Using TypeScript LSP

Overview

The typescript-lsp plugin provides semantic code intelligence for TypeScript and JavaScript. Use LSP tools instead of grep/read when you need semantic accuracy - LSP understands TypeScript's type system, inheritance, interfaces, and symbol relationships.

When to Use LSP vs Text Search

digraph lsp_decision {
    "Need code info?" [shape=diamond];
    "Semantic accuracy needed?" [shape=diamond];
    "Use LSP tool" [shape=box];
    "Use Grep/Read" [shape=box];

    "Need code info?" -> "Semantic accuracy needed?" [label="yes"];
    "Need code info?" -> "Use Grep/Read" [label="no - text patterns"];
    "Semantic accuracy needed?" -> "Use LSP tool" [label="yes"];
    "Semantic accuracy needed?" -> "Use Grep/Read" [label="no"];
}

Use LSP for:

• Finding all usages before refactoring
• Getting type information (inferred or explicit)
• Navigating to definitions (including node_modules)
• Checking for type errors
• Understanding interface implementations

Use Grep for:

• Text patterns (comments, strings, config files)
• Cross-language searches
• JSON, YAML, markdown content
• When LSP unavailable

LSP Operations Quick Reference

Task	LSP Operation	Instead of
Find all callers of a function	findReferences	Grep for function name
Get function/variable type	hover	Read file + parse
Jump to definition	goToDefinition	Grep + Read
Check type errors	getDiagnostics	Run tsc CLI
View file structure	documentSymbol	Read entire file

Key Patterns

Before Refactoring: Find All References

Wrong approach:

Grep for "formatDuration" -> may miss renamed imports, get false positives from comments

Right approach:

LSP findReferences on symbol -> gets ALL semantic usages, no false positives

Getting Type Information

Wrong approach:

Read file -> find function -> manually trace type inference

Right approach:

LSP hover on symbol -> instant type signature with inferred types resolved

Verifying Type Correctness

Wrong approach:

Bash: npx tsc --noEmit (slow, external process)

Right approach:

LSP getDiagnostics on changed files -> instant, no subprocess

Finding Interface Implementations

Wrong approach:

Grep for "implements InterfaceName" -> misses duck-typed objects

Right approach:

LSP findReferences on interface -> finds all implementations including structural matches

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It's Wrong	Fix
Grep for symbol before rename	Text search misses aliased imports, re-exports	Use findReferences
Read entire file for one type	Wastes context, slow	Use hover
Run tsc after every change	Slow, external tool	Use getDiagnostics
Grep to find definition	May find wrong match (same name, different module)	Use goToDefinition
Grep for interface usages	Misses structural/duck typing	Use findReferences

How LSP Tools Work

LSP is a built-in Claude Code tool, not a bash command. When typescript-lsp plugin is enabled, Claude Code automatically provides these operations:

• goToDefinition - navigate to where symbol is defined
• findReferences - find all usages of a symbol
• hover - get type signature and documentation
• getDiagnostics - get type errors for a file
• documentSymbol - list all symbols in a file

You invoke these through Claude's tool system, not via bash. If LSP is unavailable, fall back to grep/read but document the limitation.

Supported File Types

.ts, .tsx, .js, .jsx, .mts, .cts, .mjs, .cjs

Prerequisites

1. Plugin enabled: typescript-lsp@claude-plugins-official in ~/.claude/settings.json
2. Language server installed: npm install -g typescript-language-server typescript
3. Project configured: tsconfig.json or jsconfig.json present (recommended for accuracy)

Checking LSP Availability

Always try LSP first. If the LSP tools aren't available, they'll return an error. Don't preemptively fall back to grep just because you're unsure.

1. Attempt LSP operation (e.g., findReferences)
2. If tool error → fall back to grep/read with documented limitation
3. If success → use the semantic results

Fallback Strategy

If LSP is unavailable (tool not found, server not running):

1. Document the limitation - explicitly state: "LSP unavailable, using text search as fallback"
2. Use Grep with caution - understand it may miss aliased imports or re-exports
3. Verify manually - for refactoring, double-check results make sense semantically
4. Suggest fix - remind user to ensure typescript-language-server is installed and plugin enabled

Never silently fall back. Always tell the user when you're using text search instead of LSP so they understand the limitations.

Red Flags - Stop and Use LSP

These thoughts mean you should use LSP, not grep:

Thought	Reality
"Let me grep for this function"	If it's a symbol, use findReferences
"I'll read the file to find the type"	Use hover for instant type info
"Let me run tsc to check"	Use getDiagnostics - faster, no subprocess
"I'll search for where this is defined"	Use goToDefinition - semantic accuracy
"Grep is faster for quick searches"	LSP is faster for semantic queries
"I need to find all implementations"	Use findReferences - catches structural matches

When LSP Won't Help

• No typescript-language-server binary installed
• Working with pure JavaScript without jsconfig.json (limited type inference)
• Cross-language references (e.g., TypeScript calling Rust via WASM)
• Comment/string literal searches
• Config files (JSON, YAML, etc.)
• Node modules not installed (npm install needed first)