Support non-code AMD modules

[fsoikin]

Original issue on CodePlex: https://typescript.codeplex.com/workitem/1046

Problem

Need to require text, CSS, and other non-code things.

import template: string = require( "text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" );

Partial workaround

Use the /// <amd-dependency path="x" /> tag.

// At the top of the file
/// <amd-dependency path="text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" />

... <snip> ...

declare function require( path: string ): any;
var template: string = require( "text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" );

Why workaround is not good enough

Have to type the module name twice.

[wimoy]

I ran into this issue before and worked around it by creating an ambient declaration for the module.

declare module "text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" {
}

Now, I can load the module like this:

import Template = require("text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html")

[csnover]

This is fixed in 1.5, you can specify a name attribute on the amd-dependency comment. https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/wiki/What%27s-new-in-TypeScript#amd-dependency-optional-names

[mhegazy]

We have talked about allowing type annotation on module imports. something like:

import * as n: any from "mod";

[RichiCoder1]

@mhegazy I would very much like that. Not only to type html imports as strings, but also for types that are "map"'d, so you don't have to write a definition to map the name to the actual type.

[mhegazy]

@RichiCoder1, i am interested to know what you mean by "mapped". Would that be something covered by mapping paths for module? can you take a look at #2338, and see if this fits your scenario?

[lukeapage]

is a type parameter on the amd-dependency possible? e.g.

typescript 1.4

// At the top of the file
/// <amd-dependency path="text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" />

... <snip> ...

declare function require( path: string ): any;
var template: string = require( "text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" );

typescript 1.5

// At the top of the file
/// <amd-dependency path="text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" name="myTemplateHtml" />
declare var myTemplateHtml : string;
... <snip> ...

var template: string = myTemplateHtml;

typescript 1.x ?

// At the top of the file
/// <amd-dependency path="text!./Templates/MyTemplate.html" name="myTemplateHtml" type="string" />
... <snip> ...

var template: string = myTemplateHtml;

[mhegazy]

@lukeapage it is just a proposal at this point. it has not been implemented. if and when it is added, i do not think it will be in an /// <amd-dependency> tag. more of a syntax extension to ES6 default module import syntax.

[mhegazy]

Should be addressed by #6615