TypeScript vs Plain JavaScript: Does Every Project Need It?

What TypeScript Actually Adds

By adding a type system to JavaScript, TypeScript surfaces errors that would otherwise only show up at runtime, right at the moment you write the code.

Is It Always Worth It?

For a small script or a prototype that isn't meant to be maintained long-term, plain JavaScript is faster to start with and adds no overhead. But for a project multiple people work on, or one meant to be maintained for months or years, TypeScript's reduction in type-related bugs saves more time long-term than the upfront cost it adds.