I'm just starting to learn the ropes of different programming languages, and from what I've gathered so far, TypeScript and JavaScript are two popular options with a few key differences. JavaScript is a widely used, dynamic language that is great for web development. TypeScript, on the other hand, is a statically typed language that builds on top of JavaScript and adds some extra features for larger scale projects.

One of the main distinctions between the two is their approach to types. JavaScript is a dynamically typed language, which means that the data type of a variable is determined at runtime. This can be convenient for quick development, but can also lead to unexpected errors. TypeScript, being a statically typed language, requires you to specify the data type of a variable at the time of declaring it. This can help catch errors before they happen and make your code more reliable.

Another difference is the syntax. JavaScript has a simple and easy to understand syntax, while TypeScript adds some extra syntax for specifying types, like type annotations and type declarations. This can make TypeScript code more verbose, but it can also make it more self-explanatory and easier to understand.

Performance-wise, both JavaScript and TypeScript get compiled to bytecode that can be executed by a runtime engine, like the V8 engine used by Chrome. However, TypeScript needs to be compiled to JavaScript before it can run, which can add a small amount of overhead. But in most cases, this difference isn't significant.

In a nutshell, JavaScript and TypeScript are both great choices for different kinds of projects. JavaScript is great for quick and easy web development, while TypeScript offers a more robust type system and extra features for larger scale projects. It all comes down to your personal preference and the needs of your project.