Microsoft has unveiled “Project Corsa”, which is set to transform the TypeScript ecosystem by dramatically reducing application build times, lowering memory usage and boosting overall editor responsiveness. Netflix, Shopify, Uber, and Airbnb have already reported its advantages in development.

TypeScript Going Native

Currently the TypeScript compiler is written in JavaScript and executed on Node.js. However, Project Corsa is built completely on Go, a language well known for its efficiency. By compiling TypeScript into a standalone binary code, Corsa takes out the task of interpreting JavaScript. From the tech side, benchmarks have been great, for example, build time for code on Visual Studio projects dropped from 77.8 seconds to just 7.5 seconds. This is an impressive 10X performance improvement. This helps engineers push changes to production multiple times per day instead of once daily, accelerating feature delivery to customers.

Lower Memory Footprint

Go’s memory management, which includes optimized garbage collection and control over resource allocation, means Corsa can run with less memory consumption. Which means larger projects consume fewer resources on developer machines and CI/CD pipelines. This also means cost savings in cloud as memory usage directly impacts operational expenses.

While working with a real estate technology client, its dev team had hundreds of daily builds across multiple products. Using Go in dev helped them with an estimated annual savings of more than $1 million in cloud computing resources.

Improved Editor Performance & Features

Corsa has a direct impact on developer’s editor experience. TypeScript offers faster startup and real-time code analysis. Features like auto-complete and “go to definition” will be of great value for developers, helping improve performance. Visual Studio Code, a popular TypeScript editor for developers, will see project load times drop from around 9.5 seconds to 1 seconds.

A very good example of this is Netflix. Its engineering teams working on front-end applications have seen a 78% reduction in the time developers spend waiting for code analysis. By their estimates, this saves each developer approximately 1.5 hours per day.

What This Mean for Companies Across Industries?
For larger companies heavily invested in TypeScript, especially those managing large-scale codebases, the benefits are substantial. We have already spoken about better developer productivity with faster builds and how Corsa helps teams iterate and deploy new features faster. Cost savings from low memory usage and how enhanced development environment with AI-backed features improves performance. 

Importantly, Project Corsa will not change how developers write TypeScript code. The language remains the same, and the output will continue to be JavaScript. The upgrade is purely internal improving the tooling without altering the developer experience.

How It Impacts IT Companies?

Mid-sized and small companies in software development will have the most benefits:

• Faster Hot Reloads – No more long waits for compile to finish hot reloads on low compute machines.

• Improved Multi-Tasking – Generally, small and mid-sized companies use low-level compute which limits multi-tasking for developers. Corsa will help them achieve more with less compute.
• Faster Build Times – Build creation will be faster enabling quicker deployments. Companies are reporting deployment cycles reduced from 45 mins to just 5 mins.
• Performance Improvement in IDE – Features like auto-complete, linting, etc., is set to drastically change developing or debugging in IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

In summary, Project Corsa is exciting for both – developers and companies using TypeScript. It will make super-fast compilation, efficient memory usage, and responsive editing the new standards. For businesses and developers alike, this means faster time-to-market, improved productivity, and a robust foundation for future innovation in the TypeScript ecosystem. Want to see how Project Corsa can boost your business value? Let’s talk! or want to see how Project Corsa can help your business grow? Click here