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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.

Lesson 3 of 38 steps

First Program & Build/Run (tsc + node / tsx) is a free TypeScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is 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, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

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?

Answer it in the interactive lesson

Recap & next

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

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Write and run real code in your browser, get instant help from a 24/7 AI tutor, and pick up where you left off on the web or in the app.

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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. 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. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

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, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 3 of 3.

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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