TypeScript support?

[XurxoMF]

Does Instatic have TypeScript support?

I saw everywhere how to install npm packages, add js code... but nothing about TS support.

Could be nice to write TS and then compile it to JS on save.

[ImMortaL0P]

Yes — TypeScript is the primary, intended way to author plugins, and there's a proper watch/compile-on-save flow for it.

The examples/plugins/template/ you may have seen (editor/index.js, server/index.js as plain .js) is deliberately the "raw" example, for people who want to see the runtime plugin.json bundle shape directly. For actual development, start with:

bun instatic-plugin init

That scaffolds a TypeScript project authored around instatic-plugin.config.ts / definePlugin(...). Then:

bun instatic-plugin dev

watches your source files, rebuilds on every change, and syncs the output straight into the running CMS's uploads/plugins/<id>/<version>/ — the host cache-busts its server module imports, so server-side changes are picked up on the next request without a restart (editor/frontend bundles need a manual browser reload since those aren't hot-swapped).

The reason plugins ship as compiled JS rather than running TS directly: each server plugin executes inside a sandboxed QuickJS-WASM VM (no Node, no Bun, no filesystem/network by default) — bun instatic-plugin build is what compiles/bundles your TypeScript down into the server/index.js / editor/index.js / etc. that the sandbox actually loads.

Docs: docs/features/plugin-system.md has the full breakdown of the CLI (init|lint|build|dev), the manifest shape, and how the sandboxing works.

[XurxoMF]

I was thinking more on the dashboard side. When you create a new scripts on Explorer panel > Code tab it could be nice to write TS there and then once you click save turn it into JS.

Mostly to have window, document... typed and also typed variables.

[AlifSrSE]

I was wondering about this too. TypeScript support would be a really useful addition, especially if Instatic could compile .ts/.tsx files to JavaScript automatically on save.

Even a simple setup using tsc in watch mode would be a great starting point. Is TypeScript support planned, or would a PR adding it be welcome?

[DavidBabinec]

It already supports Typescript to certain extent. You can write Typescript in site scripts (Code tab) and it turns into browser JS but what is missing is proper tooling and language server.

I am just testing out a solution and will publish PR soon.

[DavidBabinec]

We shipped Typescript tooling in 0.0.17 release, and the PR #367

Check it out guys, hope it will be helpful. Any ideas are welcome.