When working on web development projects, debugging can be a crucial part of the process. Often, you might find yourself needing to debug JavaScript (JS) code instead of TypeScript (TS) code in a web application. In this article, we'll walk you through how you can tell Chrome to prioritize JS for debugging purposes over TS.
Even though TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript and compiles down to JavaScript, debugging TypeScript directly in the browser can sometimes be challenging due to the extra layer of abstraction introduced by TypeScript. By instructing Chrome to focus on JS, you can streamline your debugging workflow and pinpoint issues more efficiently.
To start, open the Chrome Developer Tools by right-clicking on your web page, selecting "Inspect," or pressing F12 on your keyboard. Once the Developer Tools panel is open, navigate to the "Sources" tab.
In the Sources tab, you'll see a list of files comprising your web application. If your project includes TypeScript files, they will be displayed alongside the corresponding JavaScript files generated during the compilation process.
To prioritize debugging JS over TS, look for the "webpack://" or "localhost://" folder in the file navigator within the Sources tab. These folders typically contain your compiled JavaScript files.
Next, right-click on the desired JavaScript file where you want to focus your debugging efforts. From the context menu that appears, select "Set as Main Thread", which will tell Chrome to treat this file as the main thread for debugging purposes.
By setting the JavaScript file as the main thread, Chrome will now prioritize debugging this file over its TypeScript counterpart. This means that breakpoints, console logs, and other debugging features will apply directly to the JavaScript code, allowing you to identify and resolve issues more effectively.
Keep in mind that this setting is per-session and will not persist across different debugging sessions. So, if you close Chrome and reopen it or refresh the page, you may need to set the main thread again for the JavaScript file.
Additionally, remember that while focusing on debugging JavaScript might be more straightforward in some cases, TypeScript offers the advantage of static type checking and other developer-friendly features during the development phase. Therefore, it's essential to strike a balance between leveraging TypeScript's benefits and simplifying your debugging process by emphasizing JavaScript when needed.
In conclusion, by telling Chrome to prioritize debugging JavaScript over TypeScript, you can streamline your debugging efforts and troubleshoot issues more efficiently when working on web development projects. Remember to set the desired JavaScript file as the main thread in the Sources tab of Chrome Developer Tools to make the most of this functionality.