Why Microsoft's Developers are Porting TypeScript to Go

Microsoft is significantly improving TypeScript's performance by porting it to Go. This move promises substantial enhancements in editor speed, build times, and memory usage. The Go-based tsc compiler is expected to be previewed by mid-2025 with full implementation by the end of the year. Developers using Visual Studio Code will experience faster project load times and improved language service responsiveness. Build times are anticipated to decrease up to tenfold with the native Go implementation. TypeScript 6.0 will have some deprecations and breaking changes to facilitate this transition. TypeScript 7.0, based on Go, is scheduled for release later this year, with the JavaScript-based version continuing through the 6.x series. The decision was influenced by the need for structural compatibility, efficient memory management, and complex graph processing. Microsoft's commitment to open-source and developer productivity led to the choice of Go. Anders Hejlsberg, the creator of TypeScript, provided explanations for this shift.