tsconfig-builder_skill

Overview

This skill generates ready-to-use tsconfig.json files tailored to common TypeScript project types. It produces JSONC output compatible with TypeScript 5.x and adds comments explaining important compiler options. Use it to quickly configure projects with sensible defaults for Node, React (Vite), Next.js, libraries, monorepos, CLIs, and Express APIs. The output follows a validation checklist to ensure IDE support and consistent options.

How this skill works

When triggered, the skill selects a template matching the requested project type and emits a complete tsconfig.json (JSON with comments). It sets language target, module system, module resolution, strictness, emit options, path aliases, include/exclude, and optional references. Comments are included to explain non-obvious choices and to flag options you should review for your codebase.

When to use it

• Creating a new TypeScript project and you need a correct tsconfig.json quickly
• Converting an existing codebase to use strict TypeScript settings
• Preparing a package for publishing with declaration files and source maps
• Configuring monorepo base and package-level TypeScript references
• Setting up frontend projects (Vite, Next.js) with bundler-specific settings

Best practices

• Enable strict mode for new projects and selectively relax options only when necessary
• Match module and moduleResolution to runtime/bundler (NodeNext vs CommonJS vs bundler)
• Use path aliases consistent with your source layout and keep baseUrl at project root
• Include $schema for editor validation and set include/exclude to avoid compiling node_modules
• Generate declaration files for libraries and keep noEmit for apps handled by bundlers

Example use cases

• Generate a Node.js backend tsconfig using NodeNext or CommonJS depending on ESM usage
• Create a React (Vite) tsconfig with jsx=react-jsx, moduleResolution=bundler, and noEmit
• Produce a publishable npm library tsconfig with declaration, declarationMap, and outDir
• Compose monorepo base and per-package configs with composite and references enabled
• Configure an Express API server with strict runtime-safe options and path aliases