is TypeScript? Benefits & use cases
  2. Install Node & TypeScript (npm i -D typescript), tsc --init
  3. First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx)
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