2024 04 30 troubleshooting typescript errorsstartswith property doesnt exist on string - bizkite-co/handterm GitHub Wiki


original file name: Codeium Chat - K0LaDLtwOrlYLmEE9B96auPoX60oTl74.md summary: The chat conversation discusses an issue where the TypeScript compiler reports an error stating "Property 'startsWith' does not exist on type 'string'". The user and assistant troubleshoot the problem, suggesting solutions like updating the tsconfig.json with the correct lib settings, ensuring TypeScript is properly installed and configured, checking the TypeScript version in VS Code, restarting the TypeScript server, validating the tsconfig.json path, and clearing cache directories in VS Code. They also address an additional TypeScript error related to property initialization and investigate the presence of a jsconfig.json file that might affect TypeScript configuration. The dialogue provides detailed steps for resolving the issues and includes cross-checking various VS Code settings and project files to ensure the correct TypeScript setup. date: 2024-04-30T11:28

Codeium Chat Conversation

Note: This is purely the output of the chat conversation and does not contain any raw data, codebase snippets, etc. used to generate the output.

User at 11:28 am, Apr 30, 2024

Explain problem: Property 'startsWith' does not exist on type 'string'. Do you need to change your target library? Try changing the 'lib' compiler option to 'es2015' or later.


Codeium at 11:28 am, Apr 30, 2024

The error "Property 'startsWith' does not exist on type 'string'" occurs because the startsWith method is not available in the target TypeScript library that is being used. To resolve this issue, you can change the lib compiler option to include 'es2015' or a later version.

You can update your tsconfig.json file to include the 'es2015' lib in the compilerOptions section like this:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "lib": ["es2015"]
  }
}

By adding 'es2015' to the lib option, TypeScript will include the necessary type definitions for the startsWith method, allowing you to use it without the compilation error.


User at 11:29 am, Apr 30, 2024

I currently have this:

  "target": "es2016",                 /* Set the JavaScript language version for emitted JavaScript and include compatible library declarations. */
  "lib": ["DOM","ESNext"],                    /* Specify a set of bundled library declaration files that describe the target runtime environment. */

is that wrong?


Codeium at 11:29 am, Apr 30, 2024

No, your configuration is not wrong. If you have "target": "es2016" in your tsconfig.json, it means the emitted JavaScript is supposed to be compatible with ECMAScript 2016 standards, which includes the startsWith method on strings. Additionally, specifying "lib": ["DOM", "ESNext"] means that you're including the latest ECMAScript features along with DOM type definitions.

The startsWith method was introduced in ECMAScript 2015 (ES6), so with your current configuration, you should not be getting the error that startsWith does not exist on type 'string'. If you are still experiencing this issue, it could be due to a few other reasons:

  1. Your TypeScript compiler might not be using the tsconfig.json you expect. Make sure that the configuration file is correctly named and located in the root directory of your project or that your build tool is correctly pointed to it.

  2. Your IDE or editor might be using a different TypeScript version than what your project is set to use. Check that your IDE is configured to use the project's local TypeScript version.

  3. The error might be generated by stale or incorrect type information. Try restarting your TypeScript server or your IDE.

If none of these suggestions solve the issue, you might want to check if there's a specific setup in your project that's causing the TypeScript type checker to not recognize the startsWith method on strings.


User at 11:36 am, Apr 30, 2024

I tried restarting npm start and restarting VS Code, but I'm still getting the problem.

This is a Hugo static site with TypeScript and node modules.


Codeium at 11:37 am, Apr 30, 2024

Given your setup and the fact that you're still experiencing the issue after restarting your services and VS Code, let's try the following steps to troubleshoot the problem:

  1. Ensure TypeScript is correctly installed in your project by running:

    npm install typescript --save-dev
  2. Double-check your tsconfig.json file to ensure it's properly configured and located in the root of your project.

  3. Since you are using VS Code, open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on macOS) and type "TypeScript: Select TypeScript version". Make sure that VS Code is using the workspace version of TypeScript, which should be the version installed in your node_modules directory.

  4. Run the TypeScript compiler directly from the command line to check if the issue persists. You can do this by running:

    npx tsc

    This will use the TypeScript compiler from your node_modules folder to compile your project according to your tsconfig.json settings.

  5. If you're using third-party libraries, make sure they are installed and their types are available. For some libraries, you might need to install types separately using DefinitelyTyped. For example:

    npm install @types/{library_name} --save-dev
  6. Clear the npm cache and reinstall your node_modules:

    npm cache clean --force
    npm install
  7. Check if there is any custom TypeScript build configuration or script in your package.json that might be causing the issue.

If you've tried all these steps and the issue still persists, it might be helpful to look at the specific error message and stack trace, if available, to get more context on why the startsWith method isn't being recognized.

Please ensure that the startsWith method is being called on a string variable. If localStorage.key(i) returns null or undefined, then TypeScript will fail to compile since startsWith cannot be called on those types. You've correctly used optional chaining (?.) to prevent calling startsWith on null or undefined, but make sure that every usage of startsWith in your codebase follows this pattern.


User at 11:43 am, Apr 30, 2024

When I run npx tsc I get this error:

assets/ts/terminal/HandexTerm.ts:22:11 - error TS2564: Property 'wpmCalculator' has no initializer and is not definitely assigned in the constructor.

22  private wpmCalculator: IWPMCalculator;

Codeium at 11:43 am, Apr 30, 2024

The error you're seeing when you run npx tsc is not related to the startsWith issue but is another TypeScript error indicating that the wpmCalculator property must be initialized before it can be used.

In TypeScript, if the --strictPropertyInitialization flag is enabled (which is part of the --strict flag), class properties must be initialized either where they are declared or in the constructor.

Here's how you can resolve this issue:

  1. Initialize the property where it's declared:

    private wpmCalculator: IWPMCalculator = new WPMCalculator();

    (Replace new WPMCalculator() with the appropriate initialization for your use case.)

  2. Initialize the property in the constructor:

    constructor() {
      this.wpmCalculator = new WPMCalculator();
      // other initializations
    }

    (Again, replace new WPMCalculator() with the appropriate initialization.)

  3. Use the Non-Null Assertion Operator (if you are sure the property will be assigned before any usage):

    private wpmCalculator!: IWPMCalculator;
  4. Make the property optional if it's not guaranteed to be initialized immediately:

    private wpmCalculator?: IWPMCalculator;

Choose the option that best fits your class logic. If you're initializing wpmCalculator outside of the constructor and before it's ever used, the Non-Null Assertion Operator can be used. However, if it can be undefined for a period of time, then marking it as optional is safer. If it should always be initialized, then either provide a default value where it's declared or initialize it in the constructor.


User at 11:54 am, Apr 30, 2024

Ok, now with npx tsc I get no errors, but I still see the problem with

roperty 'startsWith' does not exist on type 'string'. Do you need to change your target library? Try changing the 'lib' compiler option to 'es2015' or later.ts(2550)

Codeium at 11:55 am, Apr 30, 2024

Since running npx tsc doesn't give you any errors, it indicates that the TypeScript compiler is successfully compiling the code with the settings specified in your tsconfig.json. This means that the issue with the startsWith method not being recognized as a property of string is likely related to your editor's environment rather than the TypeScript configuration itself.

To further troubleshoot the issue within VS Code, try the following steps:

  1. Ensure your workspace is using the correct TypeScript version: Open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on macOS) and type "TypeScript: Select TypeScript version". Check that "Use Workspace Version" is selected.

  2. Restart the TypeScript language service in VS Code: Sometimes the TypeScript language service can get out of sync. You can restart it by opening the command palette and typing "TypeScript: Restart TS server".

  3. Reopen VS Code: Close and reopen VS Code to ensure it's not a temporary glitch.

  4. Check your extensions: If you have any extensions that could potentially interfere with TypeScript, try disabling them to see if that resolves the issue.

  5. Validate your tsconfig.json path: Ensure that the tsconfig.json file is located at the root of your workspace or in the correct directory that corresponds to where your TypeScript files are located.

  6. Inspect the "Problems" tab in VS Code: The Problems tab (viewable by going to View -> Problems) will list out all the current errors. Check if there are any related issues that might give you a clue as to what's going wrong.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, there might be a problem with your VS Code installation or a conflict with another tool or extension. You might consider reinstalling VS Code or resetting it to default settings as a last resort.


User at 11:58 am, Apr 30, 2024

tsconfig.json is here:

🕐[11:53:29]❯ ls *tsconfig.json

  Directory: D:\T3\Projects\self\handex.io

Mode         LastWriteTime     Length Name
----         -------------     ------ ----
-a---      4/21/2024 11:17 PM     12507 tsconfig.json

Codeium at 11:58 am, Apr 30, 2024

Given that tsconfig.json is present in the root of your project, your TypeScript compiler settings should be picked up correctly by VS Code. Since npx tsc doesn't yield any errors, the problem is likely within the VS Code environment.

Let's ensure that VS Code is using the TypeScript version and configuration specified in your project:

  1. Open the TypeScript version selector in VS Code:

    • Use the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
    • Type "TypeScript: Select TypeScript Version".
    • Choose "Use Workspace Version".
  2. Restart TS Server in VS Code:

    • Open the Command Palette again.
    • Type "TypeScript: Restart TS server".
  3. Check for errors in the Problems pane:

    • Go to the "View" menu, select "Problems", and inspect any issues listed there.
  4. Validate that VS Code is using the correct tsconfig.json:

    • Open any .ts file from your project.
    • Click on the TypeScript version number in the bottom-right corner of the VS Code window to open the TypeScript version selector.
    • Make sure that the path to the tsconfig.json in the information popup is correct.
  5. Reopen the folder in VS Code:

    • Sometimes, reopening the folder can refresh the environment.
  6. Check for overrides in settings:

    • Open settings (File > Preferences > Settings).
    • Search for "typescript" and see if there are any workspace settings that might override the default behavior.
  7. Inspect your extensions:

    • Disable any TypeScript-related extensions one by one to see if they might be causing the issue.

If you've gone through all of these steps and the issue still persists, it may be helpful to gather more detailed error messages or logs if available. If the issue cannot be resolved through these means, as a last resort, you might consider reinstalling VS Code or resetting it to default settings.


User at 12:01 pm, Apr 30, 2024

I have used ctrl-shift-p to set the typescript version to the workspace version, and I have restarted the ts server and I have restarted VS Code. My Problems pane shows 7 errors all related to

Property 'includes' does not exist on type 'string'. Do you need to change your target library? Try changing the 'lib' compiler option to 'es2015' or later.

Codeium at 12:01 pm, Apr 30, 2024

Given that all the previous steps have not resolved the issue, it's possible there might be a problem with the VS Code TypeScript language service cache or with the specific project's setup in the VS Code workspace. Here are a few additional steps you can take:

  1. Clear the VS Code Editor Cache:

    • Close VS Code.
    • Navigate to the cache directory and delete its content. The cache directory can usually be found at the following paths:
      • On Windows: %APPDATA%\Code
      • On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code
      • On Linux: ~/.config/Code
    • Be careful to only delete cache-related files or directories. If unsure, create a backup before deleting anything.
  2. Check the Workspace Settings:

    • Open the .vscode folder in the root of your project (if it exists).
    • Look for a settings.json file and check if there are any TypeScript-related settings that might be causing the issue.
  3. Validate the tsconfig.json:

    • Make sure there are no errors in your tsconfig.json file.
    • Validate that the include and exclude properties correctly encompass all necessary files and exclude any that might cause conflicts.
  4. Check for Multiple tsconfig.json Files:

    • Make sure there are no other tsconfig.json files in your project that might be conflicting.
  5. Inspect the TypeScript Output:

    • In VS Code, go to the "View" menu, select "Output", and then select "TypeScript" from the dropdown.
    • Check for any messages that might indicate what's going wrong.
  6. Check for typescript.tsdk Setting:

    • Go to the settings (File > Preferences > Settings).
    • Search for typescript.tsdk.
    • If it's set to a custom path, make sure the path is correct, or clear it to use the default TypeScript version provided by VS Code.
  7. Reinstall TypeScript for the Workspace:

    • Delete the node_modules folder and package-lock.json file.
    • Run npm install to reinstall the packages.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it might be helpful to create a new VS Code workspace and import your project files to see if the problem persists in a fresh environment. If the problem goes away in the new workspace, there might have been a configuration issue with the original workspace.

Alternatively, reach out to the VS Code support community or file an issue on the VS Code GitHub repository with details of the problem, as it may be a bug or a specific edge case with the IDE.


User at 12:03 pm, Apr 30, 2024

The TypeScript in the bottom-right status bar lists this file: assets\jsconfig.json as the config file.


Codeium at 12:03 pm, Apr 30, 2024

The presence of a jsconfig.json file in your assets directory indicates that VS Code may be using that configuration for your JavaScript files, which might not include TypeScript configuration settings. A jsconfig.json is often used in projects that don't use TypeScript to provide IntelliSense for JavaScript files.

Here's what you can do:

  1. Examine the jsconfig.json file content. If it exists, check to see what is specified under the compilerOptions section. It's possible that this file has settings conflicting with your tsconfig.json, or it may not include the necessary lib options for ES2015 (or later) features like startsWith and includes.

  2. Rename or remove jsconfig.json. If you rename or remove jsconfig.json, make sure to close and reopen VS Code to ensure it picks up the changes. This will force VS Code to use tsconfig.json for TypeScript files instead. Be cautious if you decide to remove it, as it may be there for a reason, especially if you also have JavaScript files in your project.

  3. Adjust the jsconfig.json to include lib options. If you need to keep the jsconfig.json file for JavaScript IntelliSense, you can adjust it to include the required lib options for ES2015 or later, similar to your tsconfig.json. Here's an example:

    {
      "compilerOptions": {
        "target": "es6",
        "lib": ["dom", "es2015", "esnext"],
        // ... any other options you have
      },
      "include": [
        // ... files or directories to include
      ]
    }
  4. Ensure tsconfig.json is used for TypeScript files. VS Code should automatically use tsconfig.json for TypeScript files and jsconfig.json for JavaScript files. However, if they're in the same directory, there could be conflicts. Make sure that your tsconfig.json is properly configured and recognized by VS Code for TypeScript files.

After making changes to the configuration files, don't forget to restart the TypeScript server in VS Code:

  • Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
  • Type "TypeScript: Restart TS server" and select it.

Lastly, ensure that the TypeScript files are within the scope of the tsconfig.json by checking the include and exclude settings. If your TypeScript files are within the assets directory, they should be included in the tsconfig.json scope for it to take effect.


User at 12:06 pm, Apr 30, 2024

I removed the jsconfig.json and restarted and that seemed to have fixed the problem.


Codeium at 12:06 pm, Apr 30, 2024

Great! I'm glad to hear that removing the jsconfig.json file and restarting VS Code resolved the issue. It seems that the jsconfig.json file was indeed interfering with the TypeScript configuration and causing VS Code to not recognize the correct settings for your TypeScript files.

With the jsconfig.json file removed, VS Code now correctly uses the tsconfig.json for your TypeScript environment, which includes the necessary library definitions for ES2015 (or later) features like startsWith and includes.

If you need to use jsconfig.json in the future for JavaScript IntelliSense or other purposes, you can reintroduce it with the correct settings to avoid conflicts with your TypeScript setup.

Remember to periodically review your project's configuration files to ensure they are correctly set up and aligned with the needs of your project. If you encounter any more issues or have further questions, feel free to ask. Happy coding!


User at 3:27 pm, Apr 30, 2024

Something keeps creating the jsconfig.json. What might be doing that and how can I prevent it?


Codeium at 3:28 pm, Apr 30, 2024

If jsconfig.json is being recreated automatically, it could be due to an extension or a build process within your project. Here are some steps to identify and prevent this from happening:

  1. Extensions: Check if you have any extensions in VS Code that could be generating this file. Some extensions automatically create a jsconfig.json for better IntelliSense or for their own configuration purposes. You can try disabling extensions temporarily to see if the file stops being recreated.

  2. Build Tools or Scripts: Review your build tools and scripts. If you are using a task runner or a build tool like webpack, gulp, or others, check their configuration files for any steps that might generate a jsconfig.json.

  3. IDE/Editor Settings: Some IDEs or editors have settings or features that auto-generate configuration files. Look through VS Code settings to see if there's anything related to auto-generating jsconfig.json.

  4. Project Initialization Tools: Tools like create-react-app or other scaffolding tools may generate a jsconfig.json as part of their setup process. If you're using such a tool, consult its documentation for how to customize or prevent this behavior.

  5. File Watchers: If you have file watchers set up (either through extensions or external programs), they might be recreating jsconfig.json when they detect changes.

  6. Source Control: If you're using a version control system like Git, make sure that jsconfig.json isn't being restored from your repository during operations like checkout or pull.

  7. Prevent File Creation: As a last resort, you can create a dummy jsconfig.json and make it read-only to prevent modifications. However, this is not recommended as it may cause other issues with your tooling or editor.

Once you identify the source that's regenerating jsconfig.json, you can adjust its configuration or remove the responsible extension or tool to prevent it from happening again. If you are working in a team, check with your team members to ensure that no one else's environment or tools are causing this file to be recreated.


User at 4:07 pm, Apr 30, 2024

how do I make the jsconfig.json read-only by using PowerShell?


Codeium at 4:07 pm, Apr 30, 2024

In PowerShell, you can make a file read-only by modifying its file attributes. Here's how you can set the jsconfig.json file to be read-only:

  1. Open PowerShell.

  2. Navigate to the directory where your jsconfig.json file is located using the cd command. For example:

    cd D:\T3\Projects\self\handex.io\assets
  3. Use the Set-ItemProperty cmdlet to change the attributes of jsconfig.json to read-only. Here's the command:

    Set-ItemProperty -Path .\jsconfig.json -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true

This command will set the read-only attribute on jsconfig.json, preventing modifications to the file. If you ever need to remove the read-only attribute, you can use the following command:

Set-ItemProperty -Path .\jsconfig.json -Name IsReadOnly -Value $false

Please note that making jsconfig.json read-only is a temporary fix and may not be the best solution. It's important to identify the root cause of why the file is being regenerated and address that issue directly.


User at 4:10 pm, Apr 30, 2024

I am getting this error when using the jsconfig.json code you posted above.

No inputs were found in config file 'd:/T3/Projects/self/handex.io/assets/jsconfig.json'. Specified 'include' paths were '[]' and 'exclude' paths were '[]'.
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "es6",
    "lib": [
      "dom",
      "es2015",
      "esnext"
    ],
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "*": [
        "*"
      ]
    }
  },
  "include": []
}

Codeium at 4:10 pm, Apr 30, 2024

The error message you're seeing indicates that the include array in your jsconfig.json is empty. The include property is used to specify which files should be included in the project context. If it's empty, TypeScript (or the JavaScript language service in VS Code) doesn't know which files to include for type checking and IntelliSense.

You can fix this by specifying the files or directories you want to include. For example, to include all .js files in the assets directory and its subdirectories, you can modify the include property like this:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "es6",
    "lib": [
      "dom",
      "es2015",
      "esnext"
    ],
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "*": ["*"]
    }
  },
  "include": [
    "**/*.js"
  ]
}

If you also have .jsx files, or you want to include TypeScript .ts or .tsx files, you can add them to the include array as well:

  "include": [
    "**/*.js",
    "**/*.jsx",
    "**/*.ts",
    "**/*.tsx"
  ]

Make sure to replace the file patterns with the ones that match your project's structure. After you've updated your jsconfig.json, restart the TypeScript service in VS Code:

  • Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
  • Type "TypeScript: Restart TS server" and select it.

This should resolve the error message you're receiving. If you have a mix of JavaScript and TypeScript files, you may need to adjust your tsconfig.json and jsconfig.json to work harmoniously together.


User at 8:14 am, May 1, 2024

It appears that the extraneous jsconfig.json is created by Hugo, and it does it on every rebuild.

I've reviewd the Hugo docs and noJSConfigInAssets is supposed to prevent it.

I have this in config/_default/build.toml:

[build]
  noJSConfigInAssets = true
  buildStats = true

But it still keeps recreating and overwriting the jsconfig.json


Codeium at 8:14 am, May 1, 2024

If Hugo keeps recreating the jsconfig.json file despite having noJSConfigInAssets = true in your build.toml, it's possible there might be an issue with the Hugo version you are using, or there might be another part of your Hugo configuration that is causing the setting to be ignored.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

  1. Verify Hugo Version: Ensure that you're using a version of Hugo that supports the noJSConfigInAssets option. It's possible this is a newer feature that might not be available in older versions of Hugo.

  2. Check Configuration File: Make sure that config/_default/build.toml is the correct path for your build configuration and that Hugo is properly reading from this file. In some cases, configurations might be overridden by other files or command-line arguments.

  3. Check for Overrides: Look for any other configuration files or command-line arguments that might be overriding the noJSConfigInAssets setting.

  4. Hugo Documentation: Double-check the Hugo documentation for the correct usage of noJSConfigInAssets. There might be additional context or related settings that need to be configured.

  5. Clear Hugo Cache: Try clearing Hugo's cache to see if that resolves the issue. Hugo may have cached an older version of the configuration.

  6. Hugo Community and Issues: If the above steps don't resolve the issue, consider reaching out to the Hugo community or searching for related issues on the Hugo GitHub repository. It's possible that others have encountered this problem and there might be a known solution or workaround.

  7. Workaround: As a temporary workaround, you might consider adding a post-build script to delete the jsconfig.json file after Hugo finishes building your site.

Here's an example of a simple post-build script you can run after your Hugo build process completes:

Remove-Item -Path "path\to\your\assets\jsconfig.json" -Force

Replace path\to\your\assets\jsconfig.json with the actual path to the jsconfig.json file that Hugo generates.

Finally, if you believe this to be a bug with Hugo, consider filing an issue on the Hugo GitHub repository with details of your setup and the steps you've taken to diagnose the problem.


User at 8:45 am, May 1, 2024

hugo serve runs in watch mode, so I am not sure where I would put that Remove-Item that would run every time Hugo rebuilds, which is every time a file changes.


Codeium at 8:45 am, May 1, 2024

Given that hugo serve runs in watch mode and rebuilds the site whenever a file changes, you would need a way to continuously monitor for changes to the jsconfig.json file and remove it each time it gets recreated.

You can achieve this by running a separate PowerShell script in the background that watches the jsconfig.json file and deletes it whenever it is created. Here's a simple PowerShell script that you can run in the background:

$watcher = New-Object System.IO.FileSystemWatcher
$watcher.Path = "path\to\your\assets"
$watcher.Filter = "jsconfig.json"
$watcher.IncludeSubdirectories = $false
$watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = $true

$action = { Remove-Item -Path "path\to\your\assets\jsconfig.json" -Force }

Register-ObjectEvent -InputObject $watcher -EventName Created -Action $action

# To stop the watcher, you can run: Unregister-Event -SubscriptionId <ID>

Replace path\to\your\assets with the actual path to the directory where the jsconfig.json file is being created.

Run this script in a separate PowerShell instance before you start hugo serve. It will keep running in the background, monitoring the specified directory for the creation of jsconfig.json and deleting it whenever it appears.

To stop the watcher, you can either close the PowerShell instance running the script or use the Unregister-Event cmdlet with the subscription ID that's provided when you start the watcher.

Keep in mind that this is a workaround, and it would be better to resolve the issue at its source. If the noJSConfigInAssets setting is not working as expected, it may be worth reporting this as an issue to the Hugo maintainers.

⚠️ **GitHub.com Fallback** ⚠️