The new version of the Chainlink Hardhat Starter Kit now includes support for TypeScript, offering enhanced features for developers working on EVM-compatible smart contracts. TypeScript, known for its strong typing and object-oriented capabilities, provides early bug detection and more structured, concise code compared to JavaScript. The updated kit includes robust testing capabilities with unit and staging tests, allowing for parallel execution and real-world contract deployment scenarios. TypeChain generates precise TypeScript typings for Solidity contracts, improving efficiency and reducing runtime bugs. Other features include code coverage analysis, gas estimation, contract size monitoring, and fuzz testing using Echidna for identifying edge cases. Additionally, Chainlink VRF v2 has been integrated, offering improved randomness requests for smart contracts. The kit is designed to streamline various aspects of smart contract development, ensuring efficient, secure, and reliable deployment processes for developers.