typescript-import-audit

TypeScript Import & Structure Audit

A step-by-step workflow for auditing TypeScript projects for common structural and import hygiene problems, then applying targeted fixes.

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Overview

This skill covers four audit checks and their corresponding fixes:

#	Issue	Fix
1	Value imports used only as type annotations	Split with import type
2	Duplicate imports from the same module	Consolidate into one import statement
3	Classes missing expected base class extension	Add extends BaseClass
4	Missing re-exports in barrel (index.ts) files	Add the missing export lines

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Step 1 — Read All Relevant Files in Parallel

Before making any changes, read all files that need to be audited in a single parallel batch. This avoids slow sequential reads.

Read in parallel:
  - src/index.ts           (barrel file)
  - src/**/*.ts            (all source files)
  - Any explicitly named files from the task spec

Look for:

• All import statements at the top of each file
• Class declarations (class Foo)
• Export lists in barrel files

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Step 2 — Audit Check 1: Value Imports Used Only as Types

Detection

For every import { A, B } from 'module' statement, check whether each imported name is used only in type positions (: TypeName, as TypeName, <TypeName> generics, implements TypeName). If a name never appears in a value position (instantiation, function call, assignment), it should be a type-only import.

// ❌ Bad — Foo is only used as a type annotation
import { Foo, bar } from './module';
const x: Foo = bar();

// ✅ Good — split into value import + type import
import { bar } from './module';
import type { Foo } from './module';

Fix Pattern

1. Identify all names in the import that are type-only.
2. Remove them from the value import (delete the value import entirely if all names are type-only).
3. Add (or merge into an existing) import type { ... } from 'module' statement.

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Step 3 — Audit Check 2: Duplicate Imports from the Same Module

Detection

Scan for two or more import statements that reference the same module path:

// ❌ Bad — two imports from the same source
import { ComponentA } from './components';
import { ComponentB } from './components';

Fix Pattern

Merge all named imports from the same module into a single statement:

// ✅ Good
import { ComponentA, ComponentB } from './components';

If there is a mix of value and type imports from the same module, keep them as two separate lines (import { ... } and import type { ... }), but ensure there is at most one of each kind per module path.

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Step 4 — Audit Check 3: Classes That Should Extend a Base Class

Detection

Look for class declarations that:

• Implement an interface that implies a base class, OR
• Are described in comments / documentation as extending something, OR
• Contain methods/properties that are defined on a known base class

// ❌ Missing base class
class MyPanel implements PanelInterface {
  render() { ... }
}

// ✅ Correct
class MyPanel extends BasePanel implements PanelInterface {
  render() { ... }
}

Fix Pattern

Add extends BaseClass between the class name and any implements clause:

class ClassName extends BaseClass implements InterfaceName { ... }

Ensure the base class is imported if it is not already.

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Step 5 — Audit Check 4: Missing Re-exports in Barrel Files

Detection

A barrel file (index.ts) should re-export everything that is part of the public API. Common gaps:

• A new file was added but never added to index.ts
• A named export inside a file is not forwarded by the barrel

// src/components/MyWidget.ts
export class MyWidget { ... }
export type MyWidgetProps = { ... }

// src/components/index.ts — ❌ missing MyWidget
export { SomeOtherThing } from './SomeOtherThing';

Fix Pattern

Add the missing re-export line:

// src/components/index.ts — ✅ fixed
export { SomeOtherThing } from './SomeOtherThing';
export { MyWidget } from './MyWidget';
export type { MyWidgetProps } from './MyWidget';

Use export type { ... } for type-only exports to maintain strict type/value separation.

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Step 6 — Apply Fixes and Verify

Order of operations

1. Fix duplicate imports first (consolidation may surface type-only candidates).
2. Fix value vs. type imports (split imports).
3. Fix missing base class extensions.
4. Fix barrel re-exports last (they depend on the other files being correct).

Verification checklist

After edits, confirm:

• [ ] No two import statements reference the same module path (same kind).
• [ ] All names used only as types are in import type { ... } statements.
• [ ] Every class that should extend a base class does so.
• [ ] Every public export in every source file appears in the barrel index.ts.
• [ ] The project compiles without errors (tsc --noEmit).

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Quick Reference: Import Patterns

// Value import
import { foo, bar } from './module';

// Type-only import
import type { Foo, Bar } from './module';

// Mixed (value + type from same module — two lines)
import { foo } from './module';
import type { Foo } from './module';

// Re-export value
export { foo } from './module';

// Re-export type
export type { Foo } from './module';

// Re-export everything
export * from './module';
export type * from './module';  // TypeScript 5.0+

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Notes

• Always prefer explicit named exports over export * in barrel files for better tree-shaking and discoverability.
• If the project uses verbatimModuleSyntax or isolatedModules in tsconfig.json, import type is required for type-only imports — the compiler will error otherwise.
• Run tsc --noEmit after each fix category to catch regressions early.