Typescript unable to find Express module

Question

I am trying to create my first NodeJS application, however I couldn't make it work.

These are the steps I followed so far from various blogs and trying to build first nodejs app in typescript.

npm install -g express-generator
npm install -g typescript
express SampleApp
npm install -g typings
typings install dt~node --global
typings install dt~express dt~serve-static dt~express-serve-static-core --global
cd SampleApp
npm install

hello.ts

import express = require('express');
var app = express();

When I build compile the ts file with TypeScript

>>> tsc -m commonjs -t es5 hello.ts
hello.ts(1,26): error TS2307: Cannot find module 'express'.

I have gone through various resources, couldn't find the solution. I guess I don't have to copy node.d.ts and express.d.ts files manually to the project folder.

If I use nodejs and expressjs alone npm start it works fine. Typescript plugin is something I am not able to do

Can anyone help what exactly I am doing wrong here?

No experience with TS whatsoever, but generally, after running express SampleApp you need to run npm install in the generated project directory. — robertklep
– robertklep, Commented May 23, 2016 at 10:15
@arjunkori, I have done that. I am new to nodejs however I know little basics of installing packages and running things. Just trying to plugin "TypeScript" — RaceBase
– RaceBase, Commented May 23, 2016 at 10:21
is there any reason why you are installing the typings globally? :) — toskv
– toskv, Commented May 23, 2016 at 10:37
@toskv, it suggested me to install global and VS Code official blog, so i just went ahead and done that :) — RaceBase
– RaceBase, Commented May 23, 2016 at 10:51

isvforall · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-05 16:14:22Z

1

I fixed this issue by uninstalling typings package and reinstall typings with --global --save

1. npm uninstall typings --global
2. npm install typings --global
3. typings install dt~node dt~express --global --save

then typescript files are getting compiled fine.

Reported Issue: https://github.com/typings/typings/issues/543

edited Aug 5, 2016 at 16:14

isvforall

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answered May 23, 2016 at 11:16

RaceBase

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5 Comments

Kentonbmax Over a year ago

Does not work for me. Followed steps 1-3 and even removed the entries in my Program Files(86)\Microsoft SDKS\Typescript folder. I'm using TS 1.8.

RaceBase Over a year ago

install typescript using npm install typescript -g

Kentonbmax Over a year ago

Tried that, and then steps 1-3 again. tsc app.ts still cannot find express using a typescript import statement like import * as express from 'express'.

Kentonbmax Over a year ago

created new project, setup same way and using typescript 2.1. Same issue. Typescript installed global as well.

Kentonbmax Over a year ago

Got it working. Reinstalled all node modules. Thanks!

Manjunath Bhadrannavar · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-14 13:41:45Z

0

The typescript doesn't contain the type description for express, that has to be added using the below

npm i @types/express

answered Jun 14, 2020 at 13:41

Manjunath Bhadrannavar

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