typescript outDir setting in tsconfig.json not working

user_1494725 0
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I can't seem to get the outDir flag working when used in package.json. Directory structure is pretty simple: tsconfig.json at the root level, together with a src/ directory and a single index.ts file plus other directories representing other modules.

When running the tsc command on the index file, it creates a new one beside it instead of in the build directory. What am I doing wrong?

My tsconfig:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "outDir": "build"
  }
}

My npm build script:

"build": "tsc src/index.ts"

I'm calling the script from the root dir of the project. Interestingly, running the same script with an --outDir flag works just fine.

outdir package.json tsc typescript build
7 Answers

In my case it was being ignored because I had noEmit: true in tsconfig.json. For whatever reason, the files still were emitted, but in the same directory instead of following outDir.

The config file was read correctly and this error also appeared when using the flag.

user_2889060

If you are using the incremental compiler option, you may not be getting output if you have deleted / modified files in your outDir but have not removed the .tsbuildinfo file.

My issue was a bit different, but Google brought me here - so figured others may also.

user_48527370

You need to declare your tsconfig file location instead of the file you want to build.

tsc --build mocks/tsconfig.json
user_8816430

Make sure "outDir" is defined under "compilerOptions"

I had it defined at the same level as "compilerOptions"

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": "node_modules/@types",
    "lib": [
      "es6"
    ],
    "outDir": "dist",
    "esModuleInterop": true,
  },
  "exclude": [
    "node_modules"
  ],
  "include": [
    "src/**/*"
  ],
}
user_3517080

Maybe I met the same problem. Your should set the script as "build": "tsc" rather than "build": "tsc src/index.ts"

user_199463250
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