typescript-best-practices
TypeScript best practices. Use when reading or editing any .ts or .tsx file.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/backnotprop/pstack --skill typescript-best-practices- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads typescript-best-practices automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
TypeScript best practices
Apply the type-system-discipline principle skill first.
| Rule | Summary |
|---|---|
| Discriminated unions | Model variants with a kind literal discriminant so impossible states can't be represented. No optional-field bags. |
| Branded types | Brand primitives with & { readonly __brand: "X" } so they can't be mixed up. Validate once at the boundary. A brand comes from a verifying type guard (input is AgentId), never from as. |
| Constructive modeling | Build the shape so the illegal value can't be constructed. [T, ...T[]] for non-empty, [T, T][] for even length, start plus duration for a range. Not a runtime guard, not a wish for refinement types. |
| Simplest total type | Keep T[] while every operation on it stays total. Strengthen to NonEmpty<T> only where the loose type forces !, a cast, or a "should never happen" throw. |
unknown over any | External data is unknown. |
| Schemas before guards | Before hand-writing a property-by-property type guard, use the repository's runtime schema library and infer the type from the schema, such as z.infer. |
No as casts | Every as is a runtime crash waiting. Cast only after validation. |
| Narrowing hierarchy | Discriminant switch > in operator > typeof/instanceof > user-defined type guard > as. |
| Type guards | Must verify the claim. A lying guard is worse than as because the bug hides behind a name that says it's safe. Name them isX or hasX. |
| Exhaustiveness | Inline const _exhaustive: never = x; in default arms so the compiler errors when a new variant is added. |
satisfies over as | Validates the value without widening literal types. |
| Boundary validation | Parse where data crosses in, into a named domain type. Record<string, unknown> (however spelled) stops at that parse. Trust types inside. See the boundary-discipline principle skill. |
| Schema-derived types | Reach for Pick/Omit/Parameters/ReturnType/Awaited/typeof before declaring a new interface. |
| Object args | Pass objects, not positional, so argument order is self-documenting. Skip on hot paths (per-frame render, tokenizers, parsers). |
| Real tests | Don't mock what you can run. Prefer the framework's real test primitives with leak/disposable checks, and verify UI in a running build. Mock only what you can't run locally. |
| Structured telemetry | Prefer structured logger diagnostics with enough context to debug from an id. No console.log in shipped code. |
Examples: references/patterns.md.
FAQ
What does the typescript-best-practices skill do?
TypeScript best practices. Use when reading or editing any .ts or .tsx file.
How do I install typescript-best-practices?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/backnotprop/pstack --skill typescript-best-practices in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/typescript-best-practices/ (personal) or .claude/skills/typescript-best-practices/ (project).
Which AI agents can use typescript-best-practices?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is typescript-best-practices safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains typescript-best-practices?
It is published by backnotprop in backnotprop/pstack. It has 5,592 recorded installs.
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