TypeScript module import in nodejs

Question

What is best practice for importing modules in nodejs with typescript? I come from c# background so I want to do something like this

MyClass.ts

module MyNamespace {     export class MyClass {     } } 

app.ts

// something like using MyNamespace new MyNamespace.MyClass(); 

or

MyClass.ts

export class MyClass { } 

app.ts

import MyClass = module("MyClass") new MyClass(); 

I know I can do this and it will work, but then I have to think up for two names for each class

import MyClass2 = module("MyClass") new MyClass2.MyClass(); 

Point is separating classes to multiple .ts files (preferably one file per class). So question is, how is this done?

Answer 1

You have two choices here:

If you insist on using CommonJS or AMD modules, then you will have to use external modules just the way you described it in your question. Whether or not you use a module to declare your own namespace is mostly a matter of taste. The only way to circumvent the issue of specifying two names is to create a variable that aliases the type:

mymodule.ts

export module MyNamespace {     export class MyClass {     } } 

app.ts

import ns = require('mymodule'); var myclass = new ns.MyNamespace.MyClass(); var myclassalias = ns.MyNamespace.MyClass; var myclass2 = new myclassalias(); 

Your other option is to use internal modules which are mostly used to structure your code internally. Internal modules are brought into scope at compile time using reference paths.

mymodule.ts

module MyNamespace {     export class MyClass {     } } 

app.ts

///<reference path='mymodule.ts'/> var myclass = new MyNamespace.MyClass(); 

I think you'll have to decide for yourself which of those two approaches is more appropriate.