⚡️ LT-Node ⚡️

Bringing Simplicity to TypeScript

LT-Node (lightning-node) is a robust Node.js tool that provides effortless TypeScript support in both development and production environments. It offers all the TypeScript features you love, right out of the box, with no additional configuration required.

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Usage
• Comparison with Other TypeScript Runtimes
• Why Choose LT-Node

Installation

Install LT-Node globally using npm:

npm install -g lt-node

Usage

LT-Node is a CLI tool designed to run TypeScript files in Node.js, serving as a faster alternative to ts-node. It supports both development and production environments.

• Automatic Configuration: Reads your tsconfig.json if available, or defaults to standard settings.
• Static File Handling: Automatically copies static files to the output directory for easy access in all environments.

To execute a TypeScript file, use:

lt-node src/main.ts

Arguments

• --watch: Watch for file changes and automatically recompile and rerun the TypeScript files.
• --noCheck: Skip type checking, only compile and run the TypeScript files.

Comparison with Other TypeScript Runtimes

Feature	LT-Node	ts-node	tsx	ts-node-dev	bun
Compilation Speed	⚡️ Fast (uses SWC)	🐌 Slow (uses tsc)	⚡️ Fast (uses esbuild)	🐌 Slow (uses tsc)	⚡️ Very Fast (custom engine)
Type Checking	✅ Parallel	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No
Run in Production Server	✅ Yes	❌ Not recommended	❌ Not recommended	❌ Not recommended	✅ Yes
Run Same Code in Development and Production	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Path Aliases Support*	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Static File Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Watch Mode	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
HMR Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Decorators Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Node.js Compatibility	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	⚠️ Partial
npm Ecosystem Compatibility	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	✅ 100%	⚠️ Partial
tsconfig.json Support	✅ Full	✅ Full	⚠️ Partial	✅ Full	⚠️ Partial
Source Maps	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Non-TS Files Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Path Aliases Support: Enables loading of modules specified in the paths section of tsconfig.json or jsconfig.json, both at runtime and through the API.

Static File Support: Automatically copies non-TypeScript files to the output directory, ensuring access to all files in the production build as during development, without requiring additional configuration, plugins, or scripts.

Why Choose LT-Node

• Effortless Setup: Enjoy all the best features without extra configuration or dependencies.
• Streamlined Workflow: Simplify your build process and development workflow.
• Consistent Environments: Run the same code in both production and development.
• Fast Execution: Benefit from rapid execution with parallel type checking.
• Full tsconfig.json Support: Complete compatibility with your TypeScript configuration.
• Parallel Type Checking: Maximize productivity with non-blocking type checking.
• Complete Node.js Compatibility: Ensure seamless integration with Node.js.
• Static File Support: Automatically copies non-TypeScript files to the output directory, ensuring access to all files in the production build as during development, without requiring additional configuration, plugins, or scripts.
• Watch Mode: Automatically recompiles and reruns the TypeScript files when you make changes.

Adopt LT-Node today and transform your TypeScript development experience!