Transpilation
Transpilation, also known as source-to-source compilation, is the process of converting source code written in one programming language into another programming language with a similar level of abstraction. It is commonly used to enable developers to write code in modern or experimental languages that can run on older environments or different platforms. For example, TypeScript is transpiled to JavaScript, allowing type-safe development while maintaining browser compatibility.
Developers should learn and use transpilation when they need to adopt new language features or syntax that are not yet supported by target environments, such as using ES6+ JavaScript features in older browsers. It is also essential for cross-platform development, enabling code written in one language to be executed in another runtime, like compiling C++ to WebAssembly for web applications. Transpilation facilitates code maintainability and developer productivity by allowing the use of advanced tooling and languages while ensuring backward compatibility.