How can I get the Typescript compiler to output the compiled js to a different directory?

Question

Use the option --outDir on tsc (configured within the File Watcher in IntelliJ)

From the command line documentation

--outDir DIRECTORY Redirect output structure to the directory.

Edit

Since Typescript 1.5, this can also be set in the tsconfig.json file:

"compilerOptions": {
    "outDir": "DIRECTORY"
    ...

Or, add "outDir": "build"to tsconfig.json file

Though these answers are correct you should consider whether you actually just want to hide your .js files from your IDE.

In Visual Studio Code, go to File > Preferences > Settings or your .vscode\settings.json file and enter:

"files.exclude": {
    "**/.git": true,
    "**/.DS_Store": true,
    "**/*.js" : {
        "when": "$(basename).ts"
    },
    "**/*.js.map": {
        "when": "$(basename)"
    }
}

The above hides .js files where a corresponding .ts file exists.

Intellij Users, compile Typescript to multiple output directories

For Intellij users this may be useful. This was how I got this to work using the built in Typescript Compiler.

Environment Info

• Windows 7
• Typescript using NPM Version 1.7.3
• Intellij 14
• ES6
• Using RequireJS

Example Directory Structure

BEFORE COMPILE
----------------------------------------
-> JS
   -> app
      -> config.js  //this is not generated
   -> libs
      -> jquery.js  //this is not generated
   -> plugins
-> TS
   -> app
      -> main.ts
   -> libs
      -> jquery.d.ts
   -> plugins
      -> somePlugin.ts

AFTER COMPILE
----------------------------------------
-> JS
   -> app
      -> config.js  //this is not generated
      -> main.js
   -> libs
      -> jquery.js  //this is not generated
   -> plugins
      somePlugin.ts
-> TS
   -> app
      -> main.ts
   -> libs
      -> jquery.d.ts    //this is where I kept my definition files
   -> plugins
      -> somePlugin.ts

Intellij Setup

• File -> Settings -> Typescript
• Node Interpreter: Your NodeJS Install Path
• Compiler Version: typically located at C:\yourUserName\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\typescript\lib
• Command Line Options: -m amd -t ES6 -outDir E:\myapp\js
• Check compile main file only and point it to your entry file. E:\myapp\ts\main.ts If this is not checked then all of your files will try to output to your outDir path.

I setup package.json like this so that typing npm run start outputs everything to build. The source files are kept in src. The outfile is specified by --outDir build.

{
  "name": "myapp",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "scripts": {
    "tsc": "tsc",
    "tsc:w": "tsc -w --outDir build",
    "lite": "lite-server",
    "start": "concurrent \"npm run tsc:w\" \"npm run lite\" "
  },
  "license": "private",
  "dependencies": {
    "angular2": "2.0.0-beta.0",
    "systemjs": "0.19.6",
    "es6-promise": "^3.0.2",
    "es6-shim": "^0.33.3",
    "reflect-metadata": "0.1.2",
    "rxjs": "5.0.0-beta.0",
    "zone.js": "0.5.10"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "concurrently": "^1.0.0",
    "lite-server": "^1.3.1",
    "typescript": "^1.7.3"
  }
}

You can exclude your build directory in tsconfig.json, though it probably isn't necessary, since there is only JS there:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "ES5",
    "module": "system",
    "moduleResolution": "node",
    "sourceMap": true,
    "emitDecoratorMetadata": true,
    "experimentalDecorators": true,
    "removeComments": false,
    "noImplicitAny": false
  },
  "exclude": [
    "node_modules",
    "build"
  ]
}