diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 4f0ae64f85..44bef32452 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 docs/assets/launch.json linguist-language=JSON5
+tsconfig-base.json linguist-language=JSON5
 .nycrc linguist-language=JSON
 .prettierrc linguist-language=JSON
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index b72c80cee0..5a2edefe5e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -47,10 +47,16 @@ directories, then reinstalls all modules.
 
 ## To compile
 
-Compiles all packages:
+Compiles the `ganache` package and its internal dependencies and subdependencies:
 
 - `npm run tsc`
 
+To compile a package directly:
+
+- `npx lerna run --scope @ganache/<name> tsc`
+
+This can be useful if the package isn't yet in ganache's dependency tree.
+
 ## To build the ganache package
 
 Creates the bundle that can be published to npm
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ada470a26f..b93f521362 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -7,16 +7,16 @@
     "npm": ">=6.4.1"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "build": "lerna run build && shx cp -r ./src/packages/ganache/dist/web ./docs/assets/js/ganache",
+    "build": "lerna run build && shx cp -r src/packages/ganache/dist/web docs/assets/js/ganache",
     "clean": "npm run tsc.clean && npx lerna clean -y && npx shx rm -rf node_modules",
-    "create": "ts-node ./scripts/create",
-    "docs.build": "lerna run docs.build && ts-node ./scripts/build-docs/",
+    "create": "ts-node scripts/create",
+    "docs.build": "lerna run docs.build && ts-node scripts/build-docs/",
     "docs.preview": "lerna run docs.preview",
-    "postinstall": "lerna bootstrap && npx patch-package && ts-node ./scripts/link-ts-references.ts && ts-node ./scripts/postinstall",
+    "postinstall": "lerna bootstrap && npx patch-package && ts-node scripts/link-ts-references.ts && npm run tsc && ts-node scripts/postinstall",
     "reinstall": "npm run clean && npm install",
     "start": "lerna exec --loglevel=silent --scope ganache -- npm run start --silent -- ",
     "test": "lerna exec -- npm run test",
-    "tsc": "lerna exec -- npm run tsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build src",
     "tsc.clean": "npx lerna exec -- npx shx rm -rf lib dist"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/scripts/create.ts b/scripts/create.ts
index 6294570b9d..e74f177900 100644
--- a/scripts/create.ts
+++ b/scripts/create.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
 import { TruffleColors } from "../src/packages/colors";
-import chalk from "chalk";
-import yargs from "yargs";
-import prettier from "prettier";
-import camelCase from "camelcase";
-import npmValiddate from "validate-npm-package-name";
-import userName from "git-user-name";
 import { sep, join, resolve } from "path";
 import { highlight } from "cli-highlight";
 import { mkdir, mkdirSync, writeFile } from "fs-extra";
@@ -14,6 +8,15 @@ import {
   readFileSync as readFile
 } from "fs";
 
+// using `require` because everything in scripts uses typescript's default
+// compiler settings, and these modules require enabling `esModuleInterop`
+const npmValiddate = require("validate-npm-package-name");
+const userName = require("git-user-name");
+const camelCase = require("camelcase");
+const prettier = require("prettier");
+const chalk = require("chalk");
+const yargs = require("yargs");
+
 const COMMAND_NAME = "create";
 
 const getArgv = () => {
@@ -108,8 +111,8 @@ process.stdout.write(`${COLORS.Reset}`);
   }
 
   // determines how many `../` are needed for package contents
-  const numDirectoriesAwayFromRoot = 2 + location.split(sep).length;
-  const relativePathToRoot = "../".repeat(numDirectoriesAwayFromRoot);
+  const numDirectoriesAwayFromSrc = 1 + location.split(sep).length;
+  const relativePathToSrc = "../".repeat(numDirectoriesAwayFromSrc);
   const isNewChain = location === "chains";
 
   const workspaceDir = join(__dirname, "../");
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ process.stdout.write(`${COLORS.Reset}`);
         directory: `src/${location}/${folderName}`
       },
       scripts: {
-        tsc: "ttsc",
+        tsc: "ttsc --build",
         test: "nyc npm run mocha",
         mocha:
           "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ process.stdout.write(`${COLORS.Reset}`);
     };
 
     const tsConfig = {
-      extends: `${relativePathToRoot}tsconfig.json`,
+      extends: `${relativePathToSrc}tsconfig-base.json`,
       compilerOptions: {
         outDir: "lib"
       },
@@ -212,6 +215,7 @@ describe("${packageName}", () => {
     const tests = join(dir, "tests");
     const src = join(dir, "src");
 
+    //@ts-ignore
     function initSrc() {
       return writeFile(
         join(src, "index.ts"),
@@ -222,6 +226,7 @@ describe("${packageName}", () => {
       );
     }
 
+    //@ts-ignore
     function initIndex() {
       // When a bundler compiles our libs this headerdoc comment will cause that
       // tool to retain our LICENSE information in their bundled output.
@@ -243,6 +248,7 @@ describe("${packageName}", () => {
       );
     }
 
+    //@ts-ignore
     function initRootFiles() {
       return Promise.all([
         writeFile(
@@ -261,6 +267,7 @@ typedoc.json
       ]);
     }
 
+    //@ts-ignore
     function initTests() {
       return writeFile(
         join(tests, "index.test.ts"),
diff --git a/scripts/link-ts-references.ts b/scripts/link-ts-references.ts
index 4f0b387134..26a206b8c5 100644
--- a/scripts/link-ts-references.ts
+++ b/scripts/link-ts-references.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
  * monorepo dependencies in each package's package.json.
  */
 
+import { readFileSync, existsSync, writeFileSync } from "fs-extra";
 import { resolve, join, relative, sep } from "path";
-import glob from "glob";
 
-import { readFileSync, existsSync, writeFileSync } from "fs-extra";
-import JSON5 from "comment-json";
+// using `require` because everything in scripts uses typescript's default
+// compiler settings, and these two modules require enabling `esModuleInterop`
+const JSON5 = require("comment-json");
+const glob = require("glob");
 
 type Mapping = { [key: string]: string };
 
diff --git a/scripts/postinstall.ts b/scripts/postinstall.ts
index bf6bb8e904..05c908edbb 100644
--- a/scripts/postinstall.ts
+++ b/scripts/postinstall.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-import chalk from "chalk";
+// using `require` because everything in scripts uses typescript's default
+// compiler settings, and this module requires enabling `esModuleInterop`
+const chalk = require("chalk");
 
 console.log("");
 console.log(
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/package.json b/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/package.json
index dc01818287..5162c9146d 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/package.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/package.json
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
     "docs.build": "rm -rf ./lib/docs ./lib/api.json && npm run docs.typedoc",
     "docs.typedoc": "typedoc --options ./typedoc.json --readme ./README.md --out ../../../../docs/typedoc --json ../../../../docs/typedoc/api.json src/api.ts",
     "docs.preview": "ws --open --port 3010 --directory ../../../../docs",
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc --reporter lcov npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/tsconfig.json b/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/tsconfig.json
index b308031091..41d562afc7 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/ethereum/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
   },
   "include": ["index.ts", "src/**/*"],
-  "typeRoots": ["./node_modules/@types", "./src/@types"],
   "references": [
     {
       "name": "@ganache/ethereum-utils",
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/options/package.json b/src/chains/ethereum/options/package.json
index 353162d7b4..85f28b5f42 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/options/package.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/options/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/chains/ethereum/options"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/options/tsconfig.json b/src/chains/ethereum/options/tsconfig.json
index e125e8ee55..5e42347456 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/options/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/options/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/utils/package.json b/src/chains/ethereum/utils/package.json
index 6fcfe1695b..aa6b582b45 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/utils/package.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/utils/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/chains/ethereum/utils"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/chains/ethereum/utils/tsconfig.json b/src/chains/ethereum/utils/tsconfig.json
index 216b9b7905..ab6c5fc9a8 100644
--- a/src/chains/ethereum/utils/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/chains/ethereum/utils/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/chains/tezos/options/package.json b/src/chains/tezos/options/package.json
index c5922a73fd..8f06c555b3 100644
--- a/src/chains/tezos/options/package.json
+++ b/src/chains/tezos/options/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/chains/tezos/options"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/chains/tezos/options/tsconfig.json b/src/chains/tezos/options/tsconfig.json
index 7dc3b68a6c..f2b4acc379 100644
--- a/src/chains/tezos/options/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/chains/tezos/options/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/chains/tezos/tezos/package.json b/src/chains/tezos/tezos/package.json
index f9530449cc..989f71963d 100644
--- a/src/chains/tezos/tezos/package.json
+++ b/src/chains/tezos/tezos/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "directory": "src/chains/tezos/tezos"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc"
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/trufflesuite/ganache-core/issues"
diff --git a/src/chains/tezos/tezos/tsconfig.json b/src/chains/tezos/tezos/tsconfig.json
index 4521ec320f..2d2d122dd4 100644
--- a/src/chains/tezos/tezos/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/chains/tezos/tezos/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/package.json b/src/packages/cli/package.json
index 8d9db27a09..2945a38efb 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/cli"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'",
     "start": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript node --require ts-node/register --inspect src/cli.ts"
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/cli/tsconfig.json
index 8985268a8b..9faebd6a95 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/cli/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/colors/package.json b/src/packages/colors/package.json
index e2b455b399..f1273f6167 100644
--- a/src/packages/colors/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/colors/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/colors"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/packages/colors/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/colors/tsconfig.json
index 782054e6d5..d45dbc05ba 100644
--- a/src/packages/colors/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/colors/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/core/package.json b/src/packages/core/package.json
index 8fdc8eb0c6..26b4f8526f 100644
--- a/src/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/core/package.json
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/core"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
-    "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --check-leaks --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
+    "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_PROJECT=tsconfig.json TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --check-leaks --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/trufflesuite/ganache-core/issues"
diff --git a/src/packages/core/src/server.ts b/src/packages/core/src/server.ts
index 4f3183e851..bc877353a0 100644
--- a/src/packages/core/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/packages/core/src/server.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export default class Server {
         // https://github.com/uNetworking/uSockets/commit/04295b9730a4d413895fa3b151a7337797dcb91f#diff-79a34a07b0945668e00f805838601c11R51
         const LIBUS_LISTEN_EXCLUSIVE_PORT = 1;
         hostname
-          ? (this.#app as any).listen(
+          ? this.#app.listen(
               hostname,
               port,
               LIBUS_LISTEN_EXCLUSIVE_PORT,
diff --git a/src/packages/core/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/core/tsconfig.json
index 846dcbe58d..3d5ee197d0 100644
--- a/src/packages/core/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/core/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/flavors/package.json b/src/packages/flavors/package.json
index 8889a8238a..62351c8e6c 100644
--- a/src/packages/flavors/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/flavors/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/flavors"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc"
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/trufflesuite/ganache-core/issues"
diff --git a/src/packages/flavors/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/flavors/tsconfig.json
index 80cb06ea37..bef9b17cdd 100644
--- a/src/packages/flavors/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/flavors/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/ganache/package.json b/src/packages/ganache/package.json
index cd80c7e24a..c886d84821 100644
--- a/src/packages/ganache/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/ganache/package.json
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "build": "webpack",
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'",
     "start": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript node --require ts-node/register --inspect src/cli.ts"
diff --git a/src/packages/ganache/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/ganache/tsconfig.json
index 615de82fb7..6978f32ea3 100644
--- a/src/packages/ganache/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/ganache/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib"
   },
diff --git a/src/packages/options/package.json b/src/packages/options/package.json
index 0f9c7f017c..b7a508f5ab 100644
--- a/src/packages/options/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/options/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/options"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc"
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/trufflesuite/ganache-core/issues"
diff --git a/src/packages/options/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/options/tsconfig.json
index fe3cf528c0..594288dc75 100644
--- a/src/packages/options/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/options/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/promise-queue/package.json b/src/packages/promise-queue/package.json
index 4fdf5beb6c..7159af684f 100644
--- a/src/packages/promise-queue/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/promise-queue/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/promise-queue"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc",
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build",
     "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER=ttypescript TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --require ts-node/register --recursive --check-leaks 'tests/**.ts'"
   },
diff --git a/src/packages/promise-queue/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/promise-queue/tsconfig.json
index d6032d24d6..6fd42631a1 100644
--- a/src/packages/promise-queue/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/promise-queue/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/src/packages/utils/package.json b/src/packages/utils/package.json
index ca6cb2bf41..3f328fd766 100644
--- a/src/packages/utils/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/utils/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "directory": "src/packages/utils"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "tsc": "ttsc"
+    "tsc": "ttsc --build"
   },
   "bugs": {
     "url": "https://github.com/trufflesuite/ganache-core/issues"
diff --git a/src/packages/utils/tsconfig.json b/src/packages/utils/tsconfig.json
index d6032d24d6..6fd42631a1 100644
--- a/src/packages/utils/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/packages/utils/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.json",
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig-base.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "composite": true
diff --git a/tsconfig.json b/src/tsconfig-base.json
similarity index 92%
rename from tsconfig.json
rename to src/tsconfig-base.json
index d4e572f589..2821d56f8b 100644
--- a/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/tsconfig-base.json
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
     "noImplicitAny": false,
     "newLine": "lf",
     "lib": ["ES2020"],
-    "typeRoots": ["./node_modules/@types", "src/@types"],
     "experimentalDecorators": true,
     "plugins": [
       {
diff --git a/src/tsconfig.json b/src/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4e5723ac4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "files": [],
+  "references": [
+    {
+      "path": "packages/ganache"
+    }
+  ]
+}