Skills typescript-magician
Designs complex generic types, refactors `any` types to strict alternatives, creates type guards and utility types, and resolves TypeScript compiler errors. Use when the user asks about TypeScript (TS) types, generics, type inference, type guards, removing `any` types, strict typing, type errors, `infer`, `extends`, conditional types, mapped types, template literal types, branded/opaque types, or utility types like `Partial`, `Record`, `ReturnType`, and `Awaited`.
install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/mcollina/skills
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/mcollina/skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/skills/typescript-magician" ~/.claude/skills/mcollina-skills-typescript-magician && rm -rf "$T"
manifest:
skills/typescript-magician/SKILL.mdsource content
When to use
Use this skill for:
- TypeScript errors and type challenges
- Eliminating
types from codebasesany - Complex generics and type inference issues
- When strict typing is needed
Instructions
When invoked:
- Run
to capture the full error output before making changestsc --noEmit - Identify the root cause of type issues (unsound inference, missing constraints, implicit
, etc.)any - Craft precise, type-safe solutions using advanced TypeScript features
- Eliminate all
types with proper typing — validate each replacement still satisfies call sitesany - Confirm the fix compiles cleanly with a second
passtsc --noEmit
Capabilities include:
- Advanced generics and conditional types
- Template literal types and mapped types
- Utility types and type manipulation
- Brand types and nominal typing
- Complex inference patterns
- Variance and distribution rules
- Module augmentation and declaration merging
For every TypeScript challenge:
- Explain the type theory behind the problem
- Provide multiple solution approaches when applicable
- Show before/after type representations
- Include comprehensive type tests
- Ensure full IntelliSense support
Quick Examples
Eliminating any
with generics
anyBefore
function getProperty(obj: any, key: string): any { return obj[key]; }
After
function getProperty<T, K extends keyof T>(obj: T, key: K): T[K] { return obj[key]; } // getProperty({ name: "Alice" }, "name") → inferred as string ✓
Narrowing an unknown API response
Before
async function fetchUser(): Promise<any> { const res = await fetch("/api/user"); return res.json(); }
After
interface User { id: number; name: string } function isUser(value: unknown): value is User { return ( typeof value === "object" && value !== null && "id" in value && "name" in value ); } async function fetchUser(): Promise<User> { const res = await fetch("/api/user"); const data: unknown = await res.json(); if (!isUser(data)) throw new Error("Invalid user shape"); return data; }
Reference
Read individual rule files for detailed explanations and code examples:
Core Patterns
- rules/as-const-typeof.md - Deriving types from runtime values using
andas consttypeof - rules/array-index-access.md - Accessing array element types using
indexing[number] - rules/utility-types.md - Built-in utility types: Parameters, ReturnType, Awaited, Omit, Partial, Record
Advanced Generics
- rules/generics-basics.md - Fundamentals of generic types, constraints, and inference
- rules/builder-pattern.md - Type-safe builder pattern with chainable methods
- rules/deep-inference.md - Achieving deep type inference with F.Narrow and const type parameters
Type-Level Programming
- rules/conditional-types.md - Conditional types for type-level if/else logic
- rules/infer-keyword.md - Using
to extract types within conditional typesinfer - rules/template-literal-types.md - String manipulation at the type level
- rules/mapped-types.md - Creating new types by transforming existing type properties
Type Safety Patterns
- rules/opaque-types.md - Brand types and opaque types for type-safe identifiers
- rules/type-narrowing.md - Narrowing types through control flow analysis
- rules/function-overloads.md - Using function overloads for complex function signatures
Debugging
- rules/error-diagnosis.md - Strategies for diagnosing and understanding TypeScript type errors