typescript-best-practiceslisted

# TypeScript best practices Apply the **type-system-discipline** principle skill first. | Rule | Summary | |------|---------| | Discriminated unions | Model variants with a `kind` literal discriminant so impossible states can't be represented. No optional-field bags. | | Branded types | Brand primitives with `& { readonly __brand: "X" }` so they can't be mixed up. Validate once at the boundary. | | Constructive modeling | Build the shape so the illegal value can't be constructed. `[T, ...T[]]` for non-empty, `[T, T][]` for even length, `start` plus `duration` for a range. Not a runtime guard, not a wish for refinement types. | | Simplest total type | Keep `T[]` while every operation on it stays total. Strengthen to `NonEmpty<T>` only where the loose type forces `!`, a cast, or a "should never happen" throw. | | `unknown` over `any` | External data is `unknown`. | | Schemas before guards | Before hand-writing a property-by-property type guard, use the repository's runtime schema library and infer the type from the schema, such as `z.infer`. | | No `as` casts | Every `as` is a runtime crash waiting. Cast only after validation. | | Narrowing hierarchy | Discriminant switch > `in` operator > `typeof`/`instanceof` > user-defined type guard > `as`. | | Type guards | Must verify the claim. A lying guard is worse than `as` because the bug hides behind a name that says it's safe. Name them `isX` or `hasX`. | | Exhaustiveness | Inline `const _exhaustive: never = x;` in default arms s