When you're working on a TypeScript project, there may come a time when you want to change the default output directory for the compiled JavaScript files. Fortunately, the TypeScript compiler provides an easy way to specify a different location for the output files.
To get the TypeScript compiler to output the compiled JS files to a different directory, you can use the `outDir` compiler option. This option allows you to specify the path to the directory where you want the compiled JavaScript files to be saved.
Here's how you can do it:
1. Open your `tsconfig.json` file. This file is used to configure the TypeScript compiler options for your project.
2. Look for the `compilerOptions` section in the `tsconfig.json` file. If it doesn't exist, you can create it at the root level of the JSON file.
3. Add a new key-value pair to the `compilerOptions` section. The key should be `outDir`, and the value should be the path to the directory where you want the compiled JavaScript files to be saved. For example, if you want the output files to be saved in a directory named `dist`, you can set the value to `"outDir": "dist"`.
4. Save the `tsconfig.json` file.
Once you've set the `outDir` option in your `tsconfig.json` file, the TypeScript compiler will now output the compiled JavaScript files to the specified directory when you run the compilation process.
When you run the TypeScript compiler using the `tsc` command, it will automatically use the configuration specified in the `tsconfig.json` file, including the `outDir` option. This means that you don't need to specify the output directory every time you compile your TypeScript files.
By changing the output directory for the compiled JavaScript files, you can keep your project organized and separate the source TypeScript files from the compiled JavaScript files. This can make it easier to manage your project and share it with others.
Remember to update the paths to the JavaScript files in your HTML or other files if they are referencing them relative to the old output directory.
In conclusion, changing the output directory for the compiled JavaScript files in a TypeScript project is a straightforward process that can help you keep your project organized. By using the `outDir` compiler option in the `tsconfig.json` file, you can easily specify a different location for the output files and streamline your development workflow.