Type Checking

TypeScript’s type checking options determine the stability of your code. Sonamu enables strict mode by default to provide maximum type safety.

Strict Mode

Sonamu enables all strict options.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "strict": true,                          // Enable all strict options
    "noImplicitAny": true,                   // Require explicit any type
    "strictNullChecks": true,                // Strict null/undefined checking
    "strictFunctionTypes": true,             // Strict function type checking
    "strictBindCallApply": true,             // Strict bind/call/apply checking
    "strictPropertyInitialization": true,    // Require class property initialization
    "noImplicitThis": true,                  // Require explicit this type
    "alwaysStrict": true                     // Auto-add 'use strict'
  }
}

strict: true is a shortcut that enables all the above options at once.

Strict Options in Detail

Require Explicit any Type

Function:

Prevents implicit use of any when type cannot be inferred

Example:

// ❌ Error
function log(message) {
  //         ^^^^^^^ Parameter 'message' implicitly has an 'any' type
  console.log(message);
}

// ✅ Correct code
function log(message: string) {
  console.log(message);
}

// ✅ Using generics
function log<T>(message: T) {
  console.log(message);
}

If typing is difficult, use unknown. It’s safer than any.

Strict null/undefined Checking

Function:

Prevents assigning null and undefined to other types
All types are non-nullable by default

Example:

// ❌ Error
let name: string = null;
//                 ^^^^ Type 'null' is not assignable to type 'string'

// ✅ Using union type
let name: string | null = null;
name = "Alice";

// ✅ Optional chaining
interface User {
  email?: string;
}

function sendEmail(user: User) {
  // ❌ Error
  const length = user.email.length;
  //                  ^^^^^ Object is possibly 'undefined'

  // ✅ Optional chaining
  const length = user.email?.length;

  // ✅ Null check
  if (user.email !== undefined) {
    const length = user.email.length;
  }
}

In Sonamu:

// Entity defined via entity.json
interface User {
  id: number;
  name: string;           // Cannot be null
  bio: string | null;     // Allows null
  email?: string;         // Allows undefined
  created_at: Date;
}

// Ensure type safety in Model class
class UserModelClass extends BaseModelClass {
  @api({ httpMethod: "GET" })
  async findById(
    subset: UserSubsetKey,
    id: number
  ): Promise<UserSubsetMapping[typeof subset] | null> {
    const rdb = this.getPuri("r");
    const user = await rdb.table("users").where("id", id).first();

    // strictNullChecks enforces null check
    if (!user) {
      return null;
    }

    return user;
  }
}

Strict Function Type Checking

Function:

Checks contravariance of function parameters
Safer function type compatibility

Example:

interface Animal {
  name: string;
}

interface Dog extends Animal {
  bark(): void;
}

// ❌ Error (strictFunctionTypes: true)
let animalHandler: (animal: Animal) => void;
let dogHandler: (dog: Dog) => void;

animalHandler = dogHandler;
// ^^^^^^^^^ Type '(dog: Dog) => void' is not assignable to type '(animal: Animal) => void'

// ✅ Correct direction
dogHandler = animalHandler;  // OK

This option significantly improves function type safety, but may have compatibility issues with some libraries.

Strict bind/call/apply Checking

Function:

Type checks parameters of bind, call, apply methods

Example:

function greet(name: string, age: number) {
  console.log(`Hello, ${name}! You are ${age} years old.`);
}

// ❌ Error
greet.call(null, "Alice", "30");
//                        ^^^^ Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'

// ✅ Correct types
greet.call(null, "Alice", 30);

// ❌ Error
greet.apply(null, ["Alice"]);
//                ^^^^^^^^^ Argument of type '[string]' is not assignable to parameter of type '[string, number]'

// ✅ Correct argument count
greet.apply(null, ["Alice", 30]);

Require Class Property Initialization

Function:

Verifies that class properties are initialized in the constructor

Example:

class User {
  // ❌ Error
  name: string;
  // ^^^^ Property 'name' has no initializer and is not definitely assigned in the constructor

  // ✅ Initialized in constructor
  email: string;

  constructor(email: string) {
    this.email = email;
  }

  // ✅ Default value provided
  age: number = 0;

  // ✅ Optional
  bio?: string;

  // ✅ Allows null
  avatar: string | null = null;

  // ✅ Definite assignment assertion (only when certain)
  id!: number;
}

In Sonamu:

// Generated types are all initialized
interface UserRow {
  id: number;              // Auto-generated by DB
  email: string;           // Required field
  name: string;            // Default value "guest"
  created_at: Date;        // Default value CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
}

// Using Definite Assignment Assertion in Model class
class UserModelClass extends BaseModelClass {
  // ! because initialized in constructor
  private readonly tableName!: string;

  constructor() {
    super();
    this.tableName = "users";
  }

  @api({ httpMethod: "POST" })
  async create(data: UserSaveParams) {
    // data must include required fields
    const wdb = this.getDB("w");
    return this.insert(wdb, data);
  }
}

Require Explicit this Type

Function:

Error when this type is unclear

Example:

// ❌ Error
function onClick() {
  console.log(this.textContent);
  //          ^^^^ 'this' implicitly has type 'any'
}

// ✅ Explicit this type
function onClick(this: HTMLElement) {
  console.log(this.textContent);
}

// ✅ Arrow function (no this binding)
const onClick = () => {
  // Uses outer this
};

// ✅ Class method
class Button {
  text: string = "Click me";

  onClick() {
    console.log(this.text);  // OK
  }
}

Additional Type Check Options

Sonamu enables additional check options beyond strict mode.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "noUnusedLocals": true,
    "noUnusedParameters": true,
    "noImplicitReturns": true,
    "noFallthroughCasesInSwitch": true,
    "useUnknownInCatchVariables": true,
    "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true
  }
}

Unused Check
Return Check
Switch Check
Catch Variables
Index Access

Warn About Unused Code

{
  "noUnusedLocals": true,
  "noUnusedParameters": true
}

Example:

// ❌ noUnusedLocals error
function greet(name: string) {
  const message = "Hello";  // Unused
  //    ^^^^^^^ 'message' is declared but its value is never read
  return name;
}

// ❌ noUnusedParameters error
function add(a: number, b: number) {
  //                     ^ 'b' is declared but its value is never read
  return a;
}

// ✅ Use _ to intentionally ignore
function onClick(_event: MouseEvent) {
  console.log("Clicked!");
}

Parameters starting with _ don’t trigger warnings.

Require Return in All Code Paths

{
  "noImplicitReturns": true
}

Example:

// ❌ Error
function getStatus(code: number): string {
  if (code === 200) {
    return "OK";
  } else if (code === 404) {
    return "Not Found";
  }
  // ^^^^ Not all code paths return a value
}

// ✅ Return in all paths
function getStatus(code: number): string {
  if (code === 200) {
    return "OK";
  } else if (code === 404) {
    return "Not Found";
  }
  return "Unknown";
}

// ✅ Or explicit error
function getStatus(code: number): string {
  if (code === 200) {
    return "OK";
  } else if (code === 404) {
    return "Not Found";
  }
  throw new Error(`Unknown status code: ${code}`);
}

Prevent Switch Statement Fallthrough

{
  "noFallthroughCasesInSwitch": true
}

Example:

// ❌ Error
function getDay(day: number): string {
  switch (day) {
    case 0:
      return "Sunday";
    case 1:
      console.log("Monday");
      // ^^^^ Fallthrough case in switch
    case 2:
      return "Tuesday";
    default:
      return "Unknown";
  }
}

// ✅ Add break or return
function getDay(day: number): string {
  switch (day) {
    case 0:
      return "Sunday";
    case 1:
      console.log("Monday");
      return "Monday";  // or break;
    case 2:
      return "Tuesday";
    default:
      return "Unknown";
  }
}

catch Block Variables are unknown

{
  "useUnknownInCatchVariables": true
}

Example:

try {
  throw new Error("Something went wrong");
} catch (error) {
  // error is unknown type

  // ❌ Error
  console.log(error.message);
  //          ^^^^^ Object is of type 'unknown'

  // ✅ Use type guard
  if (error instanceof Error) {
    console.log(error.message);
  }

  // ✅ Type assertion (only when certain)
  const err = error as Error;
  console.log(err.message);
}

Using unknown instead of any enforces type checking.

Require undefined Check for Array/Object Access

{
  "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true
}

Example:

const users = ["Alice", "Bob"];

// ❌ Error (noUncheckedIndexedAccess)
const firstUser = users[0];
//    ^^^^^^^^^ Type 'string | undefined'

const name = firstUser.toUpperCase();
//                     ^^^^^^^^^^^ Object is possibly 'undefined'

// ✅ undefined check
const firstUser = users[0];
if (firstUser !== undefined) {
  const name = firstUser.toUpperCase();
}

// ✅ Optional chaining
const name = users[0]?.toUpperCase();

// ✅ Non-null assertion (only when certain)
const name = users[0]!.toUpperCase();

// Same for objects
type UserMap = { [key: string]: string };
const userMap: UserMap = { alice: "Alice" };

const user = userMap["alice"];
//    ^^^^ Type 'string | undefined'

This option makes all array/object access return T | undefined. May require many code changes.

Stricter Options (Optional)

Options you can add as needed.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "noPropertyAccessFromIndexSignature": true,
    "exactOptionalPropertyTypes": true,
    "noUncheckedSideEffectImports": true
  }
}

noPropertyAccessFromIndexSignature

Index signatures can only be accessed with brackets

interface Options {
  [key: string]: string;
}

const options: Options = { color: "red" };

// ❌ Error
const color = options.color;

// ✅ Use brackets
const color = options["color"];

When to use:

When you want to make dynamic property access explicit

exactOptionalPropertyTypes

Optional properties only allow undefined

interface User {
  name?: string;
}

// ❌ Error
const user: User = { name: undefined };

// ✅ Omit property
const user: User = {};

// ✅ To explicitly allow undefined
interface User {
  name: string | undefined;
}

When to use:

When you want to strictly distinguish between optional and | undefined

May have compatibility issues with many libraries.

Disabling Type Checks

Sometimes you need to bypass type checks in specific situations.

Entire File
Single Line
Type Assertion

// @ts-nocheck
// Ignore all type checks in this file

const value = "hello";
value = 123;  // No error

// @ts-ignore
const value = someUntypedLibrary();

// Or add error explanation
// @ts-expect-error - External library type mismatch
const value = someUntypedLibrary();

Use @ts-expect-error instead of @ts-ignore to get a warning when no error actually occurs.

// Type assertion with as
const value = someValue as string;

// Non-null assertion
const element = document.getElementById("root")!;

// Double assertion (last resort)
const value = someValue as unknown as TargetType;

Type assertions break type safety. Use only when absolutely certain.

Recommended Settings

New Projects
Existing Projects
Libraries

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    // Use Sonamu default settings
    "strict": true,
    "noUnusedLocals": true,
    "noUnusedParameters": true,
    "noImplicitReturns": true,
    "noFallthroughCasesInSwitch": true,
    "useUnknownInCatchVariables": true,
    "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true
  }
}

For new projects, enable all options.

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "strict": true,
    // Add gradually
    // "noUnusedLocals": true,
    // "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true
  }
}

For existing projects, add options gradually.Recommended order:

strict: true
noUnusedLocals, noUnusedParameters
noImplicitReturns
noUncheckedIndexedAccess (requires many changes)

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "strict": true,
    "declaration": true,
    "declarationMap": true,
    "noUnusedLocals": true,
    "noUnusedParameters": true
  }
}

For libraries, type definition generation is also essential.

Performance Considerations

More type check options can increase compilation time.

Improving Type Check Speed

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "skipLibCheck": true,           // Skip node_modules type check
    "incremental": true,             // Incremental compilation
    "tsBuildInfoFile": ".tsbuildinfo"
  }
}

skipLibCheck

Don’t check .d.ts files in node_modules
Significantly reduces compilation time
Enabled by default in Sonamu

incremental

Only recompile changed files
Cache stored in .tsbuildinfo file

Next Steps

tsconfig.json

Check the complete TypeScript configuration

Path Mapping

Set up absolute path imports

Entity Definition

Write type-safe Entities

Writing Tests

Write type-safe tests

Get Started

Core Concepts

Database

API Development

Frontend Integration

Testing

Advanced Features

Tools & CLI

Configuration

API Reference

Troubleshooting

FAQ

Strict Mode

Strict Options in Detail

Require Explicit any Type

Strict null/undefined Checking

Strict Function Type Checking

Strict bind/call/apply Checking

Require Class Property Initialization

Require Explicit this Type

Additional Type Check Options

Warn About Unused Code

Require Return in All Code Paths

Prevent Switch Statement Fallthrough

catch Block Variables are unknown

Require undefined Check for Array/Object Access

Stricter Options (Optional)

Disabling Type Checks

Recommended Settings

Performance Considerations

Next Steps

tsconfig.json

Path Mapping

Entity Definition

Writing Tests

Get Started

Core Concepts

Database

API Development

Frontend Integration

Testing

Advanced Features

Tools & CLI

Configuration

API Reference

Troubleshooting

FAQ

​Strict Mode

​Strict Options in Detail

​Require Explicit any Type

​Strict null/undefined Checking

​Strict Function Type Checking

​Strict bind/call/apply Checking

​Require Class Property Initialization

​Require Explicit this Type

​Additional Type Check Options

​Warn About Unused Code

​Require Return in All Code Paths

​Prevent Switch Statement Fallthrough

​catch Block Variables are unknown

​Require undefined Check for Array/Object Access

​Stricter Options (Optional)

​Disabling Type Checks

​Recommended Settings

​Performance Considerations

​Next Steps

tsconfig.json

Path Mapping

Entity Definition

Writing Tests

Strict Mode

Strict Options in Detail

Require Explicit any Type

Strict null/undefined Checking

Strict Function Type Checking

Strict bind/call/apply Checking

Require Class Property Initialization

Require Explicit this Type

Additional Type Check Options

Warn About Unused Code

Require Return in All Code Paths

Prevent Switch Statement Fallthrough

catch Block Variables are unknown

Require undefined Check for Array/Object Access

Stricter Options (Optional)

Disabling Type Checks

Recommended Settings

Performance Considerations

Next Steps