`types` option in TSConfig doesn't work as stated in the TS docs

Question

I think TSConfig types option doesn't work as stated in the TS docs.

I installed npm packages, express, @types/express, node, @types/node, lodash, @types/lodash and moment. And i wrote TSConfig like below.

{
  "include": ["./main.ts", "./src"],
  "exclude": ["./src/**/DummyComp.ts"],
  "compilerOptions": {
    "outDir": "./dist",
    "target": "ES5",
    "types": ["node", "express"]
  }
}

As mentioned in TS docs, only type definition files of node and express should be included and will have exports appear as auto-import recommendations.

But auto-import recommendation of moment and lodash (omitted in type option) appear like below image.

How is this possible?

As stated in TS docs, lodash and moment's auto-import recommendations don't appear.

Answer 1

The only way to exclude from VS Code auto-import suggestions (files that need to be included) is to use:

{
    // Note that `javascript.preferences.autoImportFileExcludePatterns` can be specified for JavaScript too.
    "typescript.preferences.autoImportFileExcludePatterns": [
      "**/node_modules/@types/node"
    ]
}

TypeScript 4.8 introduces an editor preference for excluding files from auto-imports. In Visual Studio Code, file names or globs can be added under "Auto Import File Exclude Patterns" in the Settings UI, or in a .vscode/settings.json file:

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/typescript/announcing-typescript-4-8/#exclude-specific-files-from-auto-imports

---

If the files don't have to compiled, you can use the exclude property in tsconfig.json.