Troubleshooting: “tsc is not recognized as an internal or external command” Error in TypeScript
TypeScript (tsc) is a powerful tool for compiling TypeScript code into JavaScript. However, encountering the error “tsc is not recognized…
TypeScript (tsc) is a powerful tool for compiling TypeScript code into JavaScript. However, encountering the error “tsc is not recognized as an internal or external command” can be frustrating, especially for developers new to TypeScript. In this guide, we’ll explore common causes of this error and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve it.
Verify TypeScript Installation: The most common reason for this error is that TypeScript is not installed globally or not added to the system’s PATH environment variable. To verify if TypeScript is installed, open a terminal or command prompt and run:
tsc --versionIf TypeScript is installed, you should see the version number. If not, follow the installation instructions from the official TypeScript documentation: https://www.typescriptlang.org/download
Check PATH Environment Variable: If TypeScript is installed but still not recognized, ensure that the directory containing the TypeScript executable is added to the system’s PATH environment variable. Follow these steps:
On Windows:
Open Control Panel.
Navigate to System and Security > System > Advanced system settings.
Click on Environment Variables.
In the System Variables section, find the PATH variable and click Edit.
Add the directory path containing tsc (usually C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\npm) to the list of paths.
Click OK to save the changes.
On macOS and Linux:
Open a terminal and run:
nano ~/.bash_profileAdd the following line at the end of the file:
export PATH="$PATH:$(npm bin -g)"Save the changes and exit the text editor.
Restart the terminal or run:
source ~/.bash_profileVerify npm Installation: TypeScript is typically installed via npm (Node Package Manager). Ensure that npm is installed and configured correctly on your system by running:
npm --versionIf npm is not installed, follow the installation instructions from the official npm documentation: https://docs.npmjs.com/downloading-and-installing-node-js-and-npm
Verify Node.js Installation: TypeScript requires Node.js to run. Ensure that Node.js is installed and configured correctly on your system by running:
node --versionIf Node.js is not installed, follow the installation instructions from the official Node.js documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/download/
The “tsc is not recognized as an internal or external command” error in TypeScript typically occurs due to issues with TypeScript installation, PATH environment variable configuration, npm installation, or Node.js installation. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can diagnose and resolve the error, enabling you to compile TypeScript code successfully using tsc.