typescript outDir setting in tsconfig.json not working

Question

I can't seem to get the outDir flag working when used in package.json. Directory structure is pretty simple: tsconfig.json at the root level, together with a src/ directory and a single index.ts file plus other directories representing other modules.

When running the tsc command on the index file, it creates a new one beside it instead of in the build directory. What am I doing wrong?

My tsconfig:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "outDir": "build"
  }
}

My npm build script:

"build": "tsc src/index.ts"

I'm calling the script from the root dir of the project. Interestingly, running the same script with an --outDir flag works just fine.

Just a typescript thing I guess... 🤷‍♂️

Michal
– Michal

2021-02-24 16:48:42 +00:00
Commented Feb 24, 2021 at 16:48 — Michal
– Michal, Commented Feb 24, 2021 at 16:48

Saravana · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-13 14:21:33Z

251

When you pass in files for compilation with tsc src/index.ts, your tsconfig.json is ignored.

From the documentation:

When input files are specified on the command line, tsconfig.json files are ignored.

Your npm build script should just be tsc without passing any files.

answered Aug 13, 2017 at 14:21

Saravana

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3 Comments

temporary_user_name Over a year ago

What?! WHY? Ridiculous.

PlayHardGoPro Over a year ago

Have no idea why it works like this, but the answer is 100% accurate. Thanks

David Mays Over a year ago

How do you tell the script where the .ts file you want to compile is? If I leave off the path I get all kinds of errors?

fregante · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-01 01:31:19Z

51

In my case it was being ignored because I had noEmit: true in tsconfig.json. For whatever reason, the files still were emitted, but in the same directory instead of following outDir.

The config file was read correctly and this error also appeared when using the flag.

answered Mar 1, 2021 at 1:31

fregante

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4 Comments

AleksG Over a year ago

Was extending ts-config-single-spa, which has noEmit: true.

Dustin Over a year ago

I added "noEmit": false and all finally my outDir was created and populated

user2809286 Over a year ago

Bravo. Saved me. Thanks.In my case a tsconfig.json file had been misconfigured. The symptom was loads of errors reported by 'react-scripts start', but none reported by 'npx tsc'.

Andre Aus B Over a year ago

THX for this usefull hint with noEmit.

joshweir · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-04 04:23:49Z

16

If you are using the incremental compiler option, you may not be getting output if you have deleted / modified files in your outDir but have not removed the .tsbuildinfo file.

My issue was a bit different, but Google brought me here - so figured others may also.

answered Sep 4, 2019 at 4:23

joshweir

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2 Comments

Pakman Over a year ago

Thanks for deciding to post here! I couldn't figure out why tsc -b would only create my output folder occasionally. Turns out my yarn:clean would only rm -rf packages*/dist, leaving behind the .tsbuildinfo files!

Colin D Over a year ago

Thanks for this. Note that all composite projects are incremental. I had to, similar to above commenter, rm -rf *.tsbuildinfo as a prebuild step in my build project

chandoo · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-06 07:18:46Z

11

This is my folder structure.

Keep the typescript files in src folder and keep the tsconfig.json in root.

In tsconfig json file add foldername for outDir in compilerOptions

"compilerOptions": {    
    "outDir": "build",
    "module": "commonjs",
    "target": "es6",
    "moduleResolution": "node",
    "emitDecoratorMetadata": true,
    "experimentalDecorators": true,
    "noImplicitAny": true,
    "sourceMap": true
  },

and run the below commands.

just cd to the root folder and type

tsc

or

tsc --outDir .

which will build the outDir folder with js and map.js files.

source: https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/10585

answered Apr 6, 2018 at 7:18

chandoo

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Comments

cor blk · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-08 04:29:15Z

7

Maybe I met the same problem. Your should set the script as "build": "tsc" rather than "build": "tsc src/index.ts"

answered Sep 8, 2022 at 4:29

cor blk

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Comments

Rohit · Accepted Answer · 2022-05-06 18:19:08Z

4

Make sure "outDir" is defined under "compilerOptions"

I had it defined at the same level as "compilerOptions"

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": "node_modules/@types",
    "lib": [
      "es6"
    ],
    "outDir": "dist",
    "esModuleInterop": true,
  },
  "exclude": [
    "node_modules"
  ],
  "include": [
    "src/**/*"
  ],
}

answered May 6, 2022 at 18:19

Rohit

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Comments

adebayo · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-26 17:39:44Z

1

This worked for me tsc --outDir dist/ where dist is my output or destination folder

answered Oct 26, 2022 at 17:39

adebayo

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1 Comment

Community Over a year ago

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.

Ash Blue · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-30 21:44:26Z

0

You need to declare your tsconfig file location instead of the file you want to build.

tsc --build mocks/tsconfig.json

answered Sep 30, 2019 at 21:44

Ash Blue

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Comments

blank start · Accepted Answer · 2025-03-21 02:17:06Z

0

Adding the below to my package JSON script solve the error

"tsc": "tsc ./src/index.ts --outDir ./dist"

edited Mar 21 at 2:17

answered Mar 21 at 2:16

blank start

11 bronze badge

Comments

Vijay · Accepted Answer · 2024-04-04 12:50:18Z

-1

Make "noEmit": false in tsconfig.json

answered Apr 4, 2024 at 12:50

Vijay

1

1 Comment

possum Over a year ago

How is this meaningfully different from the answer that already provides this solution?

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