If you don't want to go full Typescript, you can look into a typings file. I recently had an issue on an API wrapper that's dynamically created where someone didn't get any of the benefits of VSC's intellisense. This happened because the functions are dynamically created, so VSC can't get the info to properly use intellisense. I added a typings file, pushed to npm and the dev that created the issue was pleased. :)
I think Typescript is something that would be nice to use, but not always practical for usage from other developers depending on their skill level. Using a typings file can help without having to fully convert to Typescript.
Unfortunately, typings files don't work for the project they are in, only if you import the package in another project. Since the OP's project seems to be a VS Code extension, I'm not sure how much it would benefit from having typings files.
This particular project is an extension but I'm also wanting to learn how to solve this going forward for any other Node modules I publish or create for private use.
Unfortunately, you'll still have to get comfortable with TypeScript in order to use typings at its fullest. I think it may actually be a nice segway into learning TypeScript in my opinion. Starting out initially doing typings files would be a very good way to learn and get better with TypeScript. Since you'd be learning, starting out with a basic typings file would be a really good start.
I can give you the example that I shared with my initial comment. I created a lib that dynamically creates functions based on a JSON file with keys linking to API routes. A friend of mine asked me to create a wrapper for his API, with the intention of putting it on NPM.
I created the module and pushed to NPM, only recently I had an issue posted on the repo saying that a user couldn't get any intellisense to show when using it in VSC. I immediately knew that VSC had nothing to base it off of and VSC couldn't generate anything itself without the right information.
The module is nekos.life. A lot of the endpoints are NSFW, but like I said it's just a wrapper for my friend's API. If you take a look at the repo, you'll see that there is a typings folder containing the type file. You can also take a look at main file (index.js) to see what I mean when I say that VSC has nothing to base the intellisense off of without the type file. When you install the lib, VSC will grab the typings file and use it for intellisense. As you can see, the lib itself has no reference to any of the functions. The typings file is the MVP here. You can download the lib and see for yourself if you'd like and see the intellisense rendered from the typings file.
After taking a look at VSC's documentation, there are different ways to get the typings files. VSC will first look to see if they are contained in your package, after that there is a repo called DefinitelyTyped that it is then able to retrieve from if you don't have any typings files in the lib/package you are downloading.
Clarification on my comment about not having to go full TypeScript:
You are still using TypeScript, but you don't have to fool around with tsc or any config files to create a typings file to use with JS. Also, if anything I said here was incorrect please let me know :)
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If you don't want to go full Typescript, you can look into a typings file. I recently had an issue on an API wrapper that's dynamically created where someone didn't get any of the benefits of VSC's intellisense. This happened because the functions are dynamically created, so VSC can't get the info to properly use intellisense. I added a typings file, pushed to npm and the dev that created the issue was pleased. :)
I think Typescript is something that would be nice to use, but not always practical for usage from other developers depending on their skill level. Using a typings file can help without having to fully convert to Typescript.
Unfortunately, typings files don't work for the project they are in, only if you import the package in another project. Since the OP's project seems to be a VS Code extension, I'm not sure how much it would benefit from having typings files.
This particular project is an extension but I'm also wanting to learn how to solve this going forward for any other Node modules I publish or create for private use.
Would you happen to have an example of what you mean? Or some resources to learn more about this?
Unfortunately, you'll still have to get comfortable with TypeScript in order to use typings at its fullest. I think it may actually be a nice segway into learning TypeScript in my opinion. Starting out initially doing typings files would be a very good way to learn and get better with TypeScript. Since you'd be learning, starting out with a basic typings file would be a really good start.
I can give you the example that I shared with my initial comment. I created a lib that dynamically creates functions based on a JSON file with keys linking to API routes. A friend of mine asked me to create a wrapper for his API, with the intention of putting it on NPM.
I created the module and pushed to NPM, only recently I had an issue posted on the repo saying that a user couldn't get any intellisense to show when using it in VSC. I immediately knew that VSC had nothing to base it off of and VSC couldn't generate anything itself without the right information.
The module is nekos.life. A lot of the endpoints are NSFW, but like I said it's just a wrapper for my friend's API. If you take a look at the repo, you'll see that there is a
typingsfolder containing the type file. You can also take a look at main file (index.js) to see what I mean when I say that VSC has nothing to base the intellisense off of without the type file. When you install the lib, VSC will grab the typings file and use it for intellisense. As you can see, the lib itself has no reference to any of the functions. The typings file is the MVP here. You can download the lib and see for yourself if you'd like and see the intellisense rendered from the typings file.After taking a look at VSC's documentation, there are different ways to get the typings files. VSC will first look to see if they are contained in your package, after that there is a repo called DefinitelyTyped that it is then able to retrieve from if you don't have any typings files in the lib/package you are downloading.
Some links I got the information from:
Clarification on my comment about not having to go full TypeScript:
You are still using TypeScript, but you don't have to fool around with
tscor any config files to create a typings file to use with JS.Also, if anything I said here was incorrect please let me know :)