Create React App does come ready to convert to a Typescript app, so in one sense you're right. (Which means you can start changing relevant .js files to .ts or .tsx files, which will automatically add a tsconfig.json file and then during compile time your CRA will just tell you to then install typescript.)
However, by using CRA's template for Typescript (--template typescript or --template=typescript) in this step, 1) all relevant Create React App files are added into the app with the .ts or .tsx extension already for you, 2) all typescript packages and dependencies are added for you, and 3) a tsconfig.json file is also created for you. Which includes basic Typescript settings such as this. So CRA Templates do a little more setup for you.
Create React App does come ready to convert to a Typescript app, so in one sense you're right. (Which means you can start changing relevant
.jsfiles to.tsor.tsxfiles, which will automatically add atsconfig.jsonfile and then during compile time your CRA will just tell you to then install typescript.)However, by using CRA's template for Typescript (
--template typescriptor--template=typescript) in this step, 1) all relevant Create React App files are added into the app with the.tsor.tsxextension already for you, 2) all typescript packages and dependencies are added for you, and 3) atsconfig.jsonfile is also created for you. Which includes basic Typescript settings such as this. So CRA Templates do a little more setup for you.Thanks for the answer!