type A = 'a'
const z: A[] = ['a']; // fine as expected

// how come 'a' cannot be inferred as type `A`?
const x: A[] = Array.from(['a'])  // Error: Type 'string' not assignable to 'a'

// my workaround (without creating a variable):
const y: A[] = Array.from([_.identity<A>('a')])