exported const file is empty after being built

[thin mason]

I have a constant that is empty after being built with tsc and I don't know why or how I can fix this...

Here's my const:

// colors.ts

export declare const Colors: {
    Default: 0x000000;
    White: 0xffffff;
    Aqua: 0x1abc9c;
    Green: 0x57f287;
}

And my built version of it:

// colors.js

export {};

Why does this happen and how do I fix it?

[frail grotto]

Is this the only thing in the file? export default const Colors: { ... }

[thin mason]

Yup

[frail grotto]

I'm not sure why you're using declare but that's probably your issue.

[thin mason]

It says 'TS1155: 'const' declarations must be initialized.'

That's why I use declare

[frail grotto]

ok... don't use declare.

[thin mason]

It says that without declare

[frail grotto]

Just do this:

export default const Colors = {
    Default: 0x000000;
    White: 0xffffff;
    Aqua: 0x1abc9c;
    Green: 0x57f287;
}

[thin mason]

TS1109: Expression expected

[frail grotto]

sorry... = not :

[thin mason]

Aaah thanks

Also can't use default there it seems

Works now

[frail grotto]

ok.. you should be able to use default once per file.

This will prevent you from having to use curly brackets when importing. So import Colors from colors.ts with default. Or, import {Colors} from colors.ts without default.

If you don't need to export multiple things it's preferred to use default

[thin mason]

Shouldn't I be using this then?:

const Colors = {
  Aqua: 0x1abc9c,
  Black: 0x000000,
  ....
};

export default Colors;

[frail grotto]

yes, either will work

[thin mason]

As export default const gives me 'TS1109: Expression expected.' again

[frail grotto]

yes you're right... you don't need to use const when with default.

[thin mason]

Good to know

[frail grotto]

This should work too:

export default {
    Default: 0x000000;
    White: 0xffffff;
    Aqua: 0x1abc9c;
    Green: 0x57f287;
}

import Colors from './colors'

[thin mason]

Hmmm

Thanks for your help ^^

At least it works now.

[blissful zodiac]

@thin mason just to clarify
declare tells the TypeScript compiler a certain variable exists, and you can give it a type
however, the variable won't be emitted (written in the JS code)
since this feature is primairly meant for testing purposes (when you want to mock a certain function without providing an implementation)

[thin mason]

Aaah

Thanks for the explanation

[blissful zodiac]

[blissful zodiac]

you were getting that error because you were using the wrong syntax

const color: { Default: 0x000000 };

creates a variable with a type, but doesn't assign a value
it's the same as writing

const foo: string;

and since you can't re-assign a value later (since it is a const), you must initialize the variable when you create it
you probably meant

- const color: {
+ const color = {
    Default: 0x000000
  };

[blissful zodiac]

!resolved