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?