| name | typescript-sdk-dx |
| description | TypeScript SDK design patterns for @photon-ai/advanced-imessage. Use when writing or modifying SDK code: types, resources, transport, streaming, errors, builders, or the public API surface. Covers branded types, progressive disclosure, auto-pagination, error hierarchies, event streaming, codegen, and build tooling. |
| compatibility | Designed for Claude Code (or similar products) |
| metadata | {"author":"photon-hq","version":"1.0","learned-from":"Stripe, Vercel AI SDK, Drizzle, ElysiaJS, Hono, Zod, tRPC"} |
TypeScript SDK DX Patterns
Hard-won patterns from building this SDK and studying the best TypeScript libraries. These are the rules — not guidelines. If you're about to break one, stop and reconsider the abstraction.
The Rules
1. Factory functions, not classes
createClient() returns an interface. The implementation is hidden. This is the modern TS idiom.
Exception: error classes use real classes for instanceof.
2. as const objects, not TS enums
Every enum-like value is an as const object with a matching type alias. Runtime values + autocomplete + type narrowing. No reverse mapping bugs, no tree-shaking issues.
3. Branded types for identifiers
ChatGuid, MessageGuid, AttachmentGuid are phantom-branded strings. You cannot swap them. Constructor functions are the only way in. Never export a raw cast.
4. Progressive disclosure (three tiers)
Every API: one-liner -> options object -> builder. Never force tier 3 complexity for a tier 1 task. Builders only for write-side composition where combinatorics justify them. Options objects for reads.
5. Auto-paginating lists
list() returns Paginated<T> — both PromiseLike and AsyncIterable. await for first page, for await for all items, .toArray() for buffered. No pagination API to learn.
6. Error class hierarchy
IMessageError base with AuthenticationError, NotFoundError, RateLimitError, ValidationError, ConnectionError subclasses. instanceof over getter booleans. Factory function in transport layer maps gRPC status to the right subclass.
7. Discriminated unions for events
type string literals as discriminators. subscribe() overloaded to narrow the return type. TypedEventStream<T> supports for await, .on(), .filter(), .map(), .take(), Symbol.asyncDispose.
8. Handwritten types over generated types
packages/core/src/types/ is the public API. packages/core/src/mapper.ts bridges generated -> public. Generated types have wrong shapes (numeric enums, verbose names, no brands). We wrap them, never expose them.
9. Strict by default
strict: true, noUncheckedIndexedAccess, noImplicitOverride, verbatimModuleSyntax. Generated code must also pass. If a codegen tool can't produce strict-clean output, use a different tool. Never weaken the tsconfig.
10. No non-null assertions
Use unwrap(value, "fieldName") — a typed guard that throws a clear error. No !, no as any, no as unknown as T. If a cast is needed, the abstraction is wrong.
11. Generated code is committed
Both .proto files and packages/core/src/generated/ are in git. Clone-and-build with no codegen step. Proto changes show their TypeScript impact in the diff.
12. ts-proto for codegen
ts-proto with outputServices=nice-grpc,outputServices=generic-definitions generates native nice-grpc service definitions, typed clients with Promise<Response> returns, AsyncIterable for streaming, and Date for timestamps. No adapter layers, no wrapper types, no casts.
13. Every resource is disposable
Client and streams implement Symbol.asyncDispose. close() and [Symbol.asyncDispose]() are the same operation. await using just works.
14. No magic strings
Apple's effect IDs hidden behind MessageEffect.confetti. Chat GUID format hidden behind directChat(). Protocol internals never leak to the developer.
15. Web standards only
No Bun-only APIs in library code. ReadableStream, Uint8Array, crypto.randomUUID(). Bun-first for scripts and tests, Node-compatible for the library.
Reference Material
See patterns for detailed code examples and rationale for each rule.
