For years, TypeScript has been hailed as the gold standard for enterprise development. However, seasoned engineers are increasingly recognizing a hidden cost: the mounting technical debt of an auxiliary ecosystem. True seniority isn’t about adopting the most complex tools; it’s about choosing the most sustainable ones.
The Hidden Tax of Compilation
TypeScript introduces a mandatory build step that detaches your source code from the runtime reality. Between managing complex tsconfig.json migrations and fighting the “AnyScript” trap, the administrative overhead often outweighs the type-safety benefits. This abstraction layer creates a maintenance burden that complicates CI/CD pipelines and obscures the bridge between development and production.
Efficiency via JSDoc
By leveraging plain JavaScript with JSDoc, you achieve robust IDE IntelliSense and static analysis without the transpilation tax. You write standard, native ECMAScript that runs directly in the browser or Node.js. This “zero-build” philosophy prioritizes long-term stability and portability over ephemeral syntax trends. It allows developers to focus on logic rather than fighting the compiler.
Summary
Choosing JSDoc over TypeScript is an intentional move toward simplicity. By stripping away the compiler, senior developers regain control over their environment, ensuring code remains readable, lightweight, and debt-free for the long haul.