How to Watch TypeScript Files in the Background Without Blocking Your Terminal

Описание: Discover the easy way to run TypeScript compilation in the background using `tsc -w`, allowing you to program without terminal interruptions.
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How to Watch TypeScript Files in the Background Without Blocking Your Terminal

If you're a TypeScript developer, you know how crucial it is to monitor your files continuously for changes. However, running the TypeScript compiler in the watch mode (tsc -w) can block your terminal, making it challenging to perform other tasks simultaneously. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward solution to this problem. In this guide, we will explore how you can run your TypeScript files in the background and continue using the terminal for other commands.

The Problem: Terminal Blockage

When you run the command tsc -w, it compiles your TypeScript files and keeps watching for any changes. However, the terminal is occupied with this process, which means you can’t run any other command until you stop the TypeScript compiler. This can be quite frustrating, especially when you need to manage multiple processes or tools during development.

The Solution: Running TypeScript in the Background

The simplest way to overcome this challenge is to run the TypeScript compiler as a background process. By doing this, you essentially free up your terminal while still keeping an eye on your TypeScript files. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open Your Terminal: Make sure you are in the root directory of your TypeScript project.

Run the Compiler in the Background: Use the following command in your terminal:

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The & at the end of the command sends the process to the background, allowing you to use the terminal for other commands immediately.

Optional - Suppress Output: If you wish to suppress the output from the TypeScript compiler so it doesn’t clutter your terminal, you can redirect its output as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This command will run the TypeScript compiler in the background and discard any output.

Considerations: Monitoring for Errors

While sending the output to /dev/null is convenient, it means you won't see any errors or warnings produced by the TypeScript compiler. To circumvent this, consider piping the output to a log file. Here’s how:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With this command, any output from the TypeScript compiler will be stored in my_log_file.log. You can check this file any time by using commands like less my_log_file.log or tail -f my_log_file.log to monitor it in real-time.

Conclusion

Running tsc -w in the background is a simple yet effective way to manage your TypeScript development workflow without blocking the terminal. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can focus on coding while the compiler takes care of watching your files. This setup not only enhances productivity but also gives you the flexibility to run other commands seamlessly.

Now you can enjoy a smoother and more efficient development experience with TypeScript!