SPIKE: Better Express TypeScript Definitions

[hacksparrow]

TypeScript definition for Express can be better. Let's focus on the following:

• Find out what it takes to make Express TS definitions available with the express npm package
• express has many dependencies - organizational and external, how would these be included in the "master" Express definition file?
• How to include type validation as a part of the Express CI process.

Here is an app which has a pretty good coverage of the Express APIs to help with the spike - https://github.com/DefinitelyTyped/DefinitelyTyped/blob/master/types/express/express-tests.ts.

Acceptance Criteria

• Share a report of the findings above
• Better to have(optional): a PoC for the solution

[achrinza]

I'm not familiar with Express.js development, but wouldn't it be better to make Express.js a TypeScript-first project?

Some potential benefits:

• No separate types files
• No need for a separate types check in CI pipeline
• Easier to write in native TypeScript
• Mitigates potentially incorrect or "out-of-sync" types

[hacksparrow]

wouldn't it be better to make Express.js a TypeScript-first project?

It was brought up some years ago, but there was no enthusiasm. The scope is pretty large, Express and all it's dependent org libs have to be re-written in TS, I doubt anyone has the will and bandwidth. Also the thinking is "Express is a JS framework". TS is great for developing large projects, but it brings in its own set of dependencies and problems.

[stale]

This issue has been marked stale because it has not seen activity within six months. If you believe this to be in error, please contact one of the code owners, listed in the CODEOWNERS file at the top-level of this repository. This issue will be closed within 30 days of being stale.

[stale]

This issue has been closed due to continued inactivity. Thank you for your understanding. If you believe this to be in error, please contact one of the code owners, listed in the CODEOWNERS file at the top-level of this repository.