CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascripttypescriptts-nodevscode-code-runner
Omer Butt
Omer Butt

Reputation: 31

Error: Unexpected token 'export' and ES module warning when running TypeScript with Code Runner in VSCode

I followed a tutorial where it was mentioned that I don't need any extra configuration to run TypeScript code. I have Node.js version 20, TypeScript version 5.6.2, and ts-node 10.9.2 installed globally. I also installed the Code Runner and JavaScript/TypeScript Nightly extensions in VSCode. I created a simple TypeScript file (index.ts) and tried to run it using Shift+Enter in Code Runner. However, I encountered an error related to ES modules and Unexpected token 'export' in the console. I'm unsure what is causing this issue.

I installed Node.js, TypeScript, and ts-node, as suggested in the tutorial, and tried running a simple TypeScript file in VSCode using Code Runner. I expected the code to run without errors and print John in the console. Instead, I received an error stating I need to set "type": "module" in the package.json or use an .mjs file extension, as well as an Unexpected token 'export' error.

Tutorial Video Link

at TimeStamp 11:34 he mentioned no need of any compiler or extra file to run the typescript code.

I followed along all the steps

node was already installed version 20

npm install -g typescript npm install -g ts-node

Typescript Version 5.6.2.

ts-node 10.9.2

in vscode installed Code Runner* and *JavaScript and TypeScript Nightly Extensions

Create index.ts file

type Person = {
    name: string;
};

const person: Person = {
    name: "John",
};

console.log(person.name);

Changed the VSCODE Keyvoard shortcut for Code Runner to Shift+Enter

Shift+Enter to Run the code using Code Runner

Output shows this ERROR:

(node:11032) Warning: To load an ES module, set "type": "module" in the package.json or use the .mjs extension.
(Use node --trace-warnings ... to show where the warning was created)
c:\Users\faroo\Desktop\ts-playground\tempCodeRunnerFile.ts:5
export {};
^^^^^^

SyntaxError: Unexpected token 'export'

What I am doing wrong?

Note:

I also checked in to it and tried to create a tsconfig.json file in the same directory as index.ts file is

{
    "compilerOptions": {
        "target": "es2016",
        "module": "commonjs",
        "esModuleInterop": true,
        "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
        "strict": true,
        "skipLibCheck": true
    }
}

After that when I run index.ts file using code runner or terminal command **ts-node index.ts** it runs with no errors.

My point and Quesion is that how is he doing without tsconfig.json file.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 243

Answers (1)

Abraham Arreola
Abraham Arreola

Reputation: 347

Idk if i come late to the party and you already figured out the answer by yourself, but i was having the same problem a few minutes ago and since i found your thread while i was looking for the solution, i come back to answer it with the solution that worked for me.

the problem was ts-node itself, it seems that doesn't support ESM modules and there are some symbols/tokens that doesn't know how to parse correctly.

So, instead of using ts-node i ended up replacing it with tsx, that seems to have better support.

All you need to do is to install it globally like you did with ts-node:

npm install -g tsx

then go and open your VScode's settings.json file:

ctrl + shift + p -> Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)

look for the code-runner.executorMap property and change its typescript value for this npx tsx.

It should look something like this:

"code-runner.executorMap": {
  "typescript": "npx tsx",
}

and that's it, now you should be able to run your TS scripts as i did without creating the tsconfig.json file.

Upvotes: 0

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