Migrating a Legacy JavaScript Codebase to TypeScript - JSJ 680

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Added nine years ago

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The Innovators & Investors Podcast

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Venture Investing in Mobility + Tech with University of Michigan’s Early-Stage Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund 39:30

13 days ago39:30

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In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with David Brem, Managing Director of the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund. David offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a student-led endowment fund focused on early-stage, sector-agnostic investments primarily in the Michigan ecosystem. He shares insights on their unique, founder-first investment approach, how they navigate pre-seed to Series A venture opportunities, and the rigorous due diligence process involving qualitative analysis over pure numbers. David also discusses his roles with global VC networks including Electro Ventures, the London Venture Capital Network, and Level Up Ventures, illustrating how he bridges U.S., European, and Australian venture ecosystems with a special focus on mobility and transportation tech. Highlights include deep dives into emerging trends like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), smart city infrastructure, and safety innovations in aviation technology. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on how diverse expertise—from military intelligence and management consulting to academic ventures—shapes David’s investment thesis and community-building efforts. The episode also explores the importance of networking, adding value in the startup ecosystem, and practical advice for aspiring investors or entrepreneurs navigating the venture capital world. With stories of successes, challenges, and future outlooks, this episode is a must-listen for innovators, founders, and investors aiming to understand the intersection of academia, technology, and venture capital in today’s dynamic landscape. Learn more about David's work at https://zli.umich.edu/zell-lurie-commercialization-fund/ Connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lowell-brem/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com…

about a year ago 1:25:42

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In this episode, Dan and I (Steve) dove deep into what turned out to be a surprisingly complex, yet incredibly insightful topic: gradually migrating a massive legacy JavaScript project over to TypeScript. We're talking about nearly 1,000 JS files, 70,000+ lines of code, and years of developer history—all transitioning carefully to a typed, modern future.
Dan walked us through how he started by setting up the project for success before converting even one file—getting CI/CD ready, setting up tsconfig.json, sorting out test dependencies, dealing with mock leaks, and even grappling with quirks between VS Code and WebStorm debugging.
We talked tools (like TS-ESLint, concurrently, and ts-node), why strict typing actually uncovered real bugs (and made the code better!), and why it’s crucial not to touch any .js files until your TypeScript setup is rock solid.
Key Takeaways:

Gradual migration is 100% possible—and often better—than ripping the bandaid off.
TypeScript can and will catch bugs hiding in your JavaScript. Be prepared!
Use VS Code extensions or TS-Node to support your devs’ tooling preferences.
Don't underestimate the setup phase—it’s the foundation of long-term success.
Start small: Dan's team converted just one file at first to test the whole pipeline.

If you’re sitting on a legacy JS project and dreaming of TypeScript, this episode is your blueprint—and your warning sign.
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