Stop Typing JSON Manually: The VS Code Extension That Makes TypeScript Fast ⚡

#typescript #vscode #json #extensions

If you work with React, React Native, or any large-scale TypeScript project, you understand that strong typing is mandatory for maintainability and preventing bugs.

But every time your application talks to an API, you hit the same bottleneck: converting a complex, deeply-nested JSON response into a set of structured TypeScript interfaces. Manually translating raw API payloads into types like IUserProfile, IResourceArray, and nested sub-interfaces is tedious, slow, and prone to human error—slowing down feature development.

This is where the JSON to TS VS Code extension by MariusAlchimavicius steps in as a critical velocity multiplier. With over 720,000 installs, it’s the definitive solution to instantly translate chaotic JSON into clean, reusable TypeScript code, eliminating manual transcription entirely.

✨ Instant Interfaces: The High-Speed Workflow
The power of this extension lies in its lack of friction. You never leave your editor, turning a multi-minute task into a quick keyboard command.

⬇️ Installation

Search the VS Code Extensions: Marketplace for “JSON to TS” or use the unique identifier MariusAlchimavicius.json-to-ts.

⌨️ How to Use: Two Essential Shortcuts

The extension is designed around two global keyboard commands, allowing you to generate interfaces exactly where you need them:

From Clipboard (API Responses): 📋

Action: Copy your raw JSON response (from a browser console, Postman, etc.).
Shortcut: Shift + Ctrl +Alt +V
Result: The TypeScript interfaces are instantly inserted at your cursor.3

From Selection (Inline JSON): ✍️

Action: Highlight a JSON object directly in your current file.
Shortcut: Shift + Ctrl + Alt + S
Result: The selected JSON is replaced with the generated TypeScript interfaces.3

🧠 The Intelligence: Why This Tool Is So Good for React/RN

The extension doesn’t just convert strings to types; it intelligently structures the code for long-term use in component-based frameworks. This intelligence is crucial for complex data consumed by React state and component props.

Array Type Merging (The “Huge Deal”): 📐 The most common problem with API data is that arrays of objects are often inconsistent (e.g., one item has an optional field, the next doesn’t). The converter analyzes all objects in an array and merges them into a single, clean, normalized interface. This feature ensures you only generate one reusable type for your data: IItem and eliminates the need for manual cleanup.
Optional and Union Types: ❓ It correctly infers optional properties by adding the ? modifier to fields that are sometimes missing. It can also generate union types (e.g., field: string | null or status: string | number) to handle polymorphic or sparse data.

✅ Conclusion: Faster Component Development

For modern React and React Native development, typing is often the bottleneck. By instantly generating normalized interfaces, the JSON to TS extension provides immediate type safety for your custom data fetching hooks and component props.

You eliminate hours of manual transcription and debugging, allowing you to focus purely on business logic. This tool is not a luxury; it is an essential productivity multiplier that directly translates to faster feature delivery and higher quality, type-safe code.